College of Science & Engineering

Sophia Love

Sophia Love

Jenny Fisher

Jenny Fisher

Ambili Narayanan

Ambili Narayanan

Mikaeylah Davidson

Mikaeylah Davidson

Douchan Hanuise

Douchan Hanuise

Thomas Napier

Thomas Napier

Sarah Lawless

Sarah Lawless

Alex McCoy-West

Alex McCoy-West

David Blair

David Blair

Ron White

Ron White

From reference genome to resilience: determining the future of Southern Ocean benthos in light of climatic change
Edel Sheerin
01 Sep 2025 - 01 Sep 2026
Climate change effects such as rising ocean temperatures, freshening of the ocean and altered current regimes will impact the dispersal, connectivity and subsequent genetic diversity of Southern Ocean benthic invertebrates. This project will utilize the most advanced DNA sequencing technology to investigate historical and contemporary connectivity (source sink dynamics) and population demography of the seastar Glabraster antarctica between East Antarctica and the Kerguelen Plateau. The outcome of this research will determine the susceptibility of benthic invertebrates to climate change impacts. These findings will inform future management of the Kerguelen Plateau.
Forever chemicals accidentally produced in a modern cleaner atmosphere
Jenny Fisher
01 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2028
The world is reliant on chemicals -- but many have detrimental impacts on the ozone layer and climate. Replacements have been developed that have no ozone depletion or global warming potential. However, their atmospheric breakdown products may not be so safe. We will combine cutting-edge laboratory experiments and state-of-the-art global models to quantify how 'clean' these replacements truly are.
Harnessing the full potential of genomic data to investigate the adaptability of Southern Ocean benthos to climatic change
Edel Sheerin
10 Jun 2026 - 10 Dec 2027
This project applies the most advanced DNA sequencing technology to investigate the population dynamics of a Southern Ocean benthic invertebrate. The outcome of this extended research includes detecting the past and present day population connectivity patterns with precise detail and uncovering the genomic architecture of the species, thus revealing their adaptability to climate change. This project will inform conservation management strategies for Southern Ocean ecosystems.
Hub Mission Leader (Old ID 27433)
Helene Marsh
01 Jul 2021 - 30 Jun 2027
Delivering the Hub Mission focused on threatened and migratory species and threatened ecological communities. As stated in the Resilient Landscapes Hub research scope, the Activity Outcomes related to the cross-cutting Mission includes: i Delivering tools and advice to support the conservation of habitat important for priority threatened species, threatened ecological communities and migratory species; ii Updating the National list of threatened ecological communities and species; iii Improving detection of cryptic, ‘difficult’ and other data deficient species; and iv Monitoring and supporting the management of species / community recovery post extreme events. Service to be provided by Professor Helene Marsh, a researcher of international repute able to drive multidisciplinary outcomes, deliver outputs into national information repositories and guide relevant investment across the four research hubs.
Fingerprinting environmentally sustainable ores using neodymium isotopes (Old ID 27841)
Alex McCoy-West
01 Sep 2022 - 30 Jun 2026
The rare earth elements (REE) are a critical resource as the world transitions to an energy system dominated by green energy. However, current extraction methods rely on strong acid leaching, which has the potential to create environmental contamination. Alternative REE extraction methodologies, including phyto‐extraction (using plants) and bacteria induced bioleaching are currently being investigated. This project aims to utilise radiogenic and stable neodymium isotopes to characterise the isotopic fractionations induced during different REE extraction techniques. This isotopic fingerprinting will provide a method to verify more sustainably generated REE concentrates, enabling the Australian REE industry to be positioned as a world leading environmental producer.
Global assessment of dugong status and trends (Old ID 29025)
Helene Marsh
16 Jun 2023 - 29 Feb 2024
This desktop project contributes to the Conservation and Management Plan for the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs (Dugong dugon) and their Habitats throughout their range (CMS Dugong MOU) by determining the distribution and abundance of dugong populations to provide a base for future conservation efforts and actions.
Positrons in biosystems (Old ID 26263)
Ron White
04 Apr 2019 - 03 Apr 2022
This project aims to improve our understanding of the damage processes in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is a widely used medical imaging technique, but there are gaps in our understanding of the underlying interactions, in particular in the case of the radiation damage induced during the process. By using new models incorporating accurate descriptions of interactions processes, verified by experimental measurement, this project will develop a new model of positron transport in PET. The project will allow validation of predictions from the model by undertaking experiments in liquid water.
Linking continental emergence and climatic evolution on the Early Earth (Old ID 26941)
Alex McCoy-West
01 May 2021 - 29 May 2025
This project aims to constrain the timing and extent to which the continents were emergent (above sealevel) at different times in Earth’s history and its impact on climatic evolution, which remains poorly understood. Continental emergence was a pivotal moment in the development of our habitable planet, because it controls the influx of bioessential elements (like phosphorus) to the oceans. Using innovative geochemical techniques, expected outcomes of this work include a detailed record of changes in ocean chemistry and a time integrated model of the amount of emergent crust on the early Earth. Documenting the impact of changes in the solid Earth on the evolution of life is of the highest interest to society in Australia and abroad.
Positron Nano-Dosimetry: Fundamental Measurements of Positron Interactions and their use in State-of-the-Art Modelling of Positron Transport (Old ID 21333)
Ron White
11 Mar 2014 - 10 Mar 2017
This proposal will provide unique experimental and theoretical information on how positrons - the electron antiparticle - interact with matter, in particular with biologically important molecules. This data will be used in a unique set of modelling approaches which will provide, for the first time, an insight into how positrons are transported through gases, liquids and ultimately, soft matter. It will thus have important ramifications for diagnostic tools such as Positron Emission Tomography. The fundamental research will also shed light on one of the key 'mysteries' of life - why the biological building blocks of life possess a definite "handedness", or chirality.
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.

