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

The genomics of bleaching tolerance in a hearty, common reef-building coral: Acropora tenuis (Old ID 24824)
Hillary Smith - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
01 Sep 2018 - 30 Apr 2019
Over the last two years, the Great Barrier Reef has suffered unprecedented coral bleaching, leading to a loss of coral cover and biodiversity. This project aims to quantify the consequences of coral bleaching on adaptive genetic variation. This information can be input to future modelling and resilience management techniques. We will address four major questions: 1) does bleaching lead to a loss of genetic diversity in a stress-tolerant species? 2) What genes and physiological traits are involved in stress tolerance? 3) What gene variants allow survival? And 4) Does migration of mal-adapted larvae hinder local adaptation to extreme heat?
Torres Straits Wetlands, Mangroves and Invasive Species (Old ID 23518)
Nathan Waltham - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
01 Apr 2017 - 30 Jun 2018
Coastal wetlands and mangrove habitat are important for aquatic communities in the Torres Straits. These water environments also provide important food and cultural values for locals. Torres Straits Regional Authority wishes to continue building Land and Sea Ranger capacity to monitor and evaluate condition of wetlands across the Straits. TropWATER will assist with water quality monitoring, invasive animal management, mangrove condition and health assessment, along with preparation of materials for rangers to continue these monitoring programs.
Janco Enterprise Pty Ltd (Old ID 26174)
Wei Xiang - Engineering
20 Sep 2018 - 20 Mar 2019
Machine learning sensor network to maintain optimum conditions and collect data for Molten Oxygen Electrolysis (MOE) reactions. Sensor data collection – Supervisory capacity Machine learning logic for maintaining optimum reaction conditions on a provided hardware network Supervisory capacity Suggestion of industry standards for data collection and fail-safe implementation Suggestion of hardware components and configuration JCU’s scope in this project: Supervise on sensor quality before purchase and calibration logic once installed into PCB Supervise on any errors in the output value and possible causes Supervise on provided network structures for reliably and continuously recording data from multiple sensors to multiple SBC’s to an academic standard Supervise on methods for machine learning collection of data Supervise on methods provided for protecting sensor hardware in extreme conditions Check failsafe methods and data collection failsafes for industry standards requirements Consult on final hardware design for industrial conditional requirements (Industrial standards reports will be gathered prior to consultation, this is a 2nd check precaution) All mathematical modelling, programming, purchasing of hardware and construction shall be completed by JE Pty Ltd
Exploratory study of effects of sample storage/stabilisation on Cu isotope compositions of groundwater, and linkage between groundwater and proximal soil profiles. (Old ID 29017)
The aims of this collaborative project between JCU and Geoscience Australia are simple. Geoscience Australia have legacy groundwater samples from active bores through their previous hydrogeochemical surveys (e.g. Northern Australia Hydrogeochemical Survey), where both acidified and unacidified samples have been kept in storage, some for up to several years. Copper concentrations measured at/near the time of sampling are variable, with some being in the sub-ppb range and others significantly higher. For some bores, proximal soil and rock samples are also available. This project will leverage all the above towards the following objectives: 1. Analyse Cu concentrations and isotope compositions for a small cohort of legacy groundwater samples (~10). 2. Analyse Cu isotope compositions in proximity-matched soil/rock samples. Where spatially matched soil and/or core rock samples are available, an additional subset of these solid samples will be processed and analysed to characterize their Cu isotope compositions and compare to that of matched groundwater samples. 3. Collate all results and jointly interpret with Geoscience Australia
Climate Vulnerability Index Aldabra (Old ID 27415)
Scott Heron - Physics
01 Sep 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
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 the Climate Vulnerability Index process to assess the vulnerability of the Aldabra Atoll World Heritage property and its associated communities. There is an urgent need to assess climate vulnerability using community-based methodologies to inform actions taken by decision makers.
Add mountains and shake: fault and earthquake pattern controls in active plate boundaries. (Old ID 27639)
Transpressional mountain building occurs when tectonic plate boundaries undergo shortening and shearing parallel and perpendicular to the plate boundary. Such regions are characterised by mountains, interacting fault networks, earthquakes, volcanoes and ore deposits. We aim to determine the fundamental physical processes that link topography, seismicity, volcanism and the evolution of fault networks in these mountain belts. This work will: determine fault patterns, seismic and volcanic hazards in transpressional mountain belts, determine how seismicity modulates fault pathways, determine how high topography affects fault networks, seismic and volcanic unrest, and provide a new framework for mineral exploration at these plate boundaries.
