Student topics

Building thermal insulation plays a critical role in global decarbonisation by directly reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling - two of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the built environment. Aerogel materials offer tremendous potential in insulation applications due to their ultralow thermal conductivity, lightweight nature, and flexible design properties. This PhD project aims to develop high-performance aerogel materials from renewable lignocellulosic biomass for thermal energy management applications.

Study level

PhD

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering

School

School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering

Research centre(s)

Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy

SiOx/C anodes are attracting significant industry interest for lithium-ion battery applications due to their much higher energy density compared to graphite. Currently, SiOx/C anodes are produced on a limited commercial scale using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. However, the CVD process is costly and unsustainable, limiting the large-scale deployment of SiOx/C in lithium-ion batteries. Lignocellulosic biomass is rich in carbon, and many types also contain silica, making it a promising sustainable feedstock. This PhD project aims to develop low-cost, …

Study level

PhD

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering

School

School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering

Research centre(s)

Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy

Lignin is one of the three major components of lignocellulosic biomass, such as sugarcane bagasse and woody biomass. It is renewable, low-cost, and rich in carbon, making it an ideal precursor for the production of sustainable carbon materials. This PhD project aims to develop high-performance, lignin-derived hard carbon for use in sodium-ion battery anodes.

Study level

PhD

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering

School

School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering

Research centre(s)

Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy

Developing sustainable and clean energy sources (e.g. solar, wind, and tide energy) is essential to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Due to the discontinuous and inconsistent nature of common clean energy sources, high-performance energy storage technologies are a critical part of achieving this target.

Study level

PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours

Faculty

Faculty of Science

School

School of Chemistry and Physics

Research centre(s)

Centre for Materials Science

Language is essential for human communication.  However, there is still a lack of clarity about how the brain attains language. This knowledge is critical for understanding both healthy and disordered language production and comprehension (aphasia). Hence, there is a need for further exploration using psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic (neuroimaging, electrophysiology and brain stimulation) techniques.

Study level

PhD

Faculty

Faculty of Health

School

School of Psychology and Counselling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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