Researcher

Biography

Elke Mitchell is a Senior Research Fellow within the Global Health Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney. She is an experienced social researcher with expertise in qualitative, ethnographic and participatory research methods, and the evaluation of public health programs. Elke's work focuses on the social and behavioural aspects of sexual, reproductive and maternal health, HIV, neglected tropical diseases, and other public health issues,...view more

Elke Mitchell is a Senior Research Fellow within the Global Health Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney. She is an experienced social researcher with expertise in qualitative, ethnographic and participatory research methods, and the evaluation of public health programs. Elke's work focuses on the social and behavioural aspects of sexual, reproductive and maternal health, HIV, neglected tropical diseases, and other public health issues, with a particular focus on Fiji and Papua New Guinea. 

Elke is currently a CI and lead social researcher on a world first clinical trial designed to evaluate the impact of community treatment of STIs to improve perinatal and reproductive health outcomes in Fiji. In 2019, Elke led a qualitative study examining community perspectives of scabies and acceptability of mass drug administration for scabies control in Fiji.

Elke has a PhD in International Health from the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious Australian Government Endeavour Research Fellowship, where she was based at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji for 15 months while undertaking her doctoral fieldwork. In 2018, Elke was awarded the Kirby Institute Emerging Investigator Award. 


My Grants

Current grants:

2022-2026: NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants: $2.1 million (CIH). Project will evaluate whether mass drug administration can reduce the incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and other health consequences of endemic STIs in Fiji.

Previous grants:

2019-2021: Department of Health, Commonwealth of Australia: $307,500 (CIB). Qualitative research focused on sexual health among young Aboriginal LGBTQ+ people.

 

2018: Kirby Institute, Emerging Investigator Awards: $10,000.

 

2013: William and Elizabeth Fisher Scholarship, Graduate Women Victoria: $6,000.

 

2012: Endeavour Research Fellowship, Australia Awards: $23,500.

 

2011: Research Higher Degree Studentship, The University of Melbourne: $36,500.


My Qualifications

BA (Hons), PhD 

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