The Vacation Research Experience Scheme (VRES) provides eligible students with the opportunity to participate in a research project. If you're interested in research and thinking of pursuing a research degree the scheme is an opportunity to see if research is right for you. Further information about the scheme is available on HiQ.
QUT offers a diverse range of student topics for VRES. Search to find a topic that interests you.
Found 208 matching student topics
Displaying 13–24 of 208 results
The Search for Ultra-Hydrophilic Polymers as Bio-Stealthy Materials
Polymeric materials are a tool used to encapsulate cells for applications such as cell-based therapies. However, a common cause of failure of this approach is immune-triggered fibrotic encapsulation leading to cell-death. Our group is using ultra-hydrophilic polymers to as encapsulation matrices to minimise any non-specific protein adsorption that may lead to an unwanted foreign body reaction. The polymers investigated are based on poly(2-oxazoline)s which are synthesised by the cationic ring opening polymerisation of 2-oxazoline monomers. This project will be investigating …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Chemistry and Physics
- Research centre
- Centre for Materials Science
Improving the performance of underwater bioadhesives for coral outplanting
The accelerating impacts of climate change and human activities on coral reef ecosystems have led to a pressing need for innovative and more sustainable approaches to support coral reef restoration. The predominant method of reef restoration is through the outplanting of corals – either reared in aquaculture farms, taking fragments of existing mature corals from neighbouring parts of the reef, or making use of recently broken coral fragments (‘fragments of opportunity’). Coral fragments are mostly bound to the reef using …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Research centre
- Centre for Environment and Society
Model Selection in Hierarchical time series Forecasting
Hierarchical forecasting is a method used to generate forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation within a structured hierarchy. This technique is particularly valuable in situations where data can be organised into a hierarchy based on different dimensions, such as geography, product categories, or time. The approach ensures that forecasts at the top levels (e.g. total sales) align with forecasts at the lower levels (e.g. regional or product-level sales), creating a coherent and consistent forecasting process across the entire hierarchy.In many …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- Research centre
- Centre for Data Science
Exploring the Effects of Interactions with Intelligent Agents in Immersive Systems
This research project investigates the impact of interactions with intelligent agents on user experiences in immersive environments, including gaming, learning, and data interpretation. These agents are powered by ChatGPT and embedded in VR/AR applications, evaluated through both single and multi-user studies. This is an interdisciplinary topic intersecting HCI, AI, and XR, but it is not currently linked to a funded project.
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Computer Science
The Impact of Virtual Environments and Body Posture on Relaxation in Virtual Reality
This interdisciplinary project explores the psychological and physiological impacts of various virtual environments and body postures on relaxation, utilising principles from psychology, human-computer interaction, and kinesiology. The topic is not attached to an existing funded project but builds on prior collaborative VR research across disciplines.
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Computer Science
Avatar Customisation for Diversity Training in Virtual Reality
This project explores how avatar representation and body ownership influence user engagement and identification in diversity training scenarios within virtual reality. In collaboration with Equal Reality—a company known for creating immersive learning environments—the project will develop a VR environment where users can customise avatars while viewing themselves in a virtual mirror. This design supports stronger embodiment and identification during training. The outcome will be used in experiments examining the effect of avatar customisation and hand-tracking interfaces on virtual body illusion …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Computer Science
Mathematical modelling of T cells as a treatment for cancer
T cells are a type of immune cell that have the potential to kill cancer cells. In this project, we will work on creating a mathematical representation of an exciting new cancer therapy. This therapy activates T cells outside the body using scaffolds of microscopic rods. Once activated, these T cells are then injected back into the body and can kill cancer cells. To capture this new cancer treatment, we'll be creating a mathematical model known as an agent-based model, …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Mathematical Sciences
Measuring nitrogen gas losses from cropping soils
Nitrogen fertilisers contribute 32% of global nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, representing a significant contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Finding ways to reduce N2O emissions from soil is critical to reaching net zero GHG emissions and improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser use in cropping systems.Nitrous oxide is produced in soil via microbial processes of nitrification (where ammonium is converted to nitrate) and denitrification (where nitrate is converted to N2O). Under the right conditions, denitrification may progress further with N2O …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Biology and Environmental Science
- Research centre
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
Praeclarus process-data quality framework
Praeclarus is an open-source software framework that aims to facilitate data pre-processing for process mining. Process mining is specialised data mining focusing on process-data. It is of high interest to industry, with the market doubling every two years (e.g., increasing from $550M in 2020 to $1,8B in 2023). This market increase has meant that big companies like Microsoft, SAP, and IBM are acquiring process mining vendors such is Minit, Signavio, and myInvenio.Recent process mining surveys show that more than 60% …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science
- School
- School of Information Systems
Comfort VR wearables
Imagine this: you are enjoying your VR experience, the content of your VR experience includes jump scares and laughs. At each laugh you notice it is a little harder to keep the VR headset in place. It slips and it feels tight when you laugh. You feel it uncomfortable.This VREs project is about designing VR devices that are comfortable on our faces, adaptable to different facial anatomies, facial expressions and facial moves. How might this well-known wearable device be designed …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice
- School
- School of Design
- Research centre
- QUT Design Lab
Sky News as populist media
Did you ever wonder why video content is so interesting and engaging? Or did you wonder why some people follow some news intensely and seem to distrust other news outlets? Then the Sky News Australia on YouTube project is for you. This project in the Digital Media Research Centre is looking at how Sky News on YouTube uses the tools of video editing to be engaging and persuasive - and how Sky might argue political points through the way they …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice
- School
- School of Communication
- Research centre
- Digital Media Research Centre
Rainbow Reading Circle
In Queensland, lists of texts prescribed for use in high school English are used in conjunction with other curriculum documents to shape the content of study in senior English subjects. Prescribed text lists contain varied representations of what counts as notable an important enough to be worthy of recommendation for use with young adult learners. Research suggests that LGBTIQ+ subjectivities are seldom represented in the current lists. Further research that involves teachers and students in appraising the benefits and challenges …
- Faculty
- Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice
- School
- School of Teacher Education and Leadership
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If you have questions about the Vacation Research Experience Scheme (VRES), the application process, finding a topic or anything else, get in touch with us today.