Elsa Antunes

elsa.antunes1@jcu.edu.au
Senior Lecturer - Mechanical Engineering

Projects

9

Publications

59

Awards

6

Biography

Profile:

Elsa Antunes is a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in the College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University. She obtained her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from James Cook University in 2018. Elsa’s PhD was focused on understanding the impact of microwave pyrolysis conditions on biochar properties produced from diverse biomass. Before joining James Cook University, Elsa was Head of Advanced Ceramics Department capitalising more than 10 years employment within industry undertaking research projects.

Elsa’s research is focused in the field of materials engineering, developing new materials and fabrication techniques for biomedical implants, investigating smart materials fabrication, understanding production of value-added products from biomass pyrolysis, and using biochar for water purification and resource recovery.

Current Research Projects:

Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
3D Printing of Advanced Ceramic Materials
Sustainable Conversion of Biomass into Value-added products
Advanced Technologies to Mitigate the Impact of Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Research

Research Interests

Biomedical implants: new materials and fabrication methods
Nanomaterials: design new materials for new applications
Pyrolysis: production of value-added products while mitigating the environmental impact of biomass
Biochar applications: water purification and other value-added applications

Projects

Development of multi-layered scaffolds to promote bone healing responses in non-union fractures

01 Feb 2024 - 30 Nov 2024

INVESTIGATION OF SLURRY PROPERTIES TO ENHANCE GOLD LEACHING (Old ID 30053)

01 Jun 2023 - 31 Mar 2024

High shear fluid flow driving carbon foundry for advanced manufacturing (Old ID 28965)

01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2025

OPTIMISATION OF THE PROCESSING PLANT FOR GOLD EXTRACTION. (Old ID 27575)

21 Feb 2022 - 30 Nov 2022

MINJAR GOLD - INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF CLAY ON GOLD EXTRACTION (Old ID 27376)

22 Feb 2021 - 30 Nov 2021

Identifying and eliminating future risk from regional Queensland wastewater treatment operations through biosolids technology innovation (Old ID 26919)

04 Jan 2021 - 04 Jan 2024

Development and characterization of a Novel Zirconia Implant material with enhanced mechanical properties and bio-compatibility (Old ID 27124)

01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2021

RRAP CAD-01: Coral propagation and deployment (Old ID 27237)

01 Oct 2020 - 30 Jun 2025

Development of Customised Hospital Waste Processing Technology (Old ID 26326)

25 Feb 2019 - 31 Mar 2020

Teaching

Research Advisor Accreditation

Advisor Type

Primary

Taught Modules

[EG2010] Materials Science and EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2024

[CL3021] Mass Transfer OperationsLecturer

2021

[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2024

[EG3000] Introduction to Systems Engineering and Project ManagementLecturer

2020

[EG4012] Thesis Part 2 of 2Lecturer

2023

[EG4011] Thesis Part 1 of 2Lecturer

2023

[EG2010] Materials Science and EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2023

[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2023

[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2022

[EG4011] Thesis Part 1 of 2Lecturer

2024

[EG2010] Materials Science and EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2021

[EG2010] Materials Science and EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2022

[CL3021] Mass Transfer OperationsLecturer

2022

[EG4012] Thesis Part 2 of 2Lecturer

2024

[CL3021] Mass Transfer OperationsLecturer

2019

[CL3021] Mass Transfer OperationsLecturer

2020

[EG2010] Materials Science and EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2019

[EG2010] Materials Science and EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2020

[EG3000] Introduction to Systems Engineering and Project ManagementCoordinator, Lecturer

2019

[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringLecturer

2019

[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer

2020

Current JCU Research Students

Application of Functionalized Nano-graphene Quantum Dots (nGQDs) as an efficient Cancer diagnostic and therapeutic Platform

Master of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)

Optimising the conversion of sugarcane biomass to carbon-based materials

Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)

Monolithic and multi-ceramic sandwich structures with functionally graded TPMS lattice-core topology for ultra-high temperature applications

Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)

Graphene based supercapacitors from renewable sources

Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)

Developing biochar for resource recovery and pollution mitigation

Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)

Investigation of Cerium Stabilized Zirconia for Biomedical Applications and Feasibility of Binder Jet Processing of these Bio-ceramics

Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of different shapes of gold nanoparticles

Master of Philosophy (Health)

Investigation of Biomass Derived Biochar for Mitigation of Pharmaceuticals Pollution

Master of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)

Completed JCU Research Students

Tailoring the properties of PECVD deposited Terpinen-4ol thin films

Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2019

Investigation of novel mono- and bimetallic catalysts for high quality bio-oil production using biomass co-pyrolysis

Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)- 2023

An Assessment of the Sustainability of Alternative Therma Processing Techniques for the Destruction of emerging Contaminants in Biosolids

Master of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)- 2022

Activities

Awards

Reperio Innovation Award

2018

JCU Research Support Grant

2018

Sandpit to Seed

2020

Advance Queensland Industry Fellowship

2021

2023 Women In Industry Award for Excellence in Engineering

2023

2024 Finalist in the Life Sciences Queensland GENE Awards

2024

Employment

Lecturer - Mechanical Engineering, James Cook University

2018 - 2022

PhD, James Cook University

2014 - 2018

Senior Lecturer - Mechanical Engineering, James Cook University

2022

Media

Scientist a solid achiever - Lecturer wins prize, Townsville Bulletin

2023

James Cook Uni on display for Open day, Townsville Bulletin

2024

What can ceramic 3D printing be used for? , Townsville Bulletin

2024

Committees

Lead of the Inclusion, Diversity and Retention Portfolio - Engineering

2023

Member of the College Science & Engineering Research Committee

2021

Output

Ceramic three-dimensional printing

2023

Mahesh Koushik, Tejas; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2023) Ceramic three-dimensional printing. Amsterdam, Netherlands: [DOI] ...

Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU

Application of biochar for emerging contaminant mitigation

2021

Antunes, Elsa; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun; Sarmah, Ajit K.; Varsha, S.S.V.; Pant, Kamal K.; Tiwari, Bhagya...

Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU

Investigations on biochar production from biosolids via microwave assisted pyrolysis and its potential applications

2017

Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa Marisa (2017) Investigations on biochar production from biosolids via micro. [Thesis] [DOI] ...

Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU

Effects of material type and surface roughness of settlement tiles on macroalgal colonisation and early coral recruitment success

2024

Fong, Jenny; Ramsby, Blake D.; Flores, Florita; Dada, Tewodros; Antunes, Elsa; Abdul Wahab, Muhammad...