^{19 September 2025}

Creating evidence-based solutions that address the complex challenges of informal settlements requires deep, focused research that uncovers the underlying factors shaping health and environmental outcomes. PhD researchers are central to this research process.

For RISE’s cohort of early-career researchers, their work — on antimicrobial resistance, to climate resilience — provides vital, context-specific insights that can inform practical, community-focused solutions. Through rigorous research and close collaboration with teams in Fiji and Indonesia, our PhDs are generating valuable knowledge. Their work aims to ultimately inform sustainable water, sanitation and climate interventions that can support healthier, more resilient informal settlement communities.

Andi Zulkifli “Zul” Agussalim
Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS)
Faculty of Public Health

"My PhD explores how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) spreads in informal settlements, using a One Health lens across humans, animals, and the environment. I’m particularly interested in how nature-based solutions like constructed wetlands — combined with metagenomic sequencing — can help interrupt AMR transmission in communities facing major health and sanitation challenges."

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Leah Barrett
Monash University
Faculty of Engineering

"As a final-year PhD candidate with RISE, I’m studying microbial source tracking (MST) markers in tropical and informal settings. My research examines their performance and links to enteric pathogens to improve understanding of environmental faecal contamination, supporting better public health risk assessment and targeted mitigation strategies.”

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Sophia Iwao
Monash University
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

"My research explores how individual and community behaviours influence engagement with environmental and climate resilience interventions, focusing on long-term behaviour change and sustainability across the communities participating in RISE. With a background in psychology, behavioural science, and marketing, I’m passionate about supporting people-centred solutions for healthier environments and stronger communities."

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Gianna La Regina
Monash University, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and
University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Microbiology

“As a joint PhD candidate with Monash University and the University of Zurich, my research explores how climate change influences the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Using AI and machine learning, I aim to develop tools that forecast antimicrobial resistance risks and support evidence-based public health strategies in vulnerable communities.”

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Shwetha Sukumar
Monash University
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

"My research investigates how children in informal settlements are exposed to pathogens from faecal contamination on surfaces, tracing transmission from outdoor to indoor areas. I am analysing data to identify sources and visualise findings for risk reduction.”

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Shannon Zhong
Monash University
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

"My PhD is exploring how climate change and environmental stressors affect infectious disease exposure among RISE informal settlement residents. Using GPS, mobile phones, and surveys, I am analysing human movement in informal settlements to understand shifting disease risks, and support effective climate adaptation strategies.”

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Ruzka Taruc
Monash University
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

"I'm interested in how local and contextual factors shape RISE’s implementation in Indonesia. I believe that insights from lived experience, and our teams working directly with communities – as well as local policy and cultural practices – are essential to inform and enrich the interpretation of RISE’s findings, and help guide future intervention scale-up."