PHD OPPORTUNITY – Rural sanitation in Fiji
Funded Project
Watershed Interventions for Systems Health in Fiji – preventing Typhoid, Dengue and Leptospirosis
Project background
Water-borne diseases are endemic in Fiji (Pacific Islands) with 20 reported typhoid outbreaks since 2005, an outbreak of dengue affecting 27,000 in 2013–14 and a three-fold increase in leptospirosis since 2016. This project seeks to understand the influences on pathogen persistence and outbreak patterns within watersheds. The research involves in-depth collection of water and sanitation samples along with community surveys and observations. Water, sanitation and/or hygiene interventions will be designed to tackle the targetable transmission routes of these pathogens in-order to improve community health.
PhD topic
An evaluation of community on-site sanitation and implementation of appropriate sanitation technologies for rural communities in Fiji, Pacific Islands.
Research need
In Fiji, inadequate on-site sanitation is likely a large contributing factor to the reoccurrence of Typhoid Fever. However, the ability of on-site sanitation to treat and/or safely contain human excreta is not well understood for rural communities in Fiji. Innovative affordable sanitation technologies are needed to improve sanitation and reduce disease. Research is needed to design, implement and evaluate sanitation technologies for these rural communities. This work will directly enhance knowledge of the effectiveness of targeted sanitation interventions and will inform Government of Fiji future policies.
Research questions
•What are the characteristics of current on-site sanitation in rural communities in the selected catchments in Fiji?
•What are the relationships between sanitation and Typhoid fever in the selected communities?
•What types of sanitation technologies may be appropriate for these communities?
•Do well designed and implemented sanitation technologies improve health in the communities?
•What are the best sanitation interventions that the Government of Fiji can invest in to protect people’s health in rural areas?
Research locations
•Enrolment for the PhD in the Humanitarian Engineering group, Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney
•The research will involve multiple blocks of time (3 months plus) of fieldwork in Central Division of Fiji and also the Mataika House Laboratory
Supervision
•Primary supervisor: Dr Jacqueline Thomas – Faculty of Engineering
•Appropriate secondary supervisors will be sort based on the candidate
Candidate requirements
•Undergraduate degree in science or engineering with honours (awarded at Class I or Upper Class II), and/or Masters by research in science or engineering
•Demonstrated understanding of wastewater treatment systems and/or on-site sanitation systems
•Demonstrated experience of work or research applied to water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries
•Ability to collect and analyse wastewater samples using field-based testing kits
•Ability to travel to Fiji and live and work in the field for periods of time
Scholarship support
•One scholarship is available for PhD tuition fees and a candidate stipend (AUD ~$28 000 per year for 3 years)
•Project support for all travel and laboratory work
How to apply
•Send your application via email to jacqueline.thomas@sydney.edu.au
•Include in the email:
oA cover letter addressing why you are the right candidate to pursue this PhD opportunity o A full curriculum vitae/resume
o Academic transcript from your last completed degree (bachelor or masters)
•Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled