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 537 matching student topics
Displaying 97–108 of 537 results
Real-time control of nature-based solutions for multi-benefit water management
Nature-based solutions (NBS) such as wetlands, green roofs, and bioswales, are critical for sustainable urban water management. However, their benefits (flood mitigation, water quality improvement, biodiversity support) are often siloed or under-optimised.This PhD project will pioneer adaptive, real-time control strategies for NBS to maximise their environmental, social, and economic co-benefits. The research integrates sensor data, predictive modeling, and smart control systems to dynamically adjust NBS operations in response to weather, pollution events, and community needs.This project merges cutting-edge technology with …
- Study level
- PhD
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sensor network optimisation for illicit discharge detection in stormwater systems
Illicit discharges into stormwater networks threaten waterways, but current detection methods are often inefficient. This project develops a smart sensor network to identify and locate pollution sources in real time. The PhD will focus on:optimal sensor placement: algorithms for location, type, and density selectionreal-time alarm systems: fast, reliable detection to trigger inspections or robotic trackingscalability: cost-effective strategies for city-wide deployment.
- Study level
- PhD
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advancing humanoid robots: exploring materials and design for enhanced aesthetics and emotional connection
Humanoid robots are increasingly being developed for a variety of applications including healthcare, customer service, and industrial automation. However, their effectiveness depends not only on their artificial intelligence, technical capabilities, functionality and efficiency but also on the design and application of exterior materials for enhanced interaction with humans. This research aims to investigate how the application of colour, materials, and form (CMF) and other concepts of wearable fashion and innovative design can improve the aesthetics, perception, emotional connection and overall …
- Study level
- PhD
- Faculty
- Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice
- School
- School of Design
- Research centre(s)
- QUT Design Lab
Design Lab
Multimodal AI to simulate medical student competency
The assessment of medical graduate competency is a cornerstone of medical education and a critical safeguard for patient safety. Newly qualified physicians must demonstrate a broad range of skills and knowledge, including diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making, communication, procedural skills, and professionalism before independently practicing medicine. Traditional assessment methods often include standardized multiple-choice examinations, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS), and portfolio reviews. While these methods offer valuable insights, they have inherent limitations. Standardized tests may …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Health
- School
- School of Public Health and Social Work
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Data Science
Nudging better financial habits in young adults through digital cues
In the context of a growing cost of living crisis, many young adults are experiencing financial stress while navigating key life transitions such as starting university, moving out of home, or entering the workforce. These transitional periods present valuable but often missed opportunities to engage young people with tools and strategies that build long-term financial capability. Behaviourally-informed digital interventions - such as timely nudges and relatable role model messages - may help support better financial habits and confidence during these …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Accountancy
Improving safety behaviours for respirable crystalline silica in construction work
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a major health and safety concern, particularly in construction work processes. This project is aimed at understanding employer compliance implications and employee risk perceptions, attitudes, and safety behaviours towards the control measures used in workplaces to help minimise risk related to RCS. The overall intention of the project is to help ensure effective compliance is maintained when managing RCS in the workplace and to prevent silicosis in workers.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Management
Understanding psychosocial factors for addressing mental health concerns in the construction industry
Construction workers are at an increased risk of suicide and experience higher rates of poor psychological health. This research investigates the many psychosocial factors that can contribute to worker psychological (and general) wellbeing. This includes social support, social capital, personal networks, work-related conditions, and work-life-balance. Managing the psychosocial wellbeing of workers is as critical to addressing physical risks associated with construction work.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Business and Law
- School
- School of Management
Critical evaluation of Star Formation Rate estimators in galaxies
This project aims to assess the reliability, accuracy, and limitations of various Star Formation Rate (SFR) estimators used in extragalactic astronomy. By leveraging multi-wavelength data from the ZFOURGE survey, the project will explore how well SFR indicators derived from UV, optical (Hα), infrared (IR), and radio observations compare to SED-fitted SFRs from CIGALE. The project will focus on understanding discrepancies, particularly in dusty star-forming galaxies and AGN hosts, and provide recommendations for improving SFR estimates in future research.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Chemistry and Physics
Power efficient computing for statistical machine learning
The carbon footprint of computing globally is estimated to be comparable with that of the aviation industry. With the advent of generative artificial intelligence, there is a growing awareness of this environmental impact both in terms of the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts including e-waste and water consumption, predominantly through the use of power-hungry graphics processing units (GPUs).These are particularly relevant issues to many fields that rely on computationally intensive simulations for data analysis or calibration of statistical machine …
- Study level
- PhD
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Data Science
Developing bio-additives for PFAS waste management
Have you ever wondered how we deal with harmful pollutants like PFAS, the so-called 'forever chemicals'? PFAS are found in everyday items like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foam, but they don’t break down in the environment. Over time, they build up in water, soil, and even our food, creating serious risks for human health and ecosystems.Managing PFAS is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Traditional methods to remove them are expensive and can produce more …
- Study level
- Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Optimising landfill leachate treatment with innovative bioreactors
Landfill leachate, a highly polluted liquid, can pose serious risks to the environment and public health if not treated effectively. Without proper management, it can contaminate groundwater and surface water, threatening ecosystems and water resources.This project focuses on using innovative bioreactors to treat landfill leachate efficiently and sustainably. By optimizing these reactors, we aim to remove harmful pollutants like ammonia, addressing a key challenge in managing high-strength wastewater. Your work will contribute to practical solutions for real-world environmental problems.
- Study level
- Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advanced biosolid treatment: volume reduction and PFAS mitigation
PFAS, often called 'forever chemicals', are among the most persistent and harmful pollutants found in the environment. These substances accumulate in biosolids, a nutrient-rich by-product of wastewater treatment, making it challenging to safely reuse or dispose of them. Biosolid management becomes even more complex due to the large volume produced by treatment facilities, creating a pressing need for innovative solutions that address both PFAS contamination and waste volume reduction.This project focuses on cutting-edge approaches to treat biosolids, reduce their volume, …
- Study level
- Honours
- Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
- School
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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