Research is a group effort. I work with and supervise a talented team of research assistants and students. My past students have gone on to further study, and to work in clinical roles, government and the private sector.

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Current Students

Sophie Abel MD
Ph.D candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne.
School environments and child health.

Tsion Tebeje
Ph.D candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne
Causal effects of maternal health conditions during pregnancy on child outcomes to age 3y in GenV

Yifei Wang
PhD candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne.
Air pollution and pneumococcal disease in Mongolia

Nayana Ralalage
PhD candidate, MSPGH, University of Melbourne.
Causal spatial methods in air pollution and health research.

Preyanit Takkinsatian MD
PhD candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne
The adverse impact of food allergy on children’s respiratory health.

Rebecca Reid
PhD candidate, Victoria University
Mental health, equity and air and noise pollution from major roads.

Reid, R.A., Mavoa, S., Foster, S., Gilmartin-Thomas, J. and Rachele, J.N., 2025. Spatially consistent annual socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA) data for australian statistical areas, 1996–2021. Annals of Epidemiology.

Reid, R.A., Mavoa, S., Gilmartin-Thomas, J., Foster, S. and Rachele, J.N., 2025. Associations between neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and psychological distress among Australian adults: longitudinal analysis of the HILDA survey (2007–2021). J Epidemiol Community Health, 79(11), pp.842-848.

Pratika Chawala
PhD candidate, University of Canberra
Air pollution sensors and asthma

Lu Cao
PhD candidate, University of Melbourne
Green infrastructure and cardiovascular mortality.

Past Students

Joselin McKittrick
MEpi. Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, University of Melbourne (2024). Project 1: Systematic review of odour and psychosocial wellbeing. Project 2: Characterising population health and disadvantage near mines in Victoria.

Mckittrick, J., Hadgraft, N., Fry, K.L., Mikkonen, A.T., Mavoa, S., 2025. Industrial Odour and Psychosocial Wellbeing: A Systematic Review. Environments, 12(10), p.364.

Yijun Zhang
PhD, School of Nursing, University of Auckland (2024)
Greenspace and adolescent mental health.

Zhang, Y., Mavoa, S., Zhao, J., Raphael, D. and Smith, M., 2020. The association between green space and adolescents’ mental well-being: A systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(18), p.6640.

Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Mavoa, S., Erika, I., Clark, T.C., Crengle, S. and Smith, M., 2022. Urban green space and mental well-being of Aotearoa New Zealand adolescents: a path analysis. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 3, p.100085.

Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Mavoa, S., Fenaughty, J., Clark, T.C., Crengle, S. and Smith, M., 2024. Impacts of sociodemographic factors, rainbow and disabled identities and neighbourhood safety on the relationship between urban green space and adolescent mental well-being: Findings from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. SSM-Population Health, p.101603.

Inequalities in urban green space distribution across priority population groups: evidence from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New ZealandZhang, Y., Zhao, J., Mavoa, S. and Smith, M., 2024. Inequalities in urban green space distribution across priority population groups: evidence from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Cities, 149, p.104972.

Mallery Crowe
MPH, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne (2021)
Pollution, greenspace and adolescent cognitive control.

Wang, Y., Crowe, M., Knibbs, L.D., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Mygind, L., Kerr, J.A., Wake, M., Olsson, C.A., Enticott, P.G., Peters, R.L. and Daraganova, G., 2023. Greenness modifies the association between ambient air pollution and cognitive function in Australian adolescents, but not in mid-life adults. Environmental Pollution, 324, p.121329.

Noah De Losa
MD. Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, University of Melbourne (2021)
Prison design and mental health.

Daizee Boucher
MOE, Office of Environmental Programs, University of Melbourne (2021)
Impact on urban greenspace appreciation under COVID restrictions: a scoping review.

Daniel Keevers
MD, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne (2020)
Preconception exposures to outdoor environments and adverse birth outcomes.

Wang, Y., Marzan, M., Yang, Z., Crowe, M., Moslehi, M., Tham, R., Keevers, D., Kane, S.C., Wake, M., Lycett, K. and Wong, Y.T., 2026. Parental preconception exposure to residential outdoor neighbourhood environments and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes: a scoping review. Int. J. Environ. Epidemiol. 2026(1):0005.

Mavoa, S., Keevers, D., Kane, S.C., Wake, M., Tham, R., Lycett, K., Wong, Y.T. and Chong, K., 2021. Parental Preconception Exposures to Outdoor Neighbourhood Environments and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Protocol for a Scoping Review and Evidence Map. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), p.8943.

David Sutherland
Hons, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne University of Melbourne (2020)
Early life exposure to green space and food allergy.

Peters, R.L., Sutherland, D., Dharmage, S.C., Lowe, A.J., Perrett, K.P., Tang, M.L., Lycett, K., Knibbs, L.D., Koplin, J.J. and Mavoa, S., 2022. The association between environmental greenness and the risk of food allergy: a population‐based study in Melbourne, Australia. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 33(2), p.e13749.

Bhuban Timalsina
M.Sc., School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne (2020)
Melbourne’s urban green space: Quantifying change over time and
potential drivers.

Timalsina, B., Mavoa, S. and Hahs, A.K., 2021. Dynamic Changes in Melbourne’s Urban Vegetation Cover—2001 to 2016. Land, 10(8), p.814.

Jessica Oakley
Hons, Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne (2019)
Backyard size and greenness, and child mental and physical health.

Oakley, J., Peters, R.L., Wake, M., Grobler, A.C., Kerr, J.A., Lycett, K., Cassim, R., Russell, M., Sun, C., Tang, M.L. and Koplin, J.J., 2021. Backyard benefits? A cross-sectional study of yard size and greenness and children’s physical activity and outdoor play. BMC Public Health, 21(1), pp.1-10.

Glend Isaraj
Hons, Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne (2019)
Dwelling density, and child mental and physical health.

Najaf Dure
Hons, School of Psychology, Deakin University (2019)
Air pollution and mental health problems in Australian children.

Jinesh Padmaka Silva
Postdoctoral trainee, University of Melbourne (2018-2019)
Greenspace and cardiovascular risk.

Silva, J.P., Singh, A., Oldenburg, B., Gunathunga, W., Alagiyawanna, A.M.A.A.P. and Mavoa, S., 2021. Associations between residential greenness and self-reported heart disease in Sri Lankan men: A cross-sectional study. Plos one, 16(5), p.e0252382.

Amanda Alderton
MPH, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne (2018)
Parent-perceived barriers and facilitators to children’s use of green spaces.