College of Science & Engineering


Sophia Love

Sophia Love

Elle Robertson

Elle Robertson

Romain Vaucher

Romain Vaucher

Jenny Fisher

Jenny Fisher

Ambili Narayanan

Ambili Narayanan

Sarfaraz Ali

Sarfaraz Ali

Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd

Climate Vulnerability Index Greater Blue Mountains (Old ID 27457)
Scott Heron - Physics
01 Dec 2021 - 31 Mar 2022
Globally, heritage locations are being impacted by local-scale and global-scale stressors. Climate change poses an existential threat to global heritage. With rising sea-levels, more extreme weather events and aridification, the extensive impacts of climate are evident at heritage sites globally and the pace of this change is startling. In most parts of the world the rate of loss is exceeding adaptive capacity and this deficit is only getting worse. Decisions on conservation and preservation begin with a detailed understanding of a place's vulnerability. The choices made will directly impact that ability to effectively integrate the goals of safeguarding heritage, adapting and mitigating climate change, and driving sustainable development. This project will apply aspects of the Climate Vulnerability Index process to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage property.
Conservation genomics and population status of the endangered Mahogany Gliders (Petaurus gracilis) (Old ID 27672)
Eryn Chang - Zoology & Ecology
30 Jun 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
Habitat loss and fragmentation have been threatening population connectivity and genetic diversity of Mahogany Gliders, a rare and endangered gliding possum endemic to the Australian Wet Tropics. Substantial habitat loss and fragmentation have brought concerns to the status of remnant populations. I will use distribution models to refine the distribution and guide camera trapping to find unknown populations. Connectivity between populations will be assessed using genomics, which also allows estimations of population structure and effective population size. Knowledge of distribution and genetics will be used to choose populations for long-term monitoring, and to guide conservation actions for Mahogany Gliders recovery.
Biosecurity and genetic improvement for disease resistance in large scale shrimp aquaculture (Old ID 27756)
Phoebe Arbon - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
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 - Engineering
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 - Engineering
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 - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
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)
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 - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
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
Gilbert Project
Eric Wang - Engineering
01 Apr 2025 - 01 Jun 2026
This project evaluates water availability and irrigation feasibility for farms in the Gilbert region, with a focus on Saint Ronan’s. It involves water simulations to develop crop water budgets and an irrigation assessment to identify optimal water management strategies for sustainable crop production.
Gilbert Project
Eric Wang - Engineering
01 Apr 2025 - 01 Jun 2026
This project evaluates water availability and irrigation feasibility for farms in the Gilbert region, with a focus on Saint Ronan’s. It involves water simulations to develop crop water budgets and an irrigation assessment to identify optimal water management strategies for sustainable crop production.
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
End Date: 01 Jan 2016
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
Reseracher: Matt Field (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018