NQBP & JCU Research & Monitoring Partnership - Seagrass and Coral Studies (Old ID 24715)
Nathan Waltham - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
23 Oct 2017 - 27 Dec 2020
This project conducts long term assessments of seagrass and coral in the Ports of Mackay, Hay Point, Weipa and Abbott Point. The work forms part of a research and monitoring partnership between JCU and NQBP to monitor and assess marine environmental health within ports as well as support related research and education opportunities.
Caught in the canopy: can coral larvae navigate seaweed canopies? (Old ID 27922)
Hillary Smith - Marine Biology & Aquaculture
10 Feb 2023 - 31 Aug 2024
Hard corals and fleshy macroalgae are two major benthic components of corals reefs, and the competition between these two groups can shape reef trajectories. Where coral reefs have been degraded through anthropogenic influences (climate change and local factors), the competitive interactions between coral and macroalgae are often increased in frequency and intensity. Given the range of known negative effects of macroalgae on corals, and in light of the climate crisis, it has been proposed that manual removal of macroalgae could help boost coral settlement and resilience on a local scale. Indeed, recent research has shown that the physical removal of macroalgae can triple the resulting recruitment of coral juveniles and drastically increase coral cover, and hence is a viable strategy for active reef management. However, it is not yet known what macroalgal mechanism (biochemical or physical) prevents coral juvenile success. It is also not known what level of algal reduction is needed to achieve reef rehabilitation outcomes. In this project, field data and aquarium-based experiments using different densities and heights of macroalgae will determine how macroalgae canopies affect coral recruitment, and will explicitly test the hypothesis that a physical barrier is responsible for preventing coral juveniles access to reef substrate, and could explain wide- scale patterns in recruitment failure on reefs worldwide.
INVESTIGATION OF SLURRY PROPERTIES TO ENHANCE GOLD LEACHING (Old ID 30053)
Elsa Antunes - Engineering
01 Jun 2023 - 31 Mar 2024
This project with the Pajingo Mine involves thesis students solving industry related problems. The main objective is to optimise the production of gold covering 5 main aspects: - Investigate chemical additives to enhance the gold leaching - Determine the relationship between leaching rate and slurry density - Investigate chemical additives that could be used to reduce the slurry viscosity - Determine the relationship between particle size and viscosity for slurry with a P80 of 38microns down to a P80 of 10microns - Investigate ultimate settled density of tailings in a Tailings Storage Facility for tailings initially deposited at 40% solids and 60% solids
Techno-Economic Analysis of Bio-Based Hydrogen Production in Gasifier-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems: Exploring Dry Reforming Materials for Enhanced Performance and Cost Efficiency (Old ID 31187)
This fellowship, sponsored by the Australian Government (AUD 90,000), will support my research project "Techno-Economic Analysis of Bio-Based Hydrogen Production in Gasifier-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems: Exploring Dry Reforming Materials for Enhanced Performance and Cost Efficiency." This initiative is hosted by Imperial College London, The University of Oxford, and the Henry Royce Institute in the UK. I intend to leverage this platform to foster collaborations with top-tier research groups, particularly in the realm of low-cost green hydrogen production. This aligns with James Cook University's aspirations to become a leading institute in delivering relevant research to industries operating in the Tropics.
Reseracher: Gemma Galbraith (AIMS@JCU Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Reef Connectivity)
Start Date: 10 Nov 2024
Reseracher: Gemma Galbraith (AIMS@JCU Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Reef Connectivity)
Start Date: 31 Mar 2025
Title: Bengali
Reseracher: Khandakar Faisal Ibn Murad (Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies))
Title: English
Reseracher: Khandakar Faisal Ibn Murad (Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies))
Reseracher: Nathan Waltham (Associate Professor, Blue Carbon)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
Reseracher: Simon Das (Research Fellow - Grouper Nutrition)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2027
Reseracher: Megan Higgie (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
Reseracher: Alana Grech (Professor)
End Date: 01 Jan 2010