QUT offers a diverse range of student topics for Honours, Masters and PhD study. Search to find a topic that interests you or propose your own research topic to a prospective QUT supervisor. You may also ask a prospective supervisor to help you identify or refine a research topic.

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Found 9 matching student topics

Displaying 1–9 of 9 results

Modelling the response of expansive soil under wetting and drying

Expansive soils are those which can experience significant volume change when water content varies and as of this reason they are considered as problematic soils in geotechnical engineering. Expansive soils are widely distributed globally and cover a significant percentage of world land surface, especially in arid and semi-arid area.In Australia, expansive soil covers around 20% of surface soils and approximately 30% of the total ‘built-up’ land area is covered by expansive soils. This figure is expected to increase, as the …

Study level
Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Engineering
School
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research centre(s)
Centre for Materials Science

The Law and Technology Interface

Dr Michael Guihot is looking for PhD/MPhil candidates interested in exploring the relationship between technological and legal change. Candidates are encouraged to identify a specific emergent technology or application (AI, robotics, blockchain, Internet of Things, commercial space tech, CRISPR, lawtech) through which to explore the relations and/or particular existing truisms, theories or accounts of the law-technology interface. The legal focus can extend from local Australian jurisdictions, to comparative analysis to a focus on public or private international law. This topic …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
School
School of Law

LawTech, RegTech and the Automated Future

Dr Michael Guihot is looking for PhD candidates wishing to explore the development, potential and impact of lawtech (digital applications for legal practice and law service delivery) and regtech (digital applications in the public regulation). Candidates looking at exploring lawtech or regtech through empirical, law and society, and/or reform grounded approaches are encouraged to contact Dr Michael Guihot. This topic is led by the QUT School of Law within the Datafication and Automation of Human Life research group.

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
School
School of Law

New technology and the law

Computer vision has developed to a point where machines using artificial intelligence are better and faster than humans at performing many vision-related tasks. For example, we are now often processed through customs based solely on face recognition software. Add to this the fact that the average Australian is photographed on CCTV cameras around 75 times per day. Commercial applications of face recognition technology include Microsoft's Face Application Programming Interface that can be used to classify face images based on gender, …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy
School
null
Research centre(s)
null
null

Feminist Approaches to Environmental Governance

Feminist approaches to environmental guidance consider a whole-of-systems approach and acknowledge that the domination of the environment and oppression of women and other groups in society are interlinked. Dr Katie Woolaston and Dr Rowena Maguire are interested in talking to students who are considering using feminist or alternative theories to analyse environmental governance. Particular areas of interest include wildlife and conservation, methods of collaboration, waste management, and the circular economy.

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
School
School of Law

Modelling and managing uncertain Antarctic species networks

Antarctic ecosystems are complex, and data is limited since it is expensive to collect. Species including penguins, seabirds, invertebrates, mosses, and marine species interact in food webs which can be modelled as mathematical networks. These networks can be large, span across terrestrial and marine systems, and are changing in response to environmental changes.These ecological networks can be modelled using differential equation predator prey models like Lotka-Volterra to describe these interactions. However, the relationships between species are not always known, or …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy
Faculty
Faculty of Science
School
School of Mathematical Sciences
Research centre(s)
Centre for Data Science
Centre for the Environment

Optimal conservation management in uncertain Antarctic environments

Species and ecosystems in Antarctica are threatened. Optimal biodiversity conservation is an interdisciplinary field combining mathematical modelling and optimisation with ecology and conservation. We can use mathematics to understand the system, model how management actions might impact it, and then optimise which actions should be used. For example, we can explore where protected areas should be placed, how species should be managed, or how tourist impacts should be reduced. However, the complexities of conservation in Antarctica necessitate the application of …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Science
School
School of Mathematical Sciences
Research centre(s)
Centre for Data Science
Centre for the Environment

Statistical methods for detecting Antarctic ecosystems from space

Satellite images are a frequent and free source of global data which can be used to effectively monitor the environment. We can see how the land is being used, how it’s being changed, what’s there – even where animals are in the landscape. Using these images is essential, particularly for regions where data is expensive to collect or difficult to physically access, like Antarctica. In Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, satellite images can be an easy and quick way to …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Science
School
School of Mathematical Sciences
Research centre(s)
Centre for Data Science
Centre for the Environment

How should the law distinguish between people who can make legally effective decisions and those who cannot?

Dr Sam Boyle is looking for candidates wanting to explore the ethical and legal issues that the issue of capacity gives rise to. In particular, candidates may want to consider how the law can validly incorporate medical understanding of mental functioning into the legal sphere.

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
School
School of Law
Research centre(s)

Australian Centre for Health Law Research

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