Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences

National Trend Analysis of Illicit Drug Presence in Wastewater: A Data-Driven Approach to Public Health Monitoring

This project will utilise samples and data from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program to understand drug consumption trends across Australia. The project will explore collected data from the 7 years of the program, searching for insights into drug trends by conducting data triangulation and correlation among catchment-scale variables. The project will also acquire new data from analysis of archived wastewater samples from the program to develop new insights on substances with abuse potential.

This project will be carried out at UQ research centre, the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS). With researchers at the University of South Australia, QAEHS conducts the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. QAHES also has unique access to the Australian Environmental Specimen bank, which houses more than 20,000 wastewater samples from more than 100 locations across the country including the sample set collected for the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.

Scholarship value

As a scholarship recipient, you'll receive: 

  • living stipend of $33,641 per annum tax free (2024 rate), indexed annually
  • tuition fees covered
  • single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Supervisor

Dr Ben Tscharke
Email: b.tscharke@uq.edu.au

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your

  • previous academic record
  • publication record
  • honours and awards
  • employment history.

A working knowledge of data analysis techniques or an understanding of analytical chemistry techniques would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

The applicant will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of analytical chemistry, or data analysis and the potential for scholastic success.

How to apply

Please submit your cover letter, CV, academic transcript and English proficiency score (if applicable) to b.tscharke@uq.edu.au