Allyson Todd is in the second year of her PhD studies in the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

My research focuses on preventing chronic disease in adolescents by strengthening youth engagement in health research and policy.

Part of my PhD involves working in partnership with young people to co-create the Health Hive. It’s Australia’s first free online course that aims to build youth capacity and confidence to actively contribute to health promotion initiatives (launching October 2025). This work has been funded through a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Consumer-Led Grant.

I first met Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge during a 2019/2020 Summer Research Scholarship at the University of Sydney, while I was completing my Bachelor of Global Studies (Health Major). It was a wonderful experience, and it sparked my interest in public health research as a potential career path.

After completing my Master of Public Health at the University of Sydney in 2022, I joined Stephanie’s team as a research assistant for two years. This role gave me a solid foundation in research and eased my transition to PhD candidate.

Stephanie has been an incredible mentor over the years. She’s supportive, insightful, and deeply committed to improving youth health. Her passion and leadership continue to motivate me to reach my full potential.

Being part of the Youth Well Lab has been especially motivating. I work with an inspiring and supportive team that encourages me to achieve my best. Stephanie fosters an inclusive team culture of celebration and growth. Whether it’s a small milestone or a major achievement, it’s recognised and valued.

One of the most surprising parts of my PhD has been the breadth of opportunities it’s opened, many of which I owe to Stephanie’s support. I’ve developed skills beyond research, including project management and mentoring youth advisors.

A highlight has been joining the UNESCO Chair for Global Health and Education to co-author a book on meaningful child and adolescent participation in health promotion. I’ve also had exciting opportunities to present my research, including my first published PhD paper at the upcoming International Association for Adolescent Health World Congress in November 2025.

I really enjoy working in research and seeing ideas translate into real-world impact. I hope to continue contributing to meaningful improvements in youth health and wellbeing.

Studying a PhD at the University of Sydney has been a rewarding experience.

I have been incredibly fortunate to be guided by a dedicated supervisory team, Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge, Dr Penny Farrel, Dr Alice Gibson, Associate Professor Seema Mihrshahi, and Dr Rebecca Raeside.

Their mentorship has been instrumental in shaping a positive and enriching PhD experience. Their guidance, encouragement, constructive feedback, as well as their genuine value for good work-life balance, have been invaluable throughout my research.

I also appreciate the supportive environment fostered by the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge is a public health nutrition researcher in the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery.

I lead the Youth Well Lab, where we use digital technology to improve the health and wellbeing of adolescents aged 10–24 years.

My background is in public health nutrition, and I’m a Sydney Horizon Fellow focused on preventing chronic diseases early in life and building healthier communities for current and future generations.

I’ve supervised three PhD candidates as primary supervisor and two as co-supervisor.

So many memes portray the PhD as a struggle, but I became a supervisor because I believe, with the right support, it can (and should!) be enjoyable, rewarding and fun.

I was excited by Allyson’s proposal because it brought together my interests in nutrition and youth engagement, two areas we were actively leading research in. It was a unique opportunity to integrate these fields, while also drawing on Allyson’s strengths in global health.

I remind my students that support networks matter: family and friends might not have a clue what your research is about, but they’re often the best kind, active listeners, keeping you grounded, sparking fresh ideas and reminding you there’s life outside the academic bubble.

Our research aims to contribute to a better world, and I believe you need to stay connected to that world to make meaningful change.