Encouraging drivers to stay focused on the road

PhD Scholarship: Reducing driver distraction

• Exciting opportunity to work with some of Monash University’s leading academics and VicRoads to reduce driver distraction on the road
• 3 year scholarship
• Salary: annual living allowance based on Monash University’s Research Training Program (RTP), stipend of $26,682 per annum (2017 rate - indexed annually), plus a top-up living allowance of $2,000 per year.
• Fully supported training and development program.

Background: In October 2017 Monash University and government agency partners announced that, for the first time in Australia, 18 applied behaviour change PhD scholarships would be offered through the Monash Graduate Research Industry Partnership program (GRIP).

The Behaviour Change GRIP seeks to meet strong demand for behavioural researchers who are willing and able to work with some of Australia’s leading government agencies to co-design and deliver new interdisciplinary behaviour change approaches to help solve public policy issues.

VicRoads, a world leading agency in raising awareness of road trauma and risk, and a committed GRIP partner, is seeking to work with a talented PhD candidate to better understand the impact that touchscreens have on our driving behaviour.

The successful candidate will work at Monash University and VicRoads to investigate opportunities for change and develop an intervention that will be trailed in the field.

The candidate will be supported through a comprehensive training and education program and have the opportunity to work with some of Monash University’s leading academics from BehaviourWorks Australia, the Monash University Accident Research Centre, the Faculties of Arts, Law, Business and Economics and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute.

The candidate will also learn from and work alongside a large cohort of behaviour change PhD candidates working with other GRIP partners.
Project aims: Touchscreens enable and facilitate activities that take drivers attention off the road, with recent research showing that reading a text message takes four seconds. This distraction is exacerbated by increased journey times due to congestion and a desire to be connected, entertained and productive. This project will examine the efficacy of interventions designed to encourage drivers to stay focused on the road.

This is an exceptional opportunity to work in close partnership with VicRoads and BehaviourWorks Australia to conduct applied research.
Ideal candidate: The ideal candidate will have an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong interest in solving public policy issues in an interdisciplinary manner. Applicants must also show excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be willing to travel and work from different locations.

Must have: Priority will be given to applicants who hold an Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours (H1) or qualifications and/or research experience deemed equivalent by the University. If your qualifications don’t meet the H1 level, your experience as a researcher could be considered equivalent. Check our eligibility equivalencies for more details.

Closing date: 2 January 2018. Please note, however, that candidates are being interviewed progressively, and places may fill before January.

To apply: Please download and complete an Expression of Interest form: www.monash.edu/behaviour-change-grip