Oliver's PhD story
Oliver Huse’s PhD research at Deakin’s Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE) explores processed food and beverage corporations’ influence over food and nutrition environments in East Asia low and middle-income countries.
Why did you decide to do a PhD?
I had been working in public health research, and specifically within the field of nutrition, food policy and prevention of obesity, since my honours year in 2015. Pursuing a PhD seemed like a logical step in my career progression. More importantly, it allowed me to pursue research topics that I was most interested in and tailor my research focus to my own skills and experiences.
It is my hope that the research I produced will provide the evidence required by advocates and policymakers to act to reduce the pervasive influence of unhealthy food and beverage corporations in East Asia low and middle-income countries.
Oliver Huse
Why is health and medical research important?
High, middle and low-income countries globally are faced with a range of public health issues. Many of these have been compounded and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rigorous and comprehensive health and medical research is essential to ensuring that decision makers are provided with the evidence and tools needed to act on these health problems.
What support did your supervisor and Deakin provide during your PhD?
Deakin provided me with a research scholarship throughout my PhD candidature. I was also presented with opportunities and funding to attend domestic and international conferences and fortunate to be included as part of a Deakin University Faculty of Health delegation towards the end of my PhD.
I was supported by my PhD supervisor through fortnightly meetings and open lines of communication throughout my PhD. Engagement with my supervisor’s research team also provided me with the opportunity to act as a co-author on numerous other research projects and publications during my time as a PhD student. My supervisor also created opportunities for me to pursue other research interests, including working with UN agencies in the field of prevention of childhood obesity.
How is your research linked to industry?
My PhD is primarily interested in countering the influence of large domestic and transnational food and beverage corporations over food markets and policy.
Did you complete an internship during your PhD?
I did not complete an internship as part of my PhD. Instead, I worked for UNICEF’s South Asia and East Asia and the Pacific regional offices as a consultant throughout the latter half of my PhD. This allowed me to gain practical experience with supporting policy development and implementation in low and middle-income country contexts.
What impact will your research work have on the world?
It is my hope that the research I produced throughout my PhD will provide the evidence required by advocates and policymakers to act to reduce the pervasive influence of unhealthy food and beverage corporations in East Asia low and middle-income countries.
What’s next? Where do you hope your PhD will take you?
As I finalise my PhD, I am exploring opportunities to continue working with UNICEF’s South Asia regional office. This work will support country offices to act as advocates, while also expanding on the research I completed during my PhD. I hope to work to continue my association with Deakin University, while also exploring opportunities to work with other research teams internationally.
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