Student topics

This project investigates deep learning techniques including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to perform identity recognition based on the iris region.

Lead unit

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

Plasma catalysis is a rapidly emerging multidisciplinary field at the interface of catalysis, nanotechnology, physical chemistry, materials and plasma science. Relevant applications include plasma-assisted catalytic reforming of gas mixtures into fuels, chemicals and synthesis of functional nanomaterials.While the physical properties and reactive chemistry of atmospheric-pressure plasmas (APPs) are relatively well understood, little is known about the mechanisms of the APP interactions with the nanometer-size features on the surface of catalyst nanoparticles (NPs). These mechanisms are crucial to explain the effects …

Lead unit

School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering

Disciplines

Energy and process engineering

Nanoscience

Biological sciences

Environmental systems

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

Plasma agricultural, food and biotechnologies, based on low-temperature plasmas, is a rapidly emerging multidisciplinary research and development topic.

Lead unit

School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering

Disciplines

Biomedical engineering and medical physics

Energy and process engineering

Nanoscience

Biological sciences

Environmental systems

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

Inside each living cell are vast networks of interacting proteins. These protein networks allow the cell to monitor and interpret its environment, and turn this information into a set of instructions that tell the cell what to do – when to divide, when to move/migrate, when to make new proteins, when to switch to an alternative energy source, etc.Although the human genome has now been sequenced, giving us the full set of instructions (genes) contained within the DNA molecule, we …

Lead unit

School of Mathematical Sciences

Epigenome is the term that describes an array of reversible chemical modifications that decorate nucleic acids and the surrounding histone proteins. These modifications act as a molecular switch that turns on and off gene expression by influencing chromatin packaging. They have been proposed as key factor contributing to pest insect adaptation to environmental factors such as developing resistance to pesticides.Modern mass spectrometry instrumentation and novel mass spectrometry data acquisition strategies, such as SWATH-MS, allow for relatively inexpensive and ultrasensitive histone …

Lead unit

School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences

Pathogenic bacteria acquire transition metals for cell viability and persistence of infection in competition with host nutritional defences. The human host employs a variety of mechanisms to stress the invading pathogen including the delivery of cytotoxic metal ions and the withholding of essential metal ions.Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a diverse range of infections and continues to be a significant global health care challenge. To be a successful pathogen, S. aureus must sense and respond to changing environmental stresses. A …

Lead unit

School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common cause of chronic airway infection in cystic fibrosis (CF).The genetic mechanisms underlying chronic-stage adaptations, such as the switch to mucoid phenotype, have been well established for many years. However, little is known about the genetic variability between clonal P. aeruginosa CF strains.The objective of this study is to investigate the genetic divergence of several lineages of P. aeruginosa CF strains.

Lead unit

School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that is associated with persistent lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. P. aeruginosa experiences complex physiological and morphological changes in the CF lung, and life-long persistence of P. aeruginosa in the CF lung requires sophisticated, habitat-specific adaptation of the pathogen. The objective of this study is to investigate proteomic and metabolomic changes of P. aeruginosa CF strains in various culture environments. …

Lead unit

School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

How do online communities provide peer support for those with chronic illness, health conditions, or undergoing recovery from substance abuse?Platforms that connect networks together unleashing latent capacity are becoming commonplace. Examples of these include the personal transportation sector with Uber and the accomodation sector with AirBnB. These sectors are being reshaped by online communities providing peer-to-peer services and co-creating value.This research will investigate the role of online communities in providing peer-to-peer services in the healthcare context. …

Lead unit

School of Information Systems

Disciplines

Computer human interaction

Information science

Service science

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

The public sector faces specific problems like accountability, under-utilisation of assets, equitable provisioning, costs, risk adverse, operational inefficiency and a need to reform.Co-creation mediated by digital communities can alleviate these problems when strategically aligned via a better understanding of required capabilities.This research will investigate what constitutes as strategic alignment of co-creation to public sector organisations, by identifying the set of capability areas which are essential for the operational achievement and measurement of the strategic alignment of co-creation mediated by digital …

Lead unit

School of Information Systems

Disciplines

Computer human interaction

Information science

Service science

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

Decision making by older people is complex with many options and sources of information which can be overwhelming, intimidating and very confusing. With an ageing Queensland population, enabling older people with technologies to enhance their resilience and decision-making capabilities is vital.Online communities provide older people with opportunities for information sharing and learning, for companionship and social support, for assisting with decision making, and for reducing isolation. This project will investigate the role of online communities in empowering older people to …

Lead unit

School of Information Systems

Disciplines

Computer human interaction

Information science

Service science

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours

What design features are best suited to support peer to peer interactions within online communities?What types of interactions are desirable for specific contexts, and how can support for these interactions be realised through design?What do extant theories tell us about user behaviour and about the design of online communities?What are the commonly occurring problems, and which general reusable solutions or patterns can be developed to optimise online community design?This research will investigate and optimise design approaches to building online communities …

Lead unit

School of Information Systems

Disciplines

Computer human interaction

Information science

Service science

Study levels

PhD

Research Masters

Honours