Aston-Deakin Cotutelle – Understanding the Use of Screen Time During Mealtimes 2026

This project aims to examine bidirectional associations between screen use during children’s meals and child fussy eating across early childhood using longitudinal cohort data from the Longitudinal Assessment of Children’s Eating (LACE) study.

Furthermore, the candidate will analyse experimental simulation data (FeedQuest) to investigate which parents use screens in feeding scenarios, how this co-occurs with other feeding practices, and how these choices influence child-avatar responses to vegetables at mealtimes. There will be additions exploration into parents’ motivations, beliefs, and experiences regarding mealtime screen use through in-depth qualitative interviews, including perceived benefits, challenges, and impacts on family mealtime dynamics.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMarch 31, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorDeakin University
• City to studyVictoria
• School to studyDeakin University
• Eligible CountryAustralia , New Zealand

Benefits

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate.
• at least 12 months of the total period of the program at Aston University.
• students will be enrolled at their home institution and at their host institution and will receive a Doctoral degree from Aston University and Deakin University.

Requirements

To be eligible you must:

• be a domestic candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship
• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Aston University, including equivalence and English language proficiency criteria
• enrol full time
• be able to physically locate to both Aston University (United Kingdom) and Deakin University (Australia).

Please refer to the research degree entry requirements page and Aston University's research entry criteria page for further information.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Applicants should contact Dr Alissa Burnett ([email protected]) to discuss the project before being invited by Deakin University to lodge a formal application.
• If successful you will then lodge a separate PhD application to Aston University via the Aston application page.