PhD Opportunity: Innovative Food is Medicine Intervention to Improve Maternal and Infant Health

Our mission is to improve the health of millions of people worldwide.  

The George Institute is 700+ people around the world, all focused on improving the health of millions of people worldwide. As a medical research institute affiliated with leading universities and with projects in approximately 50 countries, we are challenging the status quo in healthcare to: 

• Find better treatments for the world's biggest health problems 

• Transform primary health care to support better health for more people 

• Harness the power of communities, governments and markets to improve health 

Our innovative commercial enterprises help maximise our impact.

Please visit our website (https://www.georgeinstitute.org) to read more about how we are addressing the world's biggest health problems. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time PhD candidate to undertake research to contribute to the development and evaluation of Food is Medicine programs in Australia and internationally.

Opportunity 

The primary focus of the PhD project will be to work on a large randomised controlled trial (https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12624001407583) examining the implementation and clinical impact of a ‘Produce Prescription’ program to improve the health of pregnant women experiencing food insecurity and at risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The PhD student will work closely with the lead investigators of the study on all aspects of the study from design, recruitment, intervention delivery, follow-up, and outcome assessments. The research will involve significant quantitative and qualitative elements.  This research will provide evidence for an innovative ‘Food is Medicine’ approach to improving maternal and child health that could be integrated into primary healthcare. The PhD student will be supervised by Professor Jason Wu and Dr Megan Gow, who will support the student to apply for a PhD scholarship and enrolment through the University of New South Wales.

In addition, the student will have the opportunity to participate in other research initiatives as part of the broader Nutrition Science team at The George Institute for Global Health, such as studies related to monitoring and improving the Australian food environment (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39183272/) and evaluation of the health impact of population-level food and economic policies (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41483712/)

Key resources and expertise relevant to the PhD project include:

•              An Australian-first produce prescription randomized controlled trial involving 750 pregnant women at high risk of gestational diabetes, conducted in partnership with clinicians and other healthcare partners across 4 local health districts in New South Wales.

•            The student will gain valuable training and have opportunity to interact with a diverse research team with expertise in nutrition science, food policy, epidemiology, clinical trials, and health impact modelling.

• Enrolment through the University of New South Wales and access to its world-class post-graduate student training infrastructure, as well as in-house student support team at The George Institute.

Key components of the PhD program could include (but are not limited to):

• Understanding healthcare provider perspectives:
  • Evaluate the acceptability and perceived need for food prescription programs among healthcare providers and other stakeholders for pregnant women and their infants.
• Explore the link between maternal food security and health outcomes:
  • Examine how levels of food and nutrition insecurity during early pregnancy is cross sectionally related to diet quality and clinical metabolic risk factors.
  • Examine the longitudinal association between food and nutrition insecurity and adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.
  • Examine factors that contribute to nutrition insecurity among pregnant mothers at risk of gestational diabetes in Australia
• Evaluation the potential person and household-level benefits of food prescription:
  • Assess the impact of food prescription programs on the diet quality and other patient-reported outcomes (e.g. depression and eating disorder symptoms) of pregnant mothers taking part in the food prescription trial.
  • Assess potential co-benefits of a food prescription intervention for household members of pregnant women at high risk of gestational diabetes, including improvements in diet quality, food sharing, and health-related quality of life.

Supervisory team:

Professor Jason Wu; Dr Megan Gow

Who are we looking for? 

The candidate must be passionate about advancing food-based research and interventions that promote health and wellbeing, especially for people experiencing social economic disadvantages. They will be driven to explore innovative Food is Medicine programs, combining rigorous mixed-methods research with a commitment to improving maternal and infant health outcomes through improving nutrition security and policy change.

Eligibility 

Candidates must hold a relevant first or second-class Honours degree or Masters degree with a substantial research component in Nutrition and Dietetics or other related fields, and/or be able to demonstrate equivalent research experience. 

Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents are eligible to apply. 

Award Opportunity

The successful candidate will be supported to apply for an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. A Top-Up Scholarship of $10,000 per annum will be made available to the successful candidate, contingent on successful award of the UNSW RTP scholarship.

Application Guide 

Applications should include a cover letter, current CV, copy of academic transcripts, proof of citizenship or permanent residency, and the names and contact details of at least two referees. 

Candidates are recommended to highlight in their cover letter: 

• Evidence of meeting the eligibility criteria – please see Admission Requirements section of Medicine (The George Institute for Global Health) UNSW handbook 

• Relevant professional experience 

• Evidence of scientific writing skills 

• Evidence of prior mixed methods research experience, and/or experience working on clinical trials

• Ability to work as part of a team 

• Other applicable indicators of excellence 

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 16th February 2026

Visit our website for more on The George: https://www.georgeinstitute.org/

About the George 

The George Institute for Global Health (The George) is 700+ employees around the world and projects in over 40 countries all focused on improving the health of millions of people worldwide.  

As a medical research institute affiliated with leading universities, we are challenging the status quo in healthcare to: 

• Find better treatments for the world's biggest health problems 
• Transform primary health care to support better health for more people 
• Harness the power of communities, governments and markets to improve health 

We pride ourselves with our 6 core values: excellence, integrity, can-do approach, creativity, impact, and humanitarian commitment. 

Our big and bold mission to improve the health of millions of people worldwide needs a diverse and innovative team to deliver it. So we foster a dynamic, inclusive and flexible workplace where each individual can bring their best selves to work.  

We value workplace diversity and encourage applications from people living with disability; women; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; people who identify as LGBTIQ+; mature-aged people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.  

Why The George? 

We are committed to attracting, developing, rewarding and retaining the best people in their fields to conduct and support our innovative and highest quality research programs. 

Take advantage of our rewards you may enjoy as part of The George team.  

• Learning and career development opportunities 
• YourFlex arrangements e.g. start/finish times, purchase leave, location 
• A global, diverse, inclusive team committed to making impact