Sharmin Sultana

Sharmin Sultana is a PhD researcher at Flinders University (College of Business, Government and Law), where her doctoral project explores how artificial intelligence chatbots can support mental health among Australian older adults using a mixed-methods approach. Alongside her PhD, she contributes to research at Flinders University as a Research Assistant and Casual Professional, including work on co-designing AI chatbots for mental health support in older adults. Her background spans public health, noncommunicable diseases, and physiotherapy, with professional experience across Australia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Japan. Previously, she worked in patient engagement and international business support in a major hospital setting, taught noncommunicable diseases at university level, and held rehabilitation and physiotherapy roles.

Sharmin’s expertise sits at the intersection of digital health, public health research, and evidence generation. She has experience designing and delivering mixed-methods research and evidence synthesis, including registered systematic review work focused on AI chatbots for older adults’ mental health. Her publication record includes cross-sectional research on mental health among migrant populations, as well as studies addressing noncommunicable disease risk factors and health behaviours using established public health instruments and approaches. She brings strong skills in study design, data collection, quantitative analysis, and research writing, supported by experience with common health research and statistical tools.

Sharmin’s research interests include AI-enabled mental health support, conversational agents and chatbots in healthcare, and improving wellbeing outcomes for older adults. She is also interested in migrant mental health, public health approaches to noncommunicable disease prevention, and health behaviour research. Across these areas, she is particularly focused on generating practical evidence that can inform real-world service improvement, patient engagement, and accessible, culturally responsive health support.

Sharmin commenced her PhD at Flinders University in July 2025 and is contributing to projects on co-designing AI chatbots for mental health support in older adults. She has published in international peer-reviewed journals, including a study on mental health and associated factors among Bangladeshi migrants in Thailand. Her earlier work includes research and publications on noncommunicable disease risk factors and salt intake behaviours in healthcare populations in Bangladesh. Professionally, she has held leadership responsibilities in patient engagement and service support in a hospital setting and has taught noncommunicable diseases at a university. She has received institutional recognition for performance and patient-centred care, and has been supported through competitive fellowships and travel grants to present research at international meetings.