Domestic PhD scholarship for project on media representation and public perception

[Elaine Xu]

Dear Colleagues, 

We would like to share news of a PhD scholarshipopportunity for domestic students in Australia. The successful candidate will be based at the University of Newcastle and work on a an interdisciplinary project that examines media perception and public trust of RNA vaccines and therapeutics in Australia. 

This PhD scholarship is aligned with the NSW RNA Research & Training Network (NSW‑RRTN), a NSW Government–supported collaborative initiative uniting 12 universities and research institutes to build research, training, and workforce capability in RNA science and technology. Our project is one of the few that is communication-focused, intersecting with strategic communication, sociology, public health messaging, and digital media analysis. 

Overview of the project:

The project will examine how RNA vaccines and therapeutics have been portrayed in Australian media and how these messages shape public understanding, trust, and attitudes. It will identify how media representations of vaccine safety and importance in Australia have evolved over time, exploring how media coverage shapes public attitudes toward vaccination and how ethical debates and regulatory frameworks are reflected in the media reporting on vaccines and disease outbreaks.

Instructions on submitting an initial Expression of Interest:

Interested applicants should send an email expressing their interest along with scanned copies of their academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of their research interests and a proposal that specifically links them to the research project. A PDF containing additional information about the research project is attached to this email. 

Please send your email, as well as any questions you may have, to Elaine Xu (Elai...@newcastle.edu.au). 

The supervision team includes:

• Dr Elaine Xu, MCPRA [principal supervisor]
• Associate Professor Caragh Brosnan [co-supervisor]
• Dr Lex Xia [co-supervisor]
• Professor Nathan Bartlett [affiliated supervisor]

Please feel free to circulate this email to your contacts and networks. 

Thank you!

Best regards,

Elaine Xu (she/her)

Lecturer in Strategic Communications | The University of Newcastle