If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the project supervisors.
Usability framework for verifiable credentials
Applications will remain open until a candidate has been appointed
Supporting a PhD candidate investigating verifiable credential usability adoption barriers and user-centred framework development.
Key details
Project supervisor
Additional supervisors
Location
Melbourne Burwood Campus
Value and duration
This scholarship is available four three years and offers:
- a stipend of $48,000 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
Research aim
Verifiable Credentials (VC) is an emerging decentralized identity management (IdM) solution designed to address privacy and security issues of traditional IdM systems. While the benefits of VC for both identity providers and users are well-documented, real-world adoption and use cases remain low. Preliminary research suggests that this gap is due to usability challenges, particularly users' perception that VC systems are difficult to use. People tend to avoid complex operations, extra learning, or difficult decisions, leading to hesitancy in adopting such systems.
The main goal of the project is to evaluate the usability of current VC solutions and create a framework to guide the development of more user-friendly VC technologies
Background information
The student will work to understand technology adoption challenges in relation to verifiable credentials and seek to address these challenges through an evidence-based usability framework. Using qualitative techniques such as latent class analysis the developed framework will be designed to be flexible to meet the needs of different user archetypes. The student will be supported with an opportunity to undertake a work placement with our industry partner (bupa) and undertake industry-informed research.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible you must:
- meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
- enrol full time
- hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard masters degree with a substantial research component
- be a domestic student candidate (domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency, or New Zealand Citizenship) (optional)
Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.
Ready to apply?
Please email your CV, cover letter (including your interest in the project), and official undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts to Prof Robin Doss. Your CV should highlight your skills, education, publications and relevant work experience. If successful, you will be invited to submit a formal application.
Research degree entry requirements
Set yourself up for success. Each type of Deakin research degree has specific entry requirements designed to ensure that graduate researchers are well prepared for the challenges of advanced study.
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Prof Robin Doss