Evaluating the contribution of the unexplored photochemistry of aldehydes on the tropospheric levels of molecular hydrogen (H2)

Two decades of changing anthropogenic mercury emissions in Australia: inventory development, trends, and atmospheric implications

Australian Fire Emissions of Carbon Monoxide Estimated by Global Biomass Burning Inventories: Variability and Observational Constraints

A synthesis of mercury research in the Southern Hemisphere, part 1: Natural processes

Global inorganic nitrate production mechanisms: Comparison of a global model with nitrate isotope observations

Atmospheric mercury in Australia: Recent findings and future research needs

Detection and attribution of wildfire pollution in the Arctic and northern midlatitudes using a network of Fourier-Transform infrared spectrometers and GEOS-Chem

Assessing the atmospheric fate of trifluoroacetaldehyde (CF3CHO) and its potential as a new source of fluoroform (HFC-23) using the AtChem2 box model

Improved estimates of smoke exposure during Australia fire seasons: importance of quantifying plume injection heights

Inferring changes to the global carbon cycle with WOMBAT v2.0, a hierarchical flux-inversion framework

Title: Antarctic Science International Bursary
Reseracher: Edel Sheerin (Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Australian Science Policy Fellow, Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Reseracher: Jenny Fisher (Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard School of Public Health
Reseracher: Jenny Fisher (Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
End Date: 01 Jan 2012
Title: Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)
Reseracher: Khandakar Faisal Ibn Murad (Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2012
Title: CSE HDR Competitive Grant 2025
Reseracher: Thomas Napier (Doctor of Philosophy (Information Technology))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Teaching Assistant, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati
Reseracher: Swastik Shinde (Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Assistant Teacher, Rajaram College, Kolhapur
Reseracher: Swastik Shinde (Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Technician, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Reseracher: Sophia Love (Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Water Resources Assistant, City of Lacy - Department of Public Works
Reseracher: Sophia Love (Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Technician, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Reseracher: Sophia Love (Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2020