College of Science & Engineering

Sophia Love

Sophia Love

Romain Vaucher

Romain Vaucher

Jenny Fisher

Jenny Fisher

Ambili Narayanan

Ambili Narayanan

Sarfaraz Ali

Sarfaraz Ali

Mikaeylah Davidson

Mikaeylah Davidson

Liuxin Chen

Liuxin Chen

Rafael Cabral Carvalho

Rafael Cabral Carvalho

Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd

Mohamadreza Chalak Qazani

Mohamadreza Chalak Qazani

Biosecurity and genetic improvement for disease resistance in large scale shrimp aquaculture (Old ID 27756)
Phoebe Arbon
01 Jul 2022 - 30 Nov 2022
This project aims to facilitate first-hand experience for students in international agricultural research in the Tropics. Activities will involve travel of the student, Phoebe Arbon, accompanied by Prof. Dean Jerry, to facilities including advanced selective shrimp breeding centres, aquatic viral research laboratories and, industrial-scale aquaculture farms in Thailand and Singapore. Travel to these regions presents unique opportunities to enhance Phoebe’s research experience and technical understanding of aquatic animal health, given the presence of highly pathogenic shrimp diseases and aquaculture conditions which are unparalleled in Australia. Engagement made with industry and research groups during the trip will also foster professional networks.
High shear fluid flow driving carbon foundry for advanced manufacturing (Old ID 28965)
Elsa Antunes
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
The project aims to develop versatile continuous flow film microfluidic device technology by harnessing the contact electrification generated by sub-micron high shear topological flow, for fabricating novel nano-carbon material for which current methods are ineffective or of limited utility. This technology incorporates optional external electric and magnetic fields, and textured surfaces in the rapidly rotating tube, which will allow exquisite control, with real time monitoring, on reforming of carbon into functional material with tunable properties and fabricating hetero-structures of nano-carbon. Understanding their fundamental properties will be targeted for leveraging them in applications to generate new processes and products.
Develop an AI based zero-lag flood monitoring and reporting system (Old ID 29019)
Nico Adams
01 Jul 2023 - 30 Jun 2024
The project will marshall appropriate flood relevant data including images and process it accordingly to facilitate model building. We will then move to the development of statistical models that optimise data capture locations, accuracy, low latency through asset location while minimising deployment costs. We will subsequently design an AI means to improve current flood mapping models based on actual Lixia field water level sensor data utilising ensemble optimisatin, leading to the development of online toolsets to transmit flood level prediction information. We will also engage with regional local governments water and emergency agencies as appropriate to test and qualify minimum viable products and processes.
Wuthathi River to reef baselines and monitoring framework
Nathan Waltham
02 May 2025 - 30 Apr 2026
Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation would like to engage TropWATER JCU to assist with the implementation of the Wuthathi IPA Plan of management. This work will include 4 components to investigate connections from the Harmer River to the inshore Islands including Coastal mangroves. helicopter survey of Wuthathi coastline from Olive River to Captain Billys Landing and offshore islands showing impacts to mangroves. Seagrass. Vessel-based inshore sub-tidal camera drop surveys east and west of Harmer Creek and one day at Bird Island reef flat potentially using walking/quadrat survey methods. Dugong. Desktop analysis of existing data. Vessel-based trip to collect dugong skin samples and survey population and Land-based drone surveys of inshore areas near Ma’au. Aquatic ecosystems and oyster bed surveys. Harmer River assessment and assessment of Ma’au oyster bed and habitat and nearby coastal wetland/saltmarsh and riverine assessment and off-bank assessments of Harmer Creek.
Rare earths unearthed: Resolving the mystery of how rare earth elements are mobilised and concentrated in continental crust (Old ID 19918)
Carl Spandler
31 Dec 2012 - 31 Dec 2017
Shifts towards green energy and technology in modern society are dependant on continuing supplies of rare earth elements. Nevertheless, we know little about how these elements concentrate to form economically viable ore bodies, and there remain fundamental holes in our knowledge of how these elements interact with fluids in the Earth's crust. This project combines experiments and novel geochemical studies of natural ores to address these knowledge deficiencies. The results will aid exploration for new rare earth element resources and will contribute to an improved understanding of how continents grow and evolve through time.
ACIAR PCAARRD Shrimp genomics for health
Dave Jones
01 Jan 2026 - 30 Apr 2026
Multi-disciplinary programmatic research approach that focuses on developing the necessary tools and translatable knowledge to address improving shrimp disease resistance and providing health interventions
LabNorth: Stories of Culture, Arts and Wellbeing in Northern Australia
Lisa Law
01 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
