Research Projects
Experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) on dating apps.
Sam Teague
28 May 2024 - 28 May 2025
Dating app preferences among men who have sex with men (MSM) privileges partner profiles that depict norms of masculinity and particular ethnicities. Concerningly, preoccupation to appear masculine and internalisation of race-based sexual stereotypes are linked with health disparities. This study will attempt to elucidate the role of bias in partner preferences among MSM within the Australian context. Specifically, the study will explore the impact of masculinity and ethnicity in partner preferences on dating apps. It will also explore how self-esteem, body image and social identity influence MSM’s dating preferences.
The Bamboo Parenting Program: Promotion of a Randomised Pilot Trial.
Sam Teague
28 May 2024 - 28 May 2025
The Bamboo Parenting Program is an online social support program for first-time mothers in the perinatal period. The program has been designed to prevent mental illness during this vulnerable period, and by leveraging social support, Bamboo targets one of the most significant predictors of mental health for perinatal women. The program pairs first-time mothers with volunteer mothers or with mother-nominated individuals (with support training provided in program). Pairs work together to navigate the critical and difficult perinatal period. Funding from this seed fund will be used to promote a pilot randomised trial in North Queensland.
Dwarf Minke Whale Project
Naomi Gardiner
01 Jan 2020 - 01 Jan 2025
The Minke Whale Project MWP (based at James Cook University, North Queensland Australia) conducts multi-disciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behaviour, the social and economic values of the whales and the sustainable management of swim-with-whales tourism. The MWP research team works collaboratively with the GBR swim-with-minke whales tourism industry, Reef managers and wildlife conservation NGOs. Our work is primarily funded by ongoing passenger donations and the generous in-kind support of the CHARROA tourism operators in the Northern Great Barrier Reef. Please visit http://minkewhaleproject.org/
Segmentation of Panoramic Dental Radiograph Using AI: AU-Net Based Approach
Ghazalnaz Sharifonnasabi
10 Dec 2024 - 13 Dec 2024
Dental radiographs, particularly panoramic X-rays, are critical for diagnosing and planning treatments for various dental conditions. Traditional manual analysis of these images is labor-intensive and prone to errors. Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially deep learning techniques, has transformed image segmentation tasks. This research investigates the application and comparative performance of four advanced AI-driven deep learning
models—U-Net, TransUNet, V-Net, and UNet++—for segmenting dental structures in panoramic X-rays.
What Attracts Domestic and International Travelers to Visit Museums in Phuket
Kim Lim Tan
01 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep 2025
This project is to understand the factors in attracting local and international tourists to visit Phuket museums
A sequential study of the microbiome profile in barramundi fry (Lates calcarifer) in different salinities
Leo Foyle
01 Aug 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
This project investigates whether the gut microbiome of juvenile barramundi is influenced by varying salinities. It assess gut mucosal morphology and also looks for the presence of Vibrio spp. toxin genes.
A study of the microbiome profile in barramundi fry (Lates calcarifer) fed diets with a different pH
Leo Foyle
01 Aug 2024 - 31 Dec 2025
Varying dietary pH is known to affect gut microflora in animal industries. This project looks at any potential changes to gut microbiome in juvenile barramundi fed diets with different pH.
Is groundwater discharge an overlooked source of methane in restored coastal wetlands?
Mahmood Sadat Noori
01 Jul 2022 - 30 Jun 2025
Coastal wetlands including saltmarsh and mangroves (known as blue carbon ecosystems) can accumulate carbon and act as a natural sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). They, therefore, have the potential to mitigate climate change. However, the CO2 captured by wetlands may be counteracted by emissions of methane (CH4) from the wetland, which is a stronger greenhouse gas (GHG).
The Australian Government has recently created a blue carbon accounting system that encourages low-lying land to be converted to blue carbon ecosystems by removing tidal floodgates. However, effective restoration for carbon storage requires a better quantitative understanding of the fate of carbon following restoration. For example, it is currently unknown how much CH4 export will occur and whether the GHG impact of this flux is larger (or smaller) than the benefit of the overall carbon sequestration following wetland restoration.
Dissolved gasses including CH4 are often orders of magnitude higher in groundwaters than surface waters, suggesting groundwater seepage may be a significant, but unaccounted source of CH4 export from coastal wetlands. Determining how groundwater influences the carbon budget in coastal wetlands is complicated and costly if conventional methods of hydrogeological investigation (installation of observation bores) are used. In this study, we propose to use a novel and efficient method to estimate the contribution of groundwater to CH4 emissions from restored coastal wetlands based on natural geochemical tracers. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the fate of carbon post-wetland restoration. By knowing the dominant sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, the role that restored wetlands play in mitigating climate change will be better understood. This will provide insights into how restoration can be designed to maximize carbon storage. Hence,
the results from this work will be critical and timely in developing adequate strategies to manage coastal wetlands to minimize carbon losses.
Cassowary Coast Green Nourishment (Seagrass) Program (Stage 1 – Feasibility)
Paul York
01 Aug 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
Working with Cassowary Coast Regional Council to study the feasibility of restoring coastal seagrass meadows to promote Green Beach Nourishment and coastal protection
Mental Health Collaborative Evaluation Project
Karen Carlisle
01 Apr 2018 - 31 Dec 2019
Western Queensland PHN is one of 31 PHNs established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of primary care services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes. The mental health collaborative is part of the wider Australian Primary Care Collaborative (APCC) program which is a key part of the Australian General Practice quality improvement landscape. The mental health collaborative aims to encourage practices to engage in a continuous quality improvement (CQI) approach to improve mental health care provided and health outcomes. The program provides support to general practices and other primary health care services to deliver rapid, measurable, systematic and sustainable improvements in the care they provide to patients. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the association of implementation of the mental health collaborative with changes in client outcomes (particularly overall wellbeing and functioning) over a 12 month period.