The Social Dimensions of Health is a new program at the University of Victoria, designed for graduate degrees for students interested in the social determinants of health (for more details see http://socialsciences.uvic.ca/images/pdfs/SDHRproposal13Mar09.pdf). The Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC), located at the University of Victoria, comprises a multidisciplinary team of researchers who produce informative research on substance use and abuse of direct relevance to health providers, social service workers, policy makers, and the public at large (see http://www.carbc.ca/). The main focus of research is aimed at reducing harmful consequences of psycho-active drugs (e.g. cannabis, cocaine, opiods) and alcohol in society. Students interested in the area of substance use and abuse and pursuing higher education are encouraged to consider this opportunity for advanced study.

This scholarship opportunity in the amount of $12,000 for a MA student and $16,000 for a PhD student for the first year is study for a successful applicant admitted to SDH under the supervision of Scott Macdonald and/or Tim Stockwell. Dr. Scott Macdonald is the Assistant Director at the Centre for Addictions Research of BC at the University of Victoria. He has conducted research in a variety of areas related to substance use and abuse. He has been involved in epidemiological studies, program evaluation and policy analysis of substance abuse interventions. In particular, he has studied workplace programs to address substance use, such as drug testing programs, employee assistance programs and health promotion programs. He has conducted studies on the impact of cocaine, cannabis and alcohol on injuries, violence and traffic crashes. His current research interests include: social epidemiology of addictions; monitoring and surveillance of addictions problems across BC and Canada; relationship between substance use and abuse with injuries including violence and crashes; and alcohol and drug policy, harm reduction, and policing issues. Tim Stockwell is Director of CARBC and a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University Victoria. He has spent more than three decades conducting and publishing research on prevention, clinical, policy and epidemiological aspects of substance use and related problems in three continents - previously in the United Kingdom and then 16 years in Australia where he served as a Director of the National Drug Research Institute. His current research interests include the evaluation of population wide measures to assess and reduce alcohol-related harm, the development of low risk drinking guidelines and meta-analyses of the relationship between alcohol consumption and related harms. He is also PI on a comprehensive epidemiological monitoring program.

Interested applicants will likely have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in Sociology, Psychology, or a Health related field of study; and have direct experience in research related to alcohol or drugs in society. Interested applicants must have completed applications to SDH by May 1st (for September, 2010 admission). Those interested should email Scott Macdonald at scottmac@uvic.ca or Tim Stockwell at timstock@uvic.ca and include an updated CV describing your background, a copy of your academic record and a sample of your writing.