Curtin University is inviting Expressions of Interest from highly motivated domestic and international applicants for an exciting PhD research opportunity investigating the long-term effects of neonatal intensive care on newborns and their families.

The project offers candidates the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research using linked population-level administrative datasets from Western Australia while receiving advanced training in causal inference, health economics, econometrics, and health policy analysis.

Successful applicants identified as the preferred candidate may also be considered for a prestigious Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, one of Australia’s most competitive postgraduate research scholarships.

This research is particularly suited for candidates interested in health economics, epidemiology, biostatistics, econometrics, public health, or quantitative policy analysis.

Application Period: 1 July 2026 – 31 July 2026

About the Research Project

Every year, hospitals face difficult decisions regarding the level of medical care provided to very small newborn babies.

One important clinical threshold used in Australian hospitals is a birthweight of 1,500 grams.

Infants born weighing less than 1,500 grams typically receive:

• More intensive neonatal monitoring.
• Additional specialist care.
• Longer hospital stays.
• Greater access to neonatal intensive care services.

Meanwhile, babies born just above the threshold often receive comparatively less intensive treatment despite being extremely similar medically.

This creates what researchers describe as a natural experiment.

Because babies born just below and just above 1,500 grams are almost identical except for the treatment they receive, researchers can estimate the true impact of additional neonatal care without many of the biases that affect traditional observational studies.

The project aims to determine whether the additional medical care provided below the 1,500-gram threshold leads to better outcomes not only for newborns but also for their wider families.

Why This Research Matters

Providing neonatal intensive care is among the most resource-intensive services offered within modern healthcare systems.

Despite the substantial investment required, an important question remains:

How much additional benefit does intensive neonatal care actually provide?

Traditional studies struggle to answer this because babies receiving more care are usually those who are sicker.

This makes it difficult to distinguish:

• the effect of medical treatment, and
• the severity of the baby’s initial condition.

This project overcomes that challenge by comparing infants born immediately below and above the 1,500-gram threshold, where treatment intensity changes but the babies themselves remain remarkably similar.

This approach enables researchers to estimate the causal effects of additional neonatal care with far greater credibility.

Research Background

The study uses linked administrative records covering births across Western Australia.

The primary data source is the Midwives Notification System, which records birthweight to the exact gram.

The linked datasets then follow each child through multiple stages of life, including:

• Hospital admissions
• Emergency department visits
• Mortality records
• School records

Where available, the data also include linked records for:

• Mothers
• Brothers and sisters

This comprehensive linkage allows researchers to examine outcomes across the entire population rather than relying on sample surveys.

Research Aims

The project has two primary aims.

Aim 1: Measure the Effect of Additional Neonatal Care

The first objective is to estimate the local causal effect of the increased neonatal care received by babies born just below the 1,500-gram threshold.

Researchers will examine differences in:

• Hospital treatment intensity
• Length of hospital stay
• Medical costs
• Hospital readmissions
• Survival during the first year of life
• Long-term health
• Educational performance

Aim 2: Examine Wider Family Benefits

A distinctive feature of this research is its focus on family outcomes.

Rather than studying only the treated child, the project investigates whether neonatal care produces broader benefits affecting:

• Maternal health after childbirth
• Educational outcomes of siblings

This broader perspective may reveal additional social and economic returns that are often overlooked in healthcare evaluations.

Research Objectives

During the PhD, the successful candidate will:

1. Construct an analysis-ready dataset using linked population records.
2. Combine information from:

• Birth records
• Hospital datasets
• Emergency department records
• Death records
• School outcome databases
• Maternal records (where available)
• Sibling records (where linkage permits)

3. Apply modern econometric methods to estimate causal effects around the 1,500-gram threshold.
4. Conduct rigorous statistical testing to validate the research design.
5. Estimate the effects of additional neonatal care on:

• Infant survival
• Hospital utilization
• Healthcare expenditure
• Long-term physical health
• Educational achievement

6. Investigate wider family outcomes, including:

• Maternal health
• Siblings’ educational performance

Research Methodology

The project employs advanced applied econometric techniques commonly used in health economics and policy evaluation.

The study relies on a regression discontinuity design (RDD), which exploits the treatment change occurring at the 1,500-gram birthweight threshold.

Key methodological components include:

• Testing whether babies cannot be deliberately sorted around the cutoff.
• Verifying that predetermined characteristics remain continuous across the threshold.
• Measuring differences in treatment intensity.
• Estimating causal effects of neonatal care.
• Performing robustness and sensitivity analyses.

