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.
Found 31 matching student topics
Displaying 13–24 of 31 results
Hydrodynamic instabilities
This project will focus on the mathematical modelling of fluid flow, with a focus on how the application of linearisation and solution of linear partial differential equations can be used to predict the stability or instability of base flows. In order to explore this topic we will focus on one or more examples of hydrodynamic instabilities, for example, the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, which can be observed on scales ranging from the every-day, to cloud formations, to atmospheric structures on gas giants …
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scheme
- School
- School of Mathematical Sciences
ENS02 - Development of Vicon 3D motion analysis model for validation of inertial measurement unit in sprinting.
In running based sports, there is an enduring belief by coaches that excessive anterior pelvic tilt during sprinting is a significant risk factor for hamstring strain injury, however only one underpowered prospective study exists to explore this belief, with all other data being theoretical. One road block to larger prospective studies is the current need for athletes to attend biomechanical laboratories to have their pelvic kinematics assessed. This presents a burden to athletes and does not reflect real word sprinting. …
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Faculty of Health
- School
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Can a virtual spine model predict adolescent spinal deformity progression?
This project will improve our understanding of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), a spinal deformity common in children, which involves a side-to-side curvature of the spine and axial rotation of the spinal column.Using an existing series of MRI datasets for individual patients treated at the Mater Children’s Hospital, the candidate will create finite element models of the thoracolumbar spine for each patient. These models will represent the patient’s spinal anatomy at different ages.The model results will provide information on the tissue …
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies
Centre for Biomedical Technologies
Green polymer-inorganic composite materials
Composite materials are widely researched and widely used in applications such as aircraft, automobiles, ships, structural components and even the space industry.There is a need to create new composite materials which are environmentally friendly and do not use fossil fuel based products. Moreover, the properties of the composites need to be improved while at the same time minimising the costs involved.Consequently our research group is working on composite materials which not only include inexpensive inorganic fillers from the mining sector …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
Visualising 3D printed scaffolds during mechanical loading
Melt electrowriting (MEW) is a 3D printing technique used in biofabrication and tissue engineering. It involves the deposition of molten polymer fibers using an electric field to create complex, customizable structures. MEW allows for precise control over fiber alignment, diameter, and spacing, enabling the creation of biomimetic tissue scaffolds with high structural integrity. These scaffolds can promote cell growth and tissue regeneration, making MEW a promising technology for advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.Using our custom-built MEW 3D printers, our …
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies
Investigating fatigue of novel tissue scaffolds
The Biofabrication and Tissue Morphology (BTM) group is a world class multi-disciplinary research team focused on embedding biofabrication into routine clinical use. Based at our state-of-the-art labs at QUT Kelvin Grove Campus, aligned with the Centre for Biomedical Technologies, our research has generated new knowledge on tissue-scaffold interaction leading to next generation technology development.An area of focus of ours is melt electrowriting (MEW), a novel 3D printing technique which allows for the fabrication of tissue scaffolds with micro-scale fibers. These …
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies
Centre for Biomedical Technologies
Using systems architecture to model neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain effects '1 in every 10 adults over the age of 30'. The treatments available for neuropathic pain can at best be described as having 'moderate efficacy'. Due to the nature of neuropathic pain, the ability to scientifically study and understand its fundamental causes has been limited to animal models and trials. There are over 27 animal models for neuropathic pain where pain has been induced by macroscopic and microscopic nerve lesions, chemotherapy, viral infections and diabetes mellitus.Looking at …
- Study level
- PhD
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
A soft robotic manipulator for spinal surgery
The geriatric population in Australia (4.2 million 2020, ABS), is growing steadily with numbers expected to double in the coming years. Incidences of spinal disorders requiring surgical treatment are therefore predicted to increase, incurring an estimated lifetime cost of AUD 3.7 billion per case (The Treasury). Robotics, an increasingly important component of modern medicine, is well suited to address the minimally invasive surgical needs of treating the spine.This project proposes the use of a soft-robotic manipulator to carry out spinal …
- Study level
- PhD
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Robotics
Investigation into the responses of electromagnetic and mechanical wave signals on a nanotextured surface
Exposure to contagious pathogens, therefore, infections in public places, including healthcare facilities, is a global concern nowadays. Nanoscale roughness on the materials as that of the cicada and dragonfly wings exhibited strongly antimicrobial properties that repel and/or kill bacteria. Nanoscale roughness artificially can be produced by applying wet-chemical etching, electrochemical etching, and hydrothermal process. The process control parameters usually include the etchant’s molar weight, etching period, and temperature (for hydrothermal only). Considering one-factor-at-a-time, these control parameters are approximated for a …
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies
Investigating DNA repair mechanisms in aging adult stem cells
When we age the DNA repair systems of our cells become down regulated. This results in reduced DNA repair capacity, enhanced rates of mutation load and may lead to the development of chronic aging-associated diseases including osteoporosis, Alzheimer's and cancer(1). So it is no surprise that genome instability and stem cell exhaustion, which also strongly correlates with the accumulation of DNA damage, are considered hallmarks of aging(2).However, we still lack a clear understanding on how the decrease in DNA repair …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Health
- School
- School of Biomedical Sciences
Understanding the immunological mechanisms that regulate increased susceptibility to respiratory syncytial viral infection after stem cell transplantation
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is considered the gold standard procedure for the treatment of blood cancers. Globally, over 9000 patients per year undergo this high-risk, life-saving therapy. However, major complications limit the therapeutic potential of this treatment which include graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infections due to the severe immunosuppression in these patients. Respiratory syncytial viral (RSV) infection is frequent in these patients, is often fatal and clearly a significant clinical problem. Thus, there is a pressing need for new …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Health
- School
- School of Biomedical Sciences
The role of genetics in the development and mechanism of human traits
The Statistical and Genomic Epidemiology Laboratory (SGEL) studies the role of genetics in the development and mechanism of human traits, with particular emphasis on migraine, and the specific goal of identifying genetic risk factors and detecting common genetic links with other disorders, in particular depression, endometriosis, and epilepsy.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Health
- School
- School of Biomedical Sciences
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health
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