Research Projects
Mackay Box Jellyfish eDNA Detection
Chironex fleckeri poses the greatest threat to humans in tropical waters of Australia. This application is a follow up for a proposal submitted to LIONS in 2024. Our focus was, and continues to be, on the deadly stinger. There are four elements to the proposed study (1) determine the risk for envenomation near Eimeo Beach, Mackay where there was a fatality in February 2022. This would be done by sampling eDNA at locations we sampled in 2025; (2) sample near beaches, rocky headlands, and estuarine areas, within locations, to determine relative levels of risk; (3) compare our newly developed rapid tests with the established qPCR workflow; (4) expand our study of stingers in a replicate winter to determine the source of jellyfish from the Pioneer river (Mackay) north over a 20 km stretch of coastline that includes Eimeo Beach. With greater information on the polyp stage, we can determine if the source of jellyfish is distant to areas where swimmers are threatened. It is our view that an extra trip and treated analyses would make the study publishable and therefore widely accessible.
Building Research Confidence and Capability in Health Professional Educators: Evaluating Discussion Boards as a Community-of-Practice
Lisa Simmons
25 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2028
This project evaluates the effectiveness of structured online discussion boards, designed as a community of practice, in developing research confidence and capability among postgraduate Health Professional Education students. Embedded within the HS5410 subject at James Cook University, the study adopts an explanatory mixed-methods design, combining pre–post survey data, learning analytics, and thematic analysis of reflective assessments. The project aims to determine whether participation in structured peer discussion and reflection supports the development of research skills, confidence, and scholarly identity. Findings will inform curriculum design and contribute to evidence-based strategies for research capacity building in health professional education, particularly in distributed and online learning environments.
NARDHC Digital Health Microcredential Development
Tracey Ahern
01 May 2022 - 01 Oct 2022
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education; Northern Australian Regional Digital Health Collaborative (NARDHC), this project involved curriculum writing and online development of a digital health course for the rural and remote workforce.
An investigation of multiple paternity in the endangered narrow sawfish, Anoxypristis cuspidata (Old ID 23312)
Jan Strugnell
28 Nov 2017 - 31 Dec 2018
This genetics-based project will investigate multiple paternity in the endangered narrow sawfish for the first time. Sawfishes are arguably the most vulnerable of all marine fishes. Despite this, most aspects of their ecology and reproductive behaviour are poorly understood. A bycatch event of 25 pregnant females in Princess Charlotte Bay has provided a rare opportunity to explore multiple paternity in this species across a large number of litters. Using neutral molecular markers (microsatellites), this study will fill an important knowledge gap and provide information critical to effective conservation and management of this endangered species.
Ageing in place in rural Australia - An Embedded Collective Case Study (Old ID 24777)
Emma Anderson
01 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
This study aims to explore the perceptions of rural Australians and members of their social networks with regards to their expectations and strategies for preparing for healthy ageing in rural Australia. Previous studies on this topic in rural Canada have shown the importance of community feedback and the need for alignment with Government policies Herron and Skinner 2013). Relationships between family, friends and neighbours will be explored in this study as the importance of these informal networks in healthy ageing and their protective health effect are well documented. These relationships are the building blocks of the government's expectations of informal care, which it has used to inform its new policy "healthy life better ageing agreement" (currently informal care by elders is calculated to equivalent to 8 billion dollars) (ARC Centre of Excellence in population ageing research).
Improving the extraction process for QCIDE ™ oil (Old ID 26192)
Yinghe He
25 Sep 2018 - 28 Feb 2019
This project involves data-logging to quantify process variables, and taking samples of hydrosol to determine the state of steam-biomass contact to determine oil yield and areas for process improvement.
GRANT Awarded: Industry Research Foundation (IRF) program
Samantha Horseman
18 Nov 2024
https://advance.qld.gov.au/grants-and-programs/industry-research-foundations The Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland - Innovation for a Future Economy: 2022-2032
Roadmap sets out the direction, key priority outcomes and initiatives for the next phase in
Queensland’s journey toward becoming a leading and sustainable world-class innovation economy.
The Roadmap identifies a priority for Queensland to achieve this through strengthened research
business collaborations focussed on the translation of high-quality research into innovative products
and services and commercialisation opportunities.
The objectives of the Industry Research Foundations program are to:
• increase employment opportunities in industry for Queensland graduates within Queensland small
to medium sized businesses
• drive translation of innovative ideas into products, services and processes for future
commercialisation
• support the creation of knowledge-based jobs in Queensland
• encourage the retention of research talent and skills in Queensland.
The “Wake-Up Call”: Understanding sleep difficulties in Singapore’s Adolescents and facilitators and barriers to implementation of a sleep intervention programme
Nigel Marsh
01 Apr 2025 - 31 Mar 2027
The primary aim is to explore the experiences and perceptions of adolescents and parents to identify the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of a sleep wellness programme. The secondary aim is to explore the nature of sleep difficulties in local adolescents across age ranges, academic and socio-economic backgrounds. This qualitative research project will be conducted through individual semi-structured interviews with adolescents 10-17 years old and focus group discussions for parents with adolescents. Data will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings will be used to guide the design of an effective and sustainable school and community-based sleep wellness programme catered for local adolescents.
Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities.
Lisa Simmons
01 Apr 2024 - 08 Jul 2024
Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities.