About the Project
The University of Copenhagen – Deakin University joint PhD program offers research students an unparalleled international experience, working alongside world-class researchers across two continents. Joint degree students spend time working with their supervisors at both universities. As a result, they gain unique exposure to different cultural and scientific environments and substantially increase their employability after graduation. Upon completion of the joint degree program, students receive a dually badged internationally recognised doctoral degree from both institutions. The PhD candidate will have to spend time at both Deakin University and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality globally and causes significant burden to healthcare systems. In recent years, innovations in information technology showed potential to improve health service delivery and outcomes. Patients with CVD require support at home and out of hospital settings where they spent most of their time. However, such interventions are often difficult to implement and expensive. Using information technology, we aim to improve risk factors monitoring, self-management and develop a new model-of-care for secondary prevention of CVD in Australia and globally.
In collaboration with the School of Information Technology, Deakin University, leading information technologists and researchers, we have a Smart Home system that uses text messaging, interactive voice-system, wearable devices, online platform and a mobile phone App. Our Smart Home system could help to empower patients to improve self-management behaviours and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of Smart Home systems in patients with cardiovascular disease needs to be tested in real-life. The PhD project will investigate what features of a smart home are acceptable to participants, feasible to deliver, and the potential for improving health outcomes.
Project aim
In this project, the PhD student will start by undertaking a systematic review of the literature on smart home technologies for self-management of CVD. The student will design and conduct a trial of Smart Home in people with CVD. The project will involve using sensors and wearable devices for monitoring activity and physiological data, medication adherence, developing cloud-based databank, using information technologies and advanced data analytics for understanding factors that contribute to morbidity.
To be eligible you must:
be a domestic candidate (domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship).
meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
be enrolling full time and hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard master's degree with a substantial research component.
Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.
Additional desirable criteria include:
Expertise in Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Sciences, or Psychology.
Experience in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science.