Personalised Prediction of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Using Clinical and Biomarker Data

The average age of menopause for Australian women is 51 years, yet approximately 16% experience menopause before age 45. This includes women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), a condition defined by the loss of ovarian function before age 40. Early menopause and POI are associated with significant adverse outcomes, including infertility, osteoporosis, cardiometabolic disease, cognitive decline, and increased mortality. Despite national momentum in women’s health reform, there is currently no validated clinical tool to predict individual risk of POI or early menopause. This MRFF-funded PhD will develop Australia’s first personalised POI risk prediction model integrating clinical, demographic, and biomarker data. The project will apply state-of-the-art risk modelling methods to derive, internally validate, and prepare for external validation a clinically implementable decision-support tool. The candidate will join a high-performing supervisory team with strong expertise in biostatistics, reproductive epidemiology, and women’s health translation. Outputs will include high-impact methodological and applied publications, development of a deployable clinical risk calculator, and direct contribution to improving equitable, preventive reproductive healthcare in Australia. **Scholarship and financial support** This position is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) stipend (at the current annual rate), plus a $3,000* per annum project top-up for three years (total additional support: $9,000*). *Top up scholarship available for Domestic Candidates only The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to undertake additional paid research assistant (RA) hours, subject to performance and availability, providing further income and skill development. Dedicated conference funding of up to $2,300 will be available to support presentation at national or international meetings. This combined package provides strong financial and professional development support within a nationally funded MRFF research program.