UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 – Fully Funded
The UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 supports domestic applicants researching sleep, wearables, online chess and behavioural economics at The University of Queensland.
The UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded research opportunity at The University of Queensland for domestic applicants interested in econometrics, behavioural economics, health economics, wearable data and AI-assisted empirical research. The project will investigate how sleep, exercise, diet and environmental conditions influence cognitive performance and real-world decision-making.
Important eligibility notice: this opportunity is open only to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. International applicants are not eligible for this advertised project.
Table of Contents
UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027: Overview
| University | The University of Queensland (UQ) |
|---|---|
| School | School of Economics |
| Program | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
| Location | St Lucia, Queensland, Australia |
| Research area | Economics |
| Supervisor | Associate Professor David Smerdon |
| Scholarship code | CHESS-SMERDON |
| Funding | Living stipend plus tuition fee coverage |
| Nearest EOI deadline | 30 September 2026 for Research Quarter 1, 2027 |
| Latest permitted commencement | Research Quarter 4, 2027 |
The research is associated with ARC DECRA DE260100243 and is led by Associate Professor David Smerdon. The UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 brings together applied microeconometrics, behavioural economics and health economics, using repeated behavioural and biometric observations to understand the relationship between lifestyle and decision quality.
Candidates can review the official UQ project listing before preparing an expression of interest. For more funded-study updates, you can also explore the latest opportunities on Opportunities For Everyone.
What the PhD Project Will Study
The project plans to link de-identified data from WHOOP wearables, Chess.com games and environmental sources. This creates an unusually rich research setting. Chess moves can be evaluated repeatedly for quality, speed, risk and context, while wearable records provide information on sleep, recovery, strain and other physiological measures. Environmental data can add variation in temperature, daylight and air quality.
The successful candidate will develop an independent thesis within this broader research agenda. Possible directions include:
- how sleep quality and circadian disruption affect decision-making;
- whether exercise, recovery and physiological strain influence next-day cognitive performance;
- the effects of temperature, daylight, air quality or other environmental shocks on behaviour;
- heterogeneous effects of lifestyle factors across people and situations;
- causal machine-learning methods for personalised behavioural recommendations;
- experimental or randomised controlled trial designs related to behaviour and performance.
Methods, Data and Research Workflow
This is a quantitatively demanding PhD. The project may use panel-data methods, fixed effects, two-way fixed effects, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, quasi-experimental approaches and experimental or RCT designs. Applicants to the UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 should be comfortable with careful empirical identification rather than relying only on descriptive correlations.
The research environment also places strong emphasis on reproducibility. Expected practices include script-based analysis in R or Python, local file-based workflows, version control, documentation, code review and systematic verification of outputs. Experience using coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex or comparable multi-agent research workflows is desirable when accompanied by human review, model comparison and methodological discipline.
Who Is a Strong Candidate?
The strongest fit is likely to be an applicant with deep quantitative training, reliable coding habits and genuine curiosity about lifestyle, cognition and behaviour. A background in one or more of the following areas may be relevant:
- economics or econometrics;
- data science or computer science;
- psychology or cognitive science;
- health economics or behavioural science;
- another closely related quantitative discipline.
Working knowledge of applied microeconometrics, causal inference, panel methods and R or Python would be beneficial. Experience with experiments, RCTs, behavioural data, large health datasets, sleep or wearable data is desirable but not required. Chess knowledge is welcome, but it is not an entry requirement.
Scholarship Funding and Duration
Funding for the UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 includes a living stipend and tuition support. The current official Fellowship support scheme page lists a living stipend of A$39,220 per year at the 2026 rate, indexed annually, together with tuition fee coverage. The normal scholarship duration is 3.5 years, with the possibility of one extension.
Funding discrepancy to verify: the official project listing currently states A$37,500 per year, while the more recent Fellowship support scheme page states A$39,220 per year for 2026. Applicants should confirm the applicable award rate directly with UQ before accepting an offer.
Read the official Fellowship support scheme scholarship page for the latest value, duration, rules and eligibility information.
Domestic Applicant Eligibility
The advertised project is restricted to domestic applicants. Eligible citizenship or residency categories are:
- Australian citizens;
- New Zealand citizens;
- Australian permanent residents;
- holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas.
Applicants must also meet the UQ Doctor of Philosophy admission requirements and any project-specific requirements. UQ generally expects an approved degree in a relevant field completed within the previous 10 years, together with appropriate research experience and English-language proficiency.
Academic pathways UQ may accept
- a Master of Philosophy or another approved research master’s degree;
- a relevant bachelor’s degree with at least honours class IIA or equivalent;
- a coursework master’s degree with a UQ-equivalent GPA of 5.65 on a 7-point scale and relevant research experience;
- certain other postgraduate or professional pathways assessed case by case, where substantial independent research experience can be demonstrated.
Examples of relevant research evidence may include an individually assessed research project, scholarly publications, substantial technical or industry reports, or professional experience involving independent planning and execution of research-like work. Check the official UQ PhD entry requirements for the full and current rules.
Application Deadlines for 2027
Candidates must begin no later than Research Quarter 4, 2027, although an earlier research quarter is allowed. UQ lists quarterly expression-of-interest deadlines for domestic applicants:
| Preferred start | EOI closing date |
|---|---|
| Research Quarter 1 (January) | 30 September |
| Research Quarter 2 (April) | 31 December |
| Research Quarter 3 (July) | 31 March |
| Research Quarter 4 (October) | 30 June |
As of 20 July 2026, the nearest upcoming deadline is 30 September 2026 for a Research Quarter 1 start in 2027. Applicants targeting a later 2027 quarter should follow the corresponding date above and confirm the applicable year and availability on the official project page.
How to Apply
- Review the official project description, domestic eligibility restriction and PhD entry requirements.
- Prepare your academic documents, evidence of research experience and any materials requested by the School of Economics.
- If needed, contact Associate Professor David Smerdon at d.smerdon@uq.edu.au to discuss whether the project matches your research interests.
- Submit a PhD expression of interest through UQ’s online application system.
- In the Scholarship/Sponsorship section, select that you are applying for an advertised project.
- Use the project description “Fellowship project scholarship” and scholarship code CHESS-SMERDON.
- Include the official scholarship advertisement URL when requested.
You do not need to make a separate application for the project or scholarship. The expression of interest covers the program pathway, advertised project and scholarship consideration according to UQ’s instructions.
Documents and Preparation Checklist
- academic transcripts and degree certificates;
- evidence of research training or independent research experience;
- an up-to-date academic CV;
- information about publications, honours, awards and relevant employment;
- evidence of quantitative and coding skills;
- a clear explanation of your fit with the project’s econometric and behavioural research agenda;
- any additional documents requested by UQ or the School of Economics.
Final Advice
The UQ Lifestyle Decision-Making PhD Scholarship 2027 may suit applicants who want to combine applied microeconometrics with high-frequency behavioural and biometric data. Before submitting, verify the relevant research-quarter deadline, confirm the scholarship value, and tailor your materials to demonstrate quantitative depth, reproducible coding habits and sound judgement in the use of AI-assisted research tools.
