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

A smartphone-based decision tool to stimulate cyclone mitigation. (Old ID 22537)
Daniel Smith
30 Mar 2016 - 29 Mar 2019
Issues surrounding losses to the community from cyclone damage and associated premium affordability in Queensland have been highlighted with the advent of the Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce, a Productivity Commission review and a number of Australian Government Actuary reports. Their findings based on consultation with communities, governments and industry show benefits to be achieved from mitigation (e.g., to improve structural aspects of buildings to reduce damage from future severe wind events). The goal of this project is to develop and actionable, research-based approach to mitigation in Queensland and other wind-prone regions of Australia. However, engineering solutions to vulnerability are only effective if widely implemented, requiring an appreciation of factors that homeowners reflect on when considering mitigation. Therefore, this project will also identify drivers of homeowner engagement. Coupling engineering analysis with effective methods of incentivising homeowner engagement, a vehicle for risk communication will be developed in the form of a mobile application. An alpha version of the decision-support tool will be constructed and tested for effectiveness. The benefits to Queensland include simulation of mitigation action among homeowners, reduction of loss and suffering from severe wind events and insurance premium reductions from enhanced housing resilience.
Norfolk Island baseline reef health assessment (Old ID 26821)
Scott Heron
01 Mar 2020 - 04 Jun 2020
Conduct baseline benthic community and coral health surveys (condition and resilience) at Emily Bay/Slaughter Bay and Ball Bay to investigate the structure and health of coral communities.
Spatially integrated Portfolio Approach to support a portfolio of livelihoods. (Old ID 27105)
Amy Diedrich
01 Jun 2021 - 30 Jun 2024
The Integrated Livelihoods Approach (ILA) provides an approach to diagnose and help navigate interrelated and cumulative impacts, trade-offs and co-benefits of interacting livelihood activities occurring in spatially defined coastal areas. Participatory and interdisciplinary research, integrated governance, negotiation, trust-building, ongoing conflict management, and cross-sectoral and political engagement are central to the ILA. This project will establish the mechanisms for achieving the strengthened networks, integrated governance and policy, and improved planning required to implement an ILA in Western Province, Solomon Islands, with the potential to scale-up to other locations.
Waters of Jericho Part 2: Refining the Cu isotope characterization of waters overlying IOCG-style deposits in the Mt Isa Block (Jericho and Eloise deposits) (Old ID 27190)
Brandon Mahan
29 Mar 2021 - 29 Jun 2021
The Department and JCU have an ongoing Project Schedule under the existing Umbrella Research Agreement ("Waters of Jericho: Characterizing the Cu isotope composition of waters overlying IOCG-style deposits in the Mt Isa Block (Jericho and Eloise deposits"). This project has produced significant initial results for ~40 borehole water samples that indicate a clear Cu isotope anomaly (higher 65Cu) proximal to known ore deposits within the field area (which drops off distal to deposits). These findings have led The Department and JCU to pursue an expansion of this investigation by re-sampling approximately 60-90% of the same boreholes as previously sampled (depending on field sampling availability/viability), and to characterize their Cu isotope composition, in order to test potential influences on Cu isotope compositions in groundwater by changes in season (e.g. late dry season vs post wet season).
Supporting grouper farming small holders in Vietnam to produce commercial feeds (Old ID 27286)
Leo Nankervis
01 Jul 2021 - 30 Jun 2023
Developing key nutrient requirements for giant grouper in Australia for application to Australia and Vietnam. The project is based at JCU Townsville, with engagement from key stakeholders in the aquafeed industry in Vietnam through development of an Expert Working Group for dissemination and input into future research. It is aimed at developing feeds for grouper that enable smallholders to transition from ‘trash’ fish feeding to commercially produced feeds and to support the industry in R&D dissemination, implementation and feed supply debottlenecking.
