Affiliation
Scientist at WHO Multi-Country Studies Unit and Senior Research Fellow at University of Newcastle Research Centre on Gender, Health and Ageing

 

Address

34 Charles Street

Freshwater, NSW 2096

Australia

 

Contact

kowalp@who.int; paul.kowal@newcastle.edu.au

 

Biosketch

Dr. Kowal has worked at the WHO for over 11 years, with an initial focus on ageing and health in sub-Saharan Africa - through the Minimum Data Set Project. This evolved into primary data collection to fill identified information gaps and supplement existing data. Over the last 2 years, he has also been working with the Research Centre on Gender, Health and Ageing - examining methods of ageing research in higher income countries and the comparisons to lower income countries.

 

 

Key research/capacity building interests

 

Research Interests

• Health and disability, compression of morbidity
• Well-being, happiness and quality of life
• Methodological issues with ageing research in Africa
• Caregiving
• Health systems and responsiveness
• Social networks and intergenerational transfers
• Financial well-being in older age

Capacity Building Interests

• Able to host fellows, graduate level and PhD students
• Provide access to available data
• Co-authoring manuscripts

Key methodological skills

•  Quantitative analysis of large scale datasets
• Quantitative ageing and adult health research
• Measuring health and well-being in different contexts
• Cross-country comparisons 

Current/planned research

• Multi-country studies on ageing and adult healthGender impacts of changes in pension system design
• Indigenous and minority ageing and health
• Islands of ageing

Current engagement in capacity building

•  Hosting student interns regularly
• Seeking funding for short-term mid-career fellowships
• Support via email