NDRI PhD scholars “highly praised”, “exceptional”

Three NDRI researchers have recently completed Doctor of Philosophy degrees, including two who received a Chancellor’s Commendation for an exceptional Higher Degree by Research thesis.

NDRI Research Associate Annalee Stearne, a Nyungar women from WA, was awarded a Curtin University Chancellor’s Commendation for an “exceptional” Higher Degree by Research thesis on ‘Inclusion of Self-Determination by First Nations Australian Communities in Alcohol Related Policy Development in the Northern Territory’.

Dr Stearne was supervised by NDRI Professor Steve Allsop. Curtin School of Allied Health Associate Professor Michael Wright and Professor Anthony Shakeshaft, formerly from NDARC and now at University of Queensland, were co-supervisors, while NDRI Adjunct Associate Professor Kylie Lee, from the University of Sydney, was an associate supervisor.

NDRI Research Fellow Dr William Gilmore also received a Curtin University Chancellor’s Commendation for his PhD research thesis, which focused on alcohol policy and how availability impacts use and related harm. Supervised by NDRI Alcohol Policy Program Leader Professor Tanya Chikritzhs with then-NDRI Research Fellow Dr Wenbin Liang as co-supervisor, Dr Gilmore's thesis was similarly “highly praised by the examiners who agreed that the research was of an exceptionally high standard”.

NDRI Research Associate Dr Michael Curtis’ PhD thesis examined ‘The impact of retention in opioid agonistic treatment following release from prison among men with recent histories of injecting drug use’. Dr Curtis was enrolled through Monash University but NDRI Professor Paul Dietze was a co-supervisor.

Michael is based in NDRI’s Melbourne office as part of the Harm reduction policy and strategies program, while Anna and William are conducting research as part of the Alcohol policy and strategies program, based at NDRI at Curtin University in Perth.

To find out more about opportunities in NDRI’s Postgraduate Program, click here or contact NDRI Director of Graduate Research Nyanda McBride


Posted on: 12 May 2023

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