Life and death of Australopithicus sediba: how a potential ancestor ended up dead in a cave in world heritage site in South Africa (Old ID 20796)
Paul Dirks
12 Mar 2014 - 31 Dec 2017
In August 2008 the remarkable Malapa fossil site was discovered with remains of the first and only fossils of Australopithecus sediba - a potential direct human ancestor. The fossils are in an exceptional state of preservation, and excavations will start in late 2013, creating a unique opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of the chemical, physical and biological factors that led to burial and fossilisation. This research will focus on the complex interplay between termites, sediment chemistry, landscape conditions and palaeo-climate as contributing factors to fossil preservation. Results will document the environment in which sediba lived and died, and assist future exploration for hominid fossils.
Maximising genetic growth potential of barramundi in different culture environments. (Old ID 22428)
Dean Jerry
11 Nov 2015 - 31 Dec 2017
Good Fortune Bay Fisheries (GFB) is Australia's largest farmed barramundi producer. GFB operates two farms, one located north of Bowen where barramundi are reared in a high density. Brackish water raceway culture system and the other in Kelso, where fish are reared in freshwater earthen ponds. The company holds the largest number of barramundi stock in the country and is Queensland's largest hatchery facility. Given a need to maintain domestic and international competitiveness GFB has identified genetic improvement of their stocks as the highest R&D priority for the company. Due to the unique culture systems they farm barramundi in, however, GFB recognise there are critical knowledge gaps that need to be overcome before they can produce an improved strain that maximises genetic gain under both culture environments (marine/freshwater & pond/raceway).
Portable Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Detection (Old ID 22435)
George Vamvounis
01 Dec 2015 - 31 Dec 2017
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic contaminants in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) especially in areas near industrial, port and shipping activities. PAH monitoring is costly and complex. A portable technology for the quick detection of environmentally persistent and toxic PAHs will be developed using a new colourimetric detection technology based on photochromic compounds. This technology has been successfully used for sensing nitroaromatic-based explosives and will here be applied to strongly UV-absorbing PAHs. This work will be performed in collaboration with an end-user: Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
NESP 3.7 Barriers to Restoration and NbS (Old ID 28996)
Nathan Waltham
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
Coastal and marine restoration in Australia has been hindered by the ability for project managers to obtain approval. This project examines the barriers and challenges presenting project managers keen to begin restoration projects. The project will work through a series of case studies from SA, Tasmania, NSW and QLD focusing on oyster and tidal ingress project approaches. The outcomes of this research will outline areas in policy requiring changes and identify a consistent approach for project managers working in several states across Australia.
Incorporating genome editing into the aquaculture industry in Australia (Old ID 29013)
Dean Jerry
29 May 2023 - 29 May 2024
Professor Jehee Lee from Jeju International University, South Korea has agreed to allow me to visit his lab and receive extensive training in genome editing. He has successfully genetically edited numerous species of fish to optimise and select for commercial traits valuable to the aquaculture industry. Visiting with Professor Lee, as well as with other members of his lab, would allow me to gain the techniques and skills necessary to develop a general protocol applicable for a variety of aquaculture species.
Title: International Advisory Board, International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2016
Title: Member of the Epidemiology Chapter of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Reseracher: Bruce Gummow (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: Australian Veterinary Assocation
Reseracher: Bruce Gummow (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
Title: Founder member and chairman of the National Epidemiology Teaching Group
Reseracher: Bruce Gummow (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Founding member of the Southern African Society of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Reseracher: Bruce Gummow (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2004
Title: Expert Reviewer, US National Science Foundation
Reseracher: Tiffany Morrison (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: Scientific Management Committee, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Reseracher: Tiffany Morrison (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
Title: Expert Assessor, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in Political Science
Reseracher: Tiffany Morrison (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2016
Title: ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)
Reseracher: Peter Cowman (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
Title: Steering Committee, UQ Network of Environmental Social Scientists, University of Queensland
Reseracher: Tiffany Morrison (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2016