Students will gain extensive experience in modern causal inference methods widely used in economics and epidemiology.

Expected Outcomes

The project seeks to generate evidence regarding:

Child Outcomes

• Survival during infancy
• Hospital admissions
• Emergency department use
• Healthcare costs
• Long-term health
• Educational achievement

Family Outcomes

• Maternal health following childbirth
• Educational outcomes of siblings
• Family spillover effects

Why This Project Is Significant

The significance of this research extends beyond neonatal medicine.

It contributes to several important fields, including:

• Health economics
• Public health
• Neonatal medicine
• Health policy
• Education policy
• Causal inference
• Population health research

If wider family benefits are identified, current evaluations of neonatal intensive care may underestimate its true value.

The findings could influence:

• Healthcare funding decisions
• Hospital planning
• Neonatal service delivery
• Resource allocation
• National health policy

The research therefore has important implications for both clinical practice and public policy.

Internship Opportunity

The successful PhD candidate is expected to complete an internship during the project.

The internship will be arranged through the research group’s existing partnerships within Australia’s healthcare sector.

Potential host organizations include:

• Western Australia Country Health Service
• Fiona Stanley Hospital
• Other collaborating health system partners

The internship aims to provide practical experience in:

• Healthcare planning
• Health service delivery
• Policy implementation
• Knowledge translation
• Engagement with decision-makers

Students will have the opportunity to share their research findings with professionals involved in planning and funding neonatal and maternity services.

Scholarship Information

Applicants selected as the preferred candidate may be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

The RTP Scholarship is one of Australia’s flagship postgraduate research funding schemes and may provide financial support throughout the PhD program, subject to eligibility and university selection processes.

Read more about RTP Scholarship HERE

Who Should Apply?

Curtin University is seeking applicants who demonstrate:

• Strong quantitative ability.
• Interest in health economics and health policy.
• Careful data management skills.
• Excellent statistical reasoning.
• Motivation to undertake independent research.

Applicants with backgrounds in the following disciplines are encouraged to apply:

• Economics
• Econometrics
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Statistics
• Health Economics
• Data Science
• Other related quantitative fields

Experience with the following is advantageous:

• Stata
• R
• Administrative datasets
• Applied econometrics
• Modern causal inference methods

Applicants must also be eligible for admission into a PhD program at Curtin University.

Benefits of This Opportunity

Successful candidates will benefit from:

• Potential RTP Scholarship funding.
• Access to one of Australia’s richest linked health datasets.
• Advanced training in causal inference.
• Experience working with population-level administrative data.
• Mentorship from experienced researchers.
• Internship opportunities with leading Australian healthcare organizations.
• Opportunities to influence health policy and neonatal care planning.
• Development of high-demand quantitative research skills.
• Strong preparation for careers in academia, government, healthcare, and policy research.

Visit HERE for more information on Fully Funded Curtin University PhD Opportunity 2026: Research the Long-Term Impact of Neonatal Intensive Care in Australia (RTP Scholarship Available)

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit an Expression of Interest during Curtin University’s Central Scholarship Round.

Application Period

1 July 2026 – 31 July 2026

Enquiries

Applicants seeking further information about the project may contact:

Dr. Marshall Makate

Email:Marshall.Makate@curtin.edu.au

To formally apply submit an Expressions of Interest directly to Dr. Marshall Makate during the Central Scholarship application period.

Important Deadline

Applications open: 1 July 2026

Application deadline: 31 July 2026

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their Expression of Interest well before the closing date to allow sufficient time for review and scholarship consideration.

Conclusion

This PhD opportunity at Curtin University offers an exceptional platform for aspiring researchers seeking to make meaningful contributions to neonatal health, health economics, and evidence-based public policy. By leveraging one of Australia’s most comprehensive linked administrative health datasets, the project will generate valuable insights into how neonatal intensive care influences not only infant survival and long-term outcomes but also the wellbeing of mothers and siblings.

With the possibility of receiving a prestigious RTP Scholarship, undertaking an industry-connected internship, and developing advanced expertise in causal inference and quantitative research methods, this opportunity provides outstanding academic and professional development. Candidates passionate about improving healthcare systems through rigorous data-driven research are strongly encouraged to submit their Expression of Interest before 31 July 2026.

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