Students complete experiments in one of the medical labs

Sign-up for research

Explore postgraduate research opportunities at ANU's School of Medicine and Psychology. Join our leading research community and advance your career in a supportive academic environment.

Join our research

At the School of Medicine and Psychology, we provide a supportive environment for postgraduate research. Our programs encourage innovation and excellence, giving you the resources and guidance to make important contributions to your field. Whether you are interested in clinical sciences, mental health, or medical education, you will find a community of dedicated scholars and state-of-the-art facilities to support your work. We offer a wide range of potential research topics. Contact a supervisor for further discussion and ideas. If you have a specific project idea that is not listed, you may contact a potential supervisor directly.

As a postgraduate researcher at the Australian National University, you will benefit from our strong industry connections and partnerships with leading health organisations. These relationships offer unique opportunities for practical experience and professional growth. Our commitment to mentoring and development ensures you are well-prepared for a successful career in academia, healthcare, or beyond. Join us at the Australian National University and be part of a community that is shaping the future of health research.

Projects

Degree level

Research theme

Identifying Morphological Changes in the Cervical Spine Muscles in Whiplash

We are currently conducting a study which uses magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in combination with physical and psychological measures, to identify structural lesions of the neck following whiplash injury.

Student intake

Open for PhD students

People

Associate Professor Alexandra Webb, Supervisor

Professor Mark Pickering, Supervisor

Improving Human Empathy

This research looks at perspective-taking, particularly in the areas of empathy, compassion and alturism.

Theme

Brain, Vision, Mental Processes and Health
Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

People

A/ Prof Stephanie Goodhew, Principal investigator
Associate Professor Mark Edwards, Principal investigator

Improving Low Prevalence Visual Search

Visual search is the process of searching for a target amongst other objects, for example diagnostic medical imaging or airport baggage security screening. This research looks to find characteristics that lead to missing targets and intervene to increase vigilance and reduce misses.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

People

A/ Prof Stephanie Goodhew, Principal investigator
Associate Professor Mark Edwards, Principal investigator

Investigating cognitive predictors of crash risk in provisional drivers

This research wll investigate multiple potential cognitive predictors of crash risk in provisional drivers leading to novel training programs to improve road safety .

Theme

Brain, Vision, Mental Processes and Health
Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

People

A/ Prof Stephanie Goodhew, Principal investigator
Associate Professor Mark Edwards, Principal investigator

Investigating physiological, behavioural, perceptual and cognitive responses to heat exposure and/or physical activity

This team is undertaking various projects aiming to identify how exposure to enivronmental stress, including extreme heat exposure, can effect health and modify physiological, behavioural, perceptual and cognitive function.

Theme

Brain, Vision, Mental Processes and Health
Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Clinical Care
Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Honours, MPhil, PhD students

People

Associate Professor Lillian Smyth, Co-investigator
Dr Kathleen Miles, Co-investigator
Dr Nicole Vargas, Principal investigator
Dr Riemke Aggio-Bruce, Co-investigator
Dr Suzanne Estaphan, Co-investigator

Magnesium alloy for biodegradable and antibacterial orthopaedic implants—Sheep model preclinical trial.

The project will test the biocompatibility of the novel alloy and assess local tissue reaction and fracture healing at the test site as well as systemic absorption of metabolites.

Theme

Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Clinical Care
Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Associate Professor Rachel Li, Principal investigator
Honorary Clinical Associate Professor Alexander Bobinskas, Co-investigator
Professor Paul Smith AM, Co-investigator

Professor Xiaobo Chen

Medical student attitudes to people who use drugs

The aim of this project is to conduct a longitudinal survey to measure ANU medical students’ attitudes to, experiences of and intentions to participate in drug use-related health care.

Theme

Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Associate Professor Anna Olsen, Principal investigator
Dr Joanne Rathbone, Co-investigator

Novel orthopaedic surface coatings

Novel orthopaedic surface coatings.

Student intake

Open for Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, PhD students

People

Associate Professor Rachel Li, Supervisor
Professor Paul Smith AM, Supervisor

Nutritional Literacy in Gastroenterology Patients

This project aims to assess nutritional literacy levels in a cohort of gastroenterology patients.

Student intake

Open for students

People

Professor Martin Veysey, Principal investigator

Paracentesis: how do, and how should, we do It?

This project aims to develop evidence-based guideline for abdominal paracentesis. It will explore ultrasound techniques, coagulopathy and the liver in relation to abdominal paracentesis.

Theme

Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Clinical Care

Student intake

Open for students

People

Professor Martin Veysey, Principal investigator

Dr Jin Tan, The University of Adelaide, Co- investigator

Process mapping and learning (PmapL)

Theme

Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Dr Suzanne Estaphan, Principal investigator

Associate Professor Gerry Corrigan (gcorrigan@csu.edu.au)

Public perception on the use of cannabidiol to treat symptoms of mental ill-health

A study to understand views on using cannabidiol to treat mental ill-health.

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Masters, PhD students

People

Dr Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Principal investigator

Quality, Experience and Safety of Telehealth (QuEST)

This transdisciplinary project, grounded in cognitive psychology, linguistics, and health social science, investigates communication and decision-making in telehealth consultations to enhance quality and safety, aiming to develop a novel decision-supporting tool for safe telehealth consultations across diverse English proficiency levels.

Theme

Brain, Vision, Mental Processes and Health
Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Clinical Care
Society, Culture and Health

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters students

Remission In Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, has a rising global prevalence. This project aims to explore the concept of remission in IBD.