Research Projects
Mission Research – Threatened and migratory species and threatened ecological communities (Old ID 27434)
Helene Marsh
01 Jul 2021 - 31 Dec 2026
This project will provide the research foundation for the ‘Threatened and Migratory Species and Threatened Ecological Communities’ functional Mission to support policy development, program management and regulatory processes to protect Australia’s environmental assets in terrestrial, Ramsar and marine environments. It will also facilitate the Resilient Landscapes (RL)Hub’s contribution to the three other Missions. It will identify prospective research projects through scoping, reviews and workshops and will support the co-design process with research users and researchers. Outputs include a review and priority co-designed project proposals for submission in subsequent research plans of all four Hubs and an overall research plan for this Mission.
Coastal wetland restoration options investigation. (Old ID 27446)
Nathan Waltham
02 Dec 2021 - 31 Dec 2022
Coastal restoration aims to improve and protect sensitive and important wetland areas. While restoration projects are underway most are small scale, and to achieve targets that will help government deliver on the Reef 2050 plan objectives we need to initiate large scale project sites. This project site is set to become the largest restoration site in north Queensland, and our team will be responsible for the collection of background science to support this project site. The data generated will be used to support the development of an options report outlining the full potential of restoration outcomes.
A new Journey to the Earth's Inner Core: a Planet Within a Planet (Old ID 27499)
Lauren Waszek
01 Jan 2022 - 31 Dec 2024
This project aims to address critical unsolved problems in global geophysics by probing the structure and dynamics of the inner core, the Earth’s time capsule. It will elucidate the inner core’s nature with improved tomographic images, critically testing our current understanding of how the inner core is assembled and grows, its thermodynamic state, crystallographic structure, and connection with the Earth’s upper layers and geomagnetic field. Answering these questions has far-reaching consequences for current knowledge of fundamental geophysics. Expected benefits include training students and researchers in geophysics and data processing, contributing to a skilled STEM workforce and creating leadership for Australia.
Examining the clinical utility of MRI for Multiple Sclerosis (Old ID 30051)
Liza van Eijk
15 Jul 2023 - 01 Feb 2024
The aims of this project are to examine whether these quantitative MRI measures derived from clinical scans can assist with 1) characterising the disease severity, and 2) predicting the prognosis of patients with Multiple Sclerosis receiving care at the Townsville University Hospital, as a first step to examine how quantitative MRI measures can be used to assist with treatment planning. The funds will be used to hire a casual research assistant at James Cook University to process the MRI scans on a high performance computing system.
Seagrass seed dispersal by marine mega-herbivores: Dugongs (Dugong dugon) & green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) (Old ID 21639)
Samantha Tol
02 Mar 2014 - 31 May 2017
This project will investigate the dispersal mechanisms of tropical seagrasses and determine which mechanisms are most effective for long distance dispersal. It will examine whether marine mega-herbivores (dugongs and green sea turtles) disperse seagrass seeds through their faecal matter and whether those seeds are viable. It will determine how long seagrass fragments, created by abiotic and biotic mechanisms, remain viable and establish new meadows. This information will be used to model which seagrass meadows are at greater risk of slow recovery after a large scale loss. This recovery model will have the potential to highlight which seagrass meadows rely solely on dispersal by marine mega-herbivores for recovery.
Underpinning the repair and conservation of Australia's threatened coastal-marine habitats - Phase 2 (Old ID 22735)
Ian McLeod
01 Jan 2016 - 01 Jan 2018
The primary objective of this project is to provide essential research to underpin restoration efforts to increase the success and efficiency of shellfish and saltmarsh repair. The secondary objective is to quantify clear easily understood benefits of repair to further increase Indigenous and interest group support for repair efforts.
Indigenous persistence in formal learning (Old ID 22792)
Martin Nakata
23 May 2012 - 31 Dec 2017
This is a novel and innovative project to scientifically exam,ine under-explored aspects of learning that can improve the educational performance of Indigenous students in tertiary studies. The aim of this project is to contribut much needed research evidence of Indigenous persistence in learning and academic performance, and to deepen knowledge and understandings of what works for Indigenous students as they engage in formal learning situations.
Mungana and Kings Vol REMP Design (Old ID 23476)
Nathan Waltham
13 Apr 2017 - 30 Jul 2017
Auctus Resources has engaged TropWATER to design a Receiving Environment Monitoring Program (REMP) for the Mungana and King Vol Projects in order to enable environmental monitoring for the minesites.
Carcinogenic liver fluke infection: Gene editing- and vaccination-mediated approaches to interrupt host-parasite communication (Old ID 24789)
Alex Loukas
01 Aug 2018 - 31 Jul 2023
Long term infection with liver fluke - a food-borne parasitic worm - leads to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a form of liver cancer with a dismal prognosis. Previously we identified proteins and vesicles from these parasites that may cause this cancer. This new project will investigate the roles of these parasite proteins and vesicles in cancer, which may lead to new treatments and control for fluke infection and CCA.
Exploring social work organisations’ research needs and capacities: Building capacity for engagement and impact (Old ID 25105)
Ines Zuchowski
01 Jul 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
I will conduct a survey with child protection organisations exploring their research needs, capacities and interests to engage with academics through research partnerships. Utilising the survey results and other data, I will receive mentorship by a senior research academic to plan and jointly deliver a workshop with potential industry partners on research engagement partnerships and undertaking industry informed impactful research. The outcomes of the survey and workshop will strengthen the foundation for my DECRA application. I will develop a manuscript for peer-review. The knowledge and contacts gained through the research and workshop will strengthen my research capacity.