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

The interaction of yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepsis gracilipes) with mammals of the Wet Tropics (Old ID 24871)
Peter Yeeles
01 Apr 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
Yellow crazy ants arrived in Cairns in 2001 and have spread to other locations in the Wet Tropics. These ants have the potential to be environmentally destructive and while studies have been conducted on the effects of ants on reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, to date no significant study has been made on the effects of these ants on mammals. Through trapping surveys and behavioural testing I aim to provide insight into these effects and gain understanding of the broader ecological impacts of yellow crazy ants in the Wet Tropics.
The interaction of yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepsis gracilipes) with mammals of the Wet Tropics (Old ID 24871)
Tasmin Rymer
01 Apr 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
Yellow crazy ants arrived in Cairns in 2001 and have spread to other locations in the Wet Tropics. These ants have the potential to be environmentally destructive and while studies have been conducted on the effects of ants on reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, to date no significant study has been made on the effects of these ants on mammals. Through trapping surveys and behavioural testing I aim to provide insight into these effects and gain understanding of the broader ecological impacts of yellow crazy ants in the Wet Tropics.
Northern Aquaculture Industry Situational Analysis (Old ID 26272)
Amy Diedrich
31 Jan 2019 - 11 Feb 2020
This project will identify key challenges and opportunities facing the North Australian aquaculture sector and explore potential solutions and/or identify the most strategic research projects for further investment. This will include and not be limited to: infrastructure, policy, investment, environmental, production, knoweldge, training and human capital gaps and the research or alternative solutions to address them. The project will be delivered through a literature review, development of the 'Northern aquaculture industry vision 2028' in consultation with indigenous and non-indigenous stakholders, desktop study and SWOT analysis, and the situational analysis report.
Sustainable use of tailings as land-fill and non-structural construction material - Phase 1 (Old ID 27170)
Mohan Jacob
01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
The central aim of the project is the assessment of blended residue from Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) for sustainable use. Tailings can be processed to remove the acidic content or mixed with binder to become safe backfill or non-structural materials. TECH proposed to process annually 600,000 tons of high grenade Nickel and Cobalt ore. Phase 1 of the project will undertake physical, chemical, geotechnical and engineering strength tests on tailings from TECH to estimate the limits and to assess characteristics, including the acid-insoluble content of the tailings. The understanding will help to develop research in phase 2 and 3.
Can parental care behaviour and breeding microhabitat protect Critically Endangered nursery frogs from rising temperatures on Wet Tropics mountaintops? (Old ID 28975)
Conrad Hoskin
01 Apr 2023 - 01 Aug 2025
Nursery frogs are terrestrial breeders with ‘direct development’ and the male stays with the eggs until hatching. While climate change is their biggest threat and their breeding biology of is very poorly known. I will study parental care across Nursery frog species, under varied environmental conditions in the field (low elevation, upland areas, heatwaves, drought) to uncover the details of nest choice and parental care. I will use non-invasive cameras, artificial shelters, and data loggers in natural nesting sites to determine how variation in parental behaviour impacts larval survival and differs between species and microhabitats under different climatic conditions.
Investigating Herpesvirus Infections in Australian Wildlife (Old ID 27327)
Paul Horwood
01 Jul 2021 - 01 Jul 2023
Many Australian wildlife populations are considered vulnerable and are threatened by various infectious agents including herpesviruses (HV)s. In Australia, HVs have been identified in wild reptiles, birds and marsupials. However, some of these viruses have been poorly characterised and tehre is a paucity of epidemiological data, which has hampered possible control measures. Also, the lack of sensitive assays for viral surveillancec has led to under-reporting of novel and known HVs in Australia. Therefore, this research will investigate herpesvirus infections in Australian wildlife. Upon completion of this project, we will be able to ascertain the circulating HV species/strains and provide current epidemiological information that could improve managerial practice and strengthen curent conservation efforts in Australia.
Bayesian disease mapping to identify the high-risk population within North Queensland and interventional program for oral cancer prevention. (Old ID 27439)
Matt Field
01 Dec 2021 - 01 Dec 2023
Oral cancer 5-year survival rates have remained less than 50% for several decades, despite significant improvements in treatment. This is primarily due to patients generally presenting late with advanced stages of the disease. Consequently, in many cases, oral cancer is incurable or requires extensive life-changing surgery and chemo-radiotherapy. Early diagnosis through targeted screening of high-risk population groups would result in more favourable survival rates and treatment outcomes. The aim of this project is to identify specific, local populations in Northern Queensland at increased risk of developing oral cancer with a view to developing a target screening program for oral cancers.
Baseline invasive ant fauna and impact survey in the Torres Strait (Old ID 27827)
Lori Lach
18 Oct 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
The project aims to collect a representative baseline sample of ant fauna on all inhabited Torres Strait islands and five communities in the northern peninsula area of Cape York. The focus is on invasive and non-native ant fauna.
Coral reef research and monitoring in the Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP). (Old ID 27391)
Eva McClure
14 Oct 2021 - 24 Jun 2022
The Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP) covers approximately 990,000 km2 and includes over 30 individual reef systems that are surrounded by deep waters. In March 2020 extensive bleaching of corals was recorded across shallow reef habitats within the CSMP. This project will use surveys of benthic, fish and invertebrate communities to assess the ongoing effects of the 2020 bleaching event on coral reefs within the CSMP.
Genetic ‘health’ assessments and a decision-making framework for some of Australia’s most endangered frogs and reptiles (Old ID 27665)
Conrad Hoskin
01 Jul 2022 - 01 Dec 2023
According to expert assessment, more than half of Australia’s endangered and critically endangered frogs and reptiles are endemic to Queensland and at risk from imminent extinction. A major threat to threatened species like this is a loss of genetic diversity which leads to inbreeding depression, inability to adapt, and heightened extinction risk. This project aims to provide essential genetic assessment of five severely threatened study systems: Oedura lineata, Nangura spinosa, Litoria lorica, Phyllurus geckoes, and Cophixalus frogs. These species represent a range of threats and genetic scenarios. Through discussions with managers, results will be synthesised into a broader conservation framework.
Title: James Cook University Teaching and Learning Academy
Reseracher: Sandra De Cat (Senior Lecturer, Small Ruminant Medicine)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
End Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: Australian Wool Education Trust (AWET) Scholarship
Reseracher: Sandra De Cat (Senior Lecturer, Small Ruminant Medicine)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2012
Title: International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS)
Reseracher: Sandra De Cat (Senior Lecturer, Small Ruminant Medicine)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2005
End Date: 01 Jan 2007
Title: First place winner for the APAC region in the IEEE ComSoc Internet for All competition
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: IEEE Outstanding Leadership Award
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: JCU Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning for creating an innovative and student-focused curriculum and culture of learning that provides engineering students with job-ready skills in electronics and the Internet of Things
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Certificate of Appreciation for participation in the Workplace Learning Program from St Andrew's Catholic College, Redlynch Valley.
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Engineering Research Award (University of New South Wales)
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
Title: Australian Postgraduate Award (University of New South Wales)
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
Title: Postgraduate Research Student Support Conference Travel Grant (University of New South Wales)
Reseracher: Tao Huang (Senior Lecturer, Electronic Systems and IoT Engineering)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011