PhD Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS 2027). Climate Change and ESKAPEE Pathogen Resistance: A Localised Mixed-Methods Study

About the project

About the Project Growing evidence shows that climate-induced temperature rises directly accelerate bacterial growth and resistance mutations, while extreme weather events indirectly affect healthcare disruptions and antibiotic misuse. This mixed-methods project will investigate how localised climate extremes - specifically heatwaves and flooding - influence the prevalence and resistance profiles of ESKAPEE pathogens within a Malaysian hospital’s catchment area. The study begins with a scoping review to map the current scientific understanding of climate-driven resistance and identify empirical gaps. To examine this locally, the quantitative phase utilises retrospective datasets of clinical isolates and localised meteorological data, employing time-series modeling to identify correlations and lag-effects between weather anomalies and resistance trends. Complementing this, the qualitative phase uses semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers to explore operational vulnerabilities and behavioral drivers within the hospital's existing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme during weather crises. Ultimately, this study bridges planetary health and epidemiology to fortify the current AMS programme against climate-driven resistance patterns. The candidate selection criteria prioritize local candidates best equipped to manage on-the-ground community engagement, local hospital operations, and multi-scale data collection. Selection Criteria Essential Criteria Academic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree requiring at least four years of full-time study with First Class Honours (H1) or a Master’s degree by research (H2A equivalent or CGPA ≥ 3.50) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medical Sociology, Biostatistics, or Health Sciences from a recognized university. English Language Proficiency: Meets Monash Graduate Education English Language Proficiency requirements (e.g., IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0, or TOEFL/PTE equivalent). Research Competencies: Demonstrated foundational knowledge in quantitative statistical analyses alongside experience in qualitative research methodologies. Residency & Institutional Access: Malaysian Citizenship or Permanent Residency (strongly desired to facilitate security clearance, institutional access to public hospital settings, and navigation of local administrative workflows). Preferred Criteria Mixed-Methods Execution: Practical experience in designing semi-structured interviews, performing thematic analysis using qualitative software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti), and running quantitative time-series modeling (e.g., STATA, R, or SPSS). Language & Communication Skills: Excellent spoken and written Malay language to conduct qualitative interviews with healthcare personnel and translate complex findings into local policy contexts. Clinical & Domain Knowledge: Working understanding of hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) protocols, clinical ESKAPEE pathogen trends, or planetary health concepts. Research Output: Proven track record in academic writing, including published journal articles, policy briefs, or research grant contributions. Optional Criteria Stakeholder Engagement: Prior involvement in interacting with healthcare authorities (such as the Ministry of Health Malaysia) or community healthcare advocates. Sociological Frameworks: Familiarity with risk analysis mapping, sociology of medicine, or frameworks examining public trust in scientific policy during health crises. For enquiries, please contact Dr Nur Alia Johari For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Apply When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required. By clicking on a course , you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’. However, before applying for a GEMS, it is recommended that you first contact the main supervisor for this GEMS research topic. Please provide details of your academic background and achievements to the supervisor so that they can assess your suitability for the GEMS research topic you are interested in. Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Nur Alia Johari Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Hamimatunnisa Joha , Dr Geetha Maniam Associate Supervisor (Australia): Prof. Mark Davis

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