The Adelaide Graduate Research School is partnering with the Borderline Personality Disorder Collaborative to provide a research internship opportunity for a PhD student.

The Borderline Personality Disorder Collaborative (BPD Co) is a statewide mental health service established in 2019, developed in response to the demonstrated need for enhanced, evidence-based personality disorder service development in South Australia, tailored to the needs of consumers, carers, and clinicians.

Delivered through a hub and spoke model, BPD Co supports the implementation of a variety of services across a stepped model of care which includes brief interventions, short-term group interventions, peer support programmes, and shared care in collaboration with community mental health teams. BPD Co also aims to support special populations such as early years (perinatal period), youth, people with recent contact with the criminal justice system, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

 Contribute to research and evaluation

The successful PhD student will work closely with a multidisciplinary research team and assist with various evaluation activities under the direction of the Research Coordinator. The role will involve liaising with a range of health professionals, services, and consumer groups. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in psychology or related-mental health field and have a high level of statistical competence in quantitative methods. They will have a demonstrated ability to work independently and to appropriately manage sensitive and confidential information.

Responsibilities may include:

• Literature searches and reviews.
• Assist in the development of ethics applications.
• Assist in writing grant funding applications.
• Data collection activities and audits.
• Electronic survey development and management.
• Conduct service-user interviews and/or focus groups
• Data management and statistical analysis

Specific project proposals can be negotiated if they relate to the BPD Co model of care and strategic research directions, and can be completed within the designated time period.

Expected Research Outcomes:

• Development of applied research skills and capabilities within a busy clinical environment.
• Gain experience in the use and maintenance of data collections using database and statistical packages
• Ability to use initiative and work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to resolve complex issues in an innovative and creative way.

The selected applicant, their supervisor, and the partner organisation's focal contact person will have the opportunity to further discuss the nature of research and development activities and internship arrangements post-selection.

Eligibility:

The PhD student must be:

• within the first 18 calendar months of their candidature if commenced as full-time student,
• willing to undertake the internship for a minimum duration of 60 FTE business days,
• making satisfactory progress
• undertaking research in an area related to mental health. Preference will be given to students whose research relates to personality disorders or suicide prevention.
• willing to comply with all relevant policies, procedures and directives of SA Health whilst on placement including and meet requirements relating to immunisation and criminal history screening.

Application process:

To apply, please email the following documents to hdr_internships@adelaide.edu.au (HDR Internships Office) with the subject line – BPD Co Internship

• Resume
• Cover Letter (of not more than 2 pages) outlining your interest in the internship and describing how your background and research area align with the internship

Please note that applications will be considered on a rolling basis and the advertisement may be closed earlier if a suitable applicant is shortlisted for a particular project prior to the listed closing date. Furthermore, if shortlisted, a meeting is likely to be organised between the student, their supervisor and the organisation's focal contact person within a week of shortlisting. Students may consider discussing their internship plans with their Principal Supervisor in anticipation of that.