Research Projects
Caught in the canopy: can coral larvae navigate seaweed canopies? (Old ID 27922)
Hillary Smith
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
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
SAPOT Clinical Trial: Treatment in pregnancy to prevent malaria (Old ID 30066)
Melanie Koinari
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
The project aims to provide the Papua New Guinea National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and WHO with evidence to determine whether monthly intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus dihydroartemsinin-piperaquine (DP) is a safe and efficacious alternative to the current strategy of IPTp with SP to control malaria infection in pregnant women and improve birth outcomes.
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)
Liyuan Fan
15 May 2024 - 15 May 2025
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.
SENSOR-Q: Sensor data solutions (Old ID 21566)
Ian Atkinson
14 Nov 2014 - 14 Mar 2017
The SENSOR-Q project brings together world leading technology from industry and academia - data management and analytics expertise from CoastalCOMS (CCOMS), telemetry solutions from Taggle Systems and sensor expertise from James Cook University (JCU), in order to develop a unique end-to-end water monitoring, analysis and management solution for Townsville City Council (TCC). The SENSOR-Q project combines a multi disciplinary collaborative team that aims to create an integrated data collection, storage, analysis and visualisation platform that can be implemented across a variety of applications and industry sectors, and so enable Queensland to more effectively participate in the big data economy.
An immune transcriptional regulatory network approach to Multiple Sclerosis (Old ID 22105)
Alan Baxter
01 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2019
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. In an attempt to understand the integration of both sets of risk factors, we have compared mRNA transcripts between relapsing/remitting (RR) MS patients and healthy controls in 5 leukocyte subsets: CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes. A gene co-expression network was generated based on correlation of expression levels across >700 gene expression microarrays, and a major co-ordinately regulated sub-network (module) of mRNA transcripts that is differentially expressed in the monocytes of RR-MS patients was identified. This project validates, characterizes and attempts to manipulate this transcriptional module in human cells ex-vivo and in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. These results should provide greater explanatory power than the analyses of individual risk factors separately and may provide a multi-faceted target for intervention.
Marine Science Data Services (Old ID 22126)
Ian Atkinson
01 May 2015 - 31 Mar 2017
The objectives of the RDS project are to mature sustainable data services that deliver research outcomes and impact by: Refocusing of RDSI Infrastructure into Data as a Service in support of research communities with petascale data challenges. Secondly consolidating the linkages and alignments, where appropriate, with other Commonwealth-funded (NCRIS and Super Science) e-infrastructure investments.
Your Stories, Our Histories: 150 Years of Mixed Marriages and War Brides in Townsville and their Contricution to the Success of Multiculturalism in Townsville (Old ID 22451)
Wendy Li
10 Jan 2016 - 30 Dec 2016
Using archival materials available at the National Archives of Australia, CityLibraries and interviewing of families involved in mixed marriages, a clear picture of the multicultural landscape in Townsville and north Queensland over the last 150 years will be recorded and examined. We search the past and map the present through an exhibition of photographs, documents and other artefacts, and public lectures on the rich multicultural history of Townsville. Using focus group discussions and interviews, as well as a survey of residents, we vision the future of our city. Another public lecture will be held on this, and a final copy of the report will be included in the CityLibraries Repository for future reference of the public at large.
International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW12) Conference Travel Grant (Old ID 22786)
Paul York
14 Oct 2016 - 08 Dec 2016
To attend and present a research paper at the International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW12) in Nant, Gwrtheyrn, Wales 16-21st October, 2016
Mitigation of Losses in Community from Extreme Wind Events (Old ID 23175)
David Henderson
01 Jan 2017 - 30 Jun 2017
The objective of the project is to investigate and inform on aspects of building codes/standards and implementation to mitigate losses from extreme wind events including Cyclones.