Study with us
Browse current opportunities and find out why FOWI is the perfect place for a PhD.
Is a PhD the right next step for me?
Are you excited by the idea of conducting original research that could influence how millions of people experience work? Do you thrive on deep, sustained investigation into complex workplace problems?
If you are intellectually curious, passionate about addressing complex workplace challenges, and eager to make a meaningful impact through research, pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) may be the ideal next step. At the Future of Work Institute (FOWI), we welcome candidates who are passionate about improving work and contributing to healthier, more productive workforces.
What support and funding options are available?
Eligible candidates may receive a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, funded by the Australian Government. Each scholarship includes:
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Tax-free living stipend
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Tuition fee offset
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Additional allowances for research expenses
In addition to financial support, you will benefit from a rich research experience, including:
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Opportunities to collaborate on industry-funded projects that shape real-world policy and practice
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Individualised supervision and mentoring from internationally recognised researchers
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A collaborative, inclusive environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth
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Publication and writing support to help you build a strong academic profile
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Access to conferences and networking opportunities to connect with global experts and peers
Available PhD Projects
Project title: Can People Fool a Chatbot? Detecting deception in AI-based psychological assessment
Open to Domestic applicants only. This project is supported by an Office of National Intelligence (ONI) Discovery Grant and includes a living stipend of $47,000 p.a. pro rata indexed, based on full-time study, for up to a maximum of 3 years.
Supervisors: Professor Patrick Dunlop and Professor Billy Sung
Current PhD candidates
Annika Mertens
Project title: The Role of Work Design in the Technology Implementation Process in Healthcare
In collaboration with Perth Children’s Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital, Annika is investigating how a new technology introduced at work changes existing work design and how existing work design impacts the technology implementation process.
Supervisors: Professor Sharon Parker, Dr Madison Kho and Dr Gareth Baynam.
Rachel Xia
Project title: The social class effect on employee selection
Rachel's thesis aims to investigate how job candidates' social class signals influence recruiters' hiring evaluation and decisions, with the ultimate goal of helping organisations develop effective practices to mitigate unintentional discrimination and improve hiring quality.
Supervisors: Professor Patrick Dunlop, Professor Amy Tian and Associate Professor Serena Wee.
Shannon Rowley
Project title: Employee Recruitment Messaging, Anticipated Universal Needs Satisfaction, Value Congruence, and Individual Characteristics
Shannon is investigating if employee recruitment activities, including information provided on career websites and job advertisements impacts jobseeker attraction and pursuit intentions through a motivation and fit perception lens.
Supervisors: Professor Marylene Gagne and Professor Patrick Dunlop
Yijing Liao
Project title: Understanding how Generative AI Tools Influence Task Performance: The Role of Skill Level and Human Learning
Yijing's research employs a range of experimental interventions to explore how Generative AI tools can impact workers learning or 'skill levelling'.
Supervisors: Professor Sharon Parker, Dr Claire Mason and Professor Eva Kyndt.
Guofan Li
Project title: Will AI Hire Me? - How and when AI Decisions Affect Applicant's Psychological Mechanisms, Reactions, and Intentions
Guofan is exploring how AI decisions affect workers' psychological mechanisms, reactions, and intentions, as well as providing intervention measures to alleviate workers' negative reactions.
Supervisors: Professor Sharon Parker, Dr Fangfang Zhang, and Professor Patrick Dunlop.
Wanghuan Lin
Project title: A Unified Cognitive Model for Understanding Human Operators' use Automated Advice
Wanghuan is using computational models to explore the affects of automation on human learning and decision-making, her research will examine if an over-reliance and dependance on information aids can influence cognitive processes, and whether key task-related factors such as workload and time pressure are impacted.
Supervisors: Dr Luke Strickland and Professor Mark Griffin.
Georgia Humphry
Project title: Generative Artificial Intelligence Disruption in Talent Acquisition
Wanghaun is using computational models to explore the affects of automation on human learning and decision-making, her research will examine if an over-reliance and dependance on information aids can influence cognitive processes, and whether key task-related factors such as workload and time pressure are impacted.