Northern Australia is stereotyped as devoid of arts and culture in the national imaginary: a place of mine sites, military bases, cattle stations, bogans. Yet the small cities of Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and Broome are vibrant cultural landscapes with important forms of storytelling that struggle for visibility in the policy sphere. A recent focus on developing the North— e.g. the Developing Northern Australia Conference, the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia—recognises the importance of the region to Australia’s future, but narrowly in terms of extensions of water, power and transport infrastructure and accompanied workforce expansion. To date this agenda is silent on the role of arts and culture infrastructure in underpinning the region’s cultural wellbeing, and its economic benefits. This silence underscores the need to uncover, promote, and foster the untold stories and hidden value of the arts in Australia's Northern cities, to ensure that arts and culture take a prominent place in the policies that shape the region’s future. Using a combination of policy analysis and townhall focus groups, LabNorth’s research will build networks to collaborate across cities, sectors and artforms. We will explore the value of arts and culture, with a focus on articulating this to the public and policy makers. LabNorth’s focus on small cities shines a light on the vital but under-recognised role of the arts in supporting Northern Australian communities and advocate for their inclusion in broader policy discussions. LabNorth will listen, learn, collaborate and co-create stories with the potential to shift narratives about Northern Australia.
Empowering urban heat literacy through field-based learning and community research
Lisa Law
01 Jun 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
In Northern Australia, in tropical cities like Cairns and Townsville, local studies of urban heat islands are under-represented, and opportunities to raise awareness through hands-on learning and community engagement are limited by access to (easy to use) equipment. This grant will enable the purchase of hand held air temperature/humidity sensors and thermal imaging cameras to promote urban heat literacy in tropical Queensland. The research will generate awareness of urban heat island effects, using sensors and cameras to engage the community in real-world data collection and analysis exercises.
Improving land condition across north-west Queensland to boost productivity, build climate resilience and increase biodiversity
Lin Schwarzkopf
15 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2028
Across the Southern and Northern Gulf region of north-west Queensland, there are many thousands of hectares of land in poor condition. Land that is in poor condition is less productive and therefore profitable, more susceptible to severe impacts from extreme climate events (e.g., floods and droughts), has a lower capacity to sequester and store carbon, and negatively impacts other ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity and water quality). The overarching aim of the project is to build resilience in Southern and Northern Gulf rangeland production systems through improving land condition. To achieve improved land condition across the region, the project will work directly with land managers to implement on-ground land management practice changes and/or remediation treatments. The effectiveness of these interventions will be rigorously monitored and evaluated. Key learnings and outcomes will be passed on to the other landholders, NRM groups, Government extension staff and researchers through demonstration sites, field days, communications materials, scientific publications, and capacity building events. Overall, the project will provide much needed new knowledge, information, data, tools, and capacity to boost productivity, build climate resilience, and facilitate access to emerging environmental markets across north-west Queensland, and other parts of northern Australia.
Listening for Chital Deer
Lin Schwarzkopf
11 Feb 2025 - 30 Sep 2025
Chital Deer Audio Recording devices
Title: Ajunct Member, Infectious Diseases and Development of Molecular Medicine
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2007
Title: Appointed Member-JCU Research Committee, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Associate Dean of Research, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
End Date: 01 Jan 2016
Title: Honours program coordinator, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
End Date: 01 Jan 2015
Title: Associate Professor, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
End Date: 01 Jan 2015
Title: Academic Advisor-Molecular Sciences, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
End Date: 01 Jan 2012
Title: CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools
Reseracher: Helen McCoy-West (Senior Lecturer, Geology (Igneous Petrology and Critical Resources))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Questacon Science Circus
Reseracher: Helen McCoy-West (Senior Lecturer, Geology (Igneous Petrology and Critical Resources))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Senior Lecturer, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
End Date: 01 Jan 2011
Title: Associate Professor, RMIT University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2010