Bronson Philippa

Associate Professor Bronson Philippa is an electronics and software engineer whose research applies computational modelling, machine learning, sensor technology, and electronics to a diverse range of applications. He runs a theoretical research program in materials science, using computational methods to study organic solar cells, photodetectors, and light emitting diodes. He also has an applied research program in biosecurity, agricultural technology, machine learning, and near-infrared spectroscopy.

A/Prof Bronson Philippa has a career track record of raising $16.8 million in research funding in conjunction with collaborators, of which $9.7 million has come to JCU. He has raised funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), federal and state government, and private industry. He has significant experience in the management and delivery of large-scale research projects. He is the Component Lead for Smart Technologies in the $130 million Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA), a national consortium to increase market access for horticultural produce and reduce the impact of insect pests. He is also a Chief Investigator in the ARC Training Centre for Plant Biosecurity.

Bronson is the Deputy Head of Engineering at JCU and the Chair of the Engineering Learning and Teaching Committee. He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) / Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) and a PhD in Physics. He has lectured at James Cook University since 2011. Bronson is also a passionate educator and has received multiple teaching awards including two university-level teaching citations and a national award from the Australasian Association for Engineering Education. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE, a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) with Engineers Australia, and a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ).

I believe that engineers learn by doing. My goal in teaching is give students practical, authentic experiences in the classroom to engage and inspire them. I often use project-based learning, in which the educational activities are centred around learning how to complete a challenging engineering design project. I also work hard to produce high-quality video content to support flexible learning and cross-campus teaching. I have received several teaching awards, most notably two JCU Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning and a national level teaching citation from the Australasian Association for Engineering Education.

I have experience in teaching a wide range of subjects in software and electronics at year levels ranging from first year undergraduate through to coursework masters. At various times, I have taught the JCU subjects EG1002 Computing and Sensors, EG1012 Electric Circuits, EE2201 Circuit Theory, CC2511 Embedded Systems Design, CC3501 Computer Interfacing and Control, EE3901/EE5901 Sensor Technologies, and EE3300/EE5300 Electronics Applications.

I also have experience in leadership of teaching and learning. I chair the JCU Engineering Learning and Teaching Committee, which is responsible for curriculum, benchmarking, and accreditation. I often help other colleagues with teaching-related matters. I represent JCU in the Australasian Engineering ADLT network, and I have been appointed by Engineers Australia as a Discipline Expert to serve on university accreditation panels.