Research Projects
So like your Mum! Is the health and nutrition of mothers in far north Queensland reflected in the growth and nutrition of their children in early life? (Old ID 21713)
Dympna Leonard
01 Jan 2015 - 31 Aug 2017
Factors in ‘the First Thousand Days’ from conception, through pregnancy and up to age 2 years, influence health through life. A mother’s health and nutrition, and early feeding of her baby ‘program’ for later health, predisposing to good health and development, or to early anaemia with associated developmental delay, or to increased susceptibility to chronic disease in adult life. This research will use linked routine health service data for approximately 5,400 mother and baby pairs, including about 970 babies of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers, born over a two year period. The study will examine antenatal and early life factors in relation to child growth and early childhood anaemia.
Defining immunodominance in a complex host-pathogen system. (Old ID 22489)
Denise Doolan
01 Jan 2014 - 31 Dec 2018
Immunodominance is the phenomenon whereby pathogen-specific immune responses do not target the full range of possible peptide epitopes derived from the genome but recognize only a small fraction of the epitopes. It has been studied primarily in experimental infection models using simple organisms (viruses and bacteria). Herein, we propose the first comprehensive investigation of immunodominance in the context of a complex host-pathogen system: Plasmodium falciparum malaria in humans. These studies will provide valuable new knowledge of host-pathogen immunity and facilitate rational vaccine design.
Ecology and behaviour of feral cats in the Wet Tropics (Old ID 22929)
Ben Hirsch
01 Sep 2016 - 31 Dec 2017
This project will investigate the behaviour and ecology of feral cats in the Australian wet tropics region using motion sensitive cameras and GPS collars. The goal is to understand the ecological and conservation impacts of these introduced predators across the wet tropics. In addition to generating high profile scientific publications, this project will generate important recommendations for the conservation and management of the wet tropics.
Leadership and Technology Training in Bioinformatics (Old ID 25062)
Matt Field
01 Jul 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
JCU has recently announced the creation of a centre for bioinformatics and genomics. This centre will expand on recent strategic efforts at JCU to develop core bioinformatics capability and solidify leadership in this growing area of research. This will effectively consolidate smaller disparate groups into a wellconnected larger group under one unifying body. Dr Field will act as co-director of this centre while concurrently building a bioinformatics research team at JCU. This proposal outlines steps to obtain the necessary leadership and mentoring skills required to support these two endeavours.
Barramundi origins: determining the contribution of stocking to the barramundi catch on Queensland's east coast. (Old ID 26618)
Dean Jerry
09 Sep 2019 - 24 Dec 2021
Barramundi are stocked in impoundments, freshwater rivers and estuaries along the Queensland east coast and there is strong evidence that a substantial proportion of these fish find their way into estuarine and coastal environments. However, what this contribution actually is to the barramundi commercial fishery is unknown. Established methods for identifying the source of fish-genetics and otolith microchemistry-can be effective, but are costly. This project will evaluate near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) on otoliths as a rapid approach to identify if a barramundi is stocked or not.
Corrosion inhibitors for Prochem Haulage (Old ID 26710)
Peter Junk
08 Jan 2020 - 08 Aug 2020
This project will implement a new anti-corrosion system at mining sites coordinated by Prochem Haulage
Application of a machine learning approach for effective stock management of abalone (Old ID 26742)
Jan Strugnell
24 Jul 2020 - 31 Aug 2022
Determining the number and size distribution of abalone present at various stages of production is critical information for effective stock management. Currently the Australian abalone aquaculture industry spends in the order of $25,000 per annum, per farm, gathering this information by hand. However, the resulting data is of mediocre quality, is limited in its scope, and collecting the data causes stress to the animals which can compromise growth and survival. Automated counting and measuring of abalone will increase farm efficiency and productivity in the short term and, in the longer term, will provide an advanced platform for further R&D improvements. Artificial intelligence and machine learning has now matured to a point that accurately counting and measuring abalone is possible using this approach. This project would involve the development, training and validation of a machine learning model to identify, segment and measure quantitative abalone traits in production systems, and render the product data to be accessible and applicable for farmers.
Mapping Marra Sea Country with a focus on benthic habitats of the Limmen Marine Park (Old ID 27076)
Catherine Collier
26 Nov 2020 - 15 Dec 2023
Understanding the distribution and composition of benthic habitats in the Limmen Marine Park is necessary to manage the park in accordance with the North Marine Parks Network Management Plan and support the aspirations of the Marra People. Our team will survey the marine benthic habitats within and adjacent to the marine park. Recommendations for the marine park’s co-management will be developed. Project outputs will be relevant to multiple users and made accessible by optimizing media streams, including a short film about the Limmen marine park from the perspective of the Marra people and sea rangers.
Timing of Geological Events at Mt Clark Breccia Complex - Honours Project. (Old ID 27184)
Paul Dirks
01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
The proposed Honours project will attempt to establish a relative timing of geological events at the Mt Clark breccia complex by defining of a sequence of geological and hydrothermal events. This should include the characterization of alteration mineralogy and metal zonation within the project area and defining the sequence in which hydrothermal events (veins, breccias and intrusions) occurred. The work should integrate field and drill core observations, sample analysis and any other required methods to produce a paragenetic sequence of events that led to gold mineralisation at the Mt Clark project.
Uncovering the deep history of Indigenous fisheries on the Great Barrier Reef: Expanding knowledge with novel high-resolution collagen fingerprinting (Old ID 27260)
Ariana Lambrides
01 Jan 2021 - 30 Jun 2022
This project aims to document Indigenous interactions with the fish resources of the northern Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia) over the past 6,500 years. Using novel analyses of archaeological fish remains, this project expects to generate new knowledge on how people’s actions transformed marine systems and modified fish communities. Expected outcomes include a long-term cultural history of the sustainability of Indigenous fisheries practices in the region, and baseline ecological data for the period prior to European occupation.