Supervisors: Professor Patrick Dunlop and Professor Amy Tian
Lana Ireland
Project title: Motivational assumptions of leaders
Prevailing assumptions about human motivation that underpin management practices and organisational design are rarely examined. Lana aims to investigate how motivational assumptions are influenced and evaluate interventions that can support the development of SDT-informed assumptions in business leaders resulting in organisations that are both ethical and effective
Supervisors: Professor Marylene Gagne and Professor Patrick Dunlop
PhD Alumni
Natalya Desai
Project title: Adapting to new technologies in multidisciplinary healthcare units
Completion year: 2025
Supervisors: Professor Mark Griffin, Professor Marylene Gagne and Dr Georgia Hay
Eyüp İlker Camgöz
Project title: Want more Leaders? Think Enriched Work Design
Completion year: 2025
Supervisors: Professor Sharon Parker, Dr Florian Klonek and Dr Anu Jolly
Dan Agate
Project title: The Communication Dynamics Behind Team Motivation Emergence
Completion year: 2025
Supervisors: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Marylène Gagné, Dr Florian Klonek, and Professor Thomas O'Neill
Eva Zellman
Project title: The role of leadership in managing an ageing and age-diverse workforce
Completion year: 2024
Supervisors: Associate Professor Daniela Andrei and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker
Hayley Moore
Thesis title: I Can't Get No (Need) Satisfaction: Applying Basic Psychological Needs Theory to Foster Human Connection and Improved Applicant Reactions to Asynchronous Video Interviews
Completion year: 2023
Supervisors: Professor Patrick Dunlop, John Curtin Distinguished Professor Marylène Gagné, Dr Djurre Holtrop
Lucinda Iles
Thesis title: An Investigation into the Organisational Challenges Associated with An Ageing and Age Diverse Workforce
Completion year: 2023
Supervisors: Associate Professor Daniela Andrei and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker
Notable achievements: Hal Kendig Prize for Best ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) PhD Thesis 2023
Cheryl Sykes
Thesis title: Thinking Beyond 'Sticks' in Australian Employment Services: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective
Completion year: 2022
Supervisors: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Marylène Gagné and Professor John Phillimore
Cheryl Yam
Thesis title: Examining the Curvilinear Effects of Autonomy at Work
Completion year: 2022
Supervisors: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker and Dr Laura Fruhen
Notable achievements: Best paper in the Journal of Organisational Behaviour (2019)
Belinda Cham
Thesis title: Endurance in Extreme Work Environments
Completion year: 2021
Supervisors: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Mark Griffin, Associate Professor Daniela Andrei, Dr Micah Kate Wilson, Dr Sam Huf
Notable achievements: Eureka Prize Finalist (2021)
Bin Wang
Thesis title: Thrive in a Digital Age: Understanding ICT-enabled Work Experiences through the Lens of Work Design
Completion year: 2020
Supervisors: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker and Dr Yukun Liu
Notable achievements: Recipient of the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
Fangfang Zhang
Thesis title: Reorienting Job Crafting Research: Theoretical Clarification and Novel Investigations into Demands Crafting
Completion year: 2020
Supervisors: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker and Professor Marylène Gagné
Notable achievements: Best paper in the Journal of Organisational Behaviour (2019)
"One of the best aspects of doing a PhD at FOWI is that I can do both of these things at the same time. I receive great mentorship and guidance to develop my own research expertise, but I also get to conduct research that is impactful, multidisciplinary and collaborative... This has made my PhD journey more meaningful, interesting and varied."
- Dr Belinda Cham, FOWI Research Fellow and PhD Alumni
"The Centre for Transformative Work Design is a place where Work Design is researched, understood and practiced. You can hardly ask for a better environment in which to learn and conduct research."
- Jia-Xin Tay (Jay)
