Student topics

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hostile interaction design has emerged as a critical issue in contemporary digital environments, where design decisions increasingly prioritise institutional and corporate interests over the needs of users and citizens. Drawing parallels to hostile architecture—where physical spaces are designed to control behaviour, such as anti-homeless spikes or uncomfortable public seating—hostile interaction design manifests in digital systems as frustrating, impersonal, or obstructive experiences. These designs often shield corporations and governments from accountability, erecting barriers that prevent users from seeking help, lodging complaints, …

Study level

PhD, Master of Philosophy

Faculty

Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice

School

School of Design

Research centre(s)

Digital Media Research Centre
Design Lab