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Potential student research projects
QUT Biology and Environmental Science
Research in Biology & Environmental Science at QUT
Our school brings together multidisciplinary research teams to address global challenges, ranging from food security to climate change. We work across all levels of complexity, from genes to whole organisms, and in natural to modified ecosystems.
Why do a research degree in Biology & Environmental Science?
Work with our experts to:
• Solve problems that matter to this and future generations• Assist both developed and developing countries• Learn advanced laboratory skills and undertake fieldwork in diverse locations• Access the latest equipment in state-of-the-art laboratories• Deploy cutting-edge technologies in sensing, artificial intelligence and computer
modelling• Train with experts who are recognised internationally for their achievements• Connect with a range of end-users and potential employers, from community
groups to multi-national companies
Our research teams are working across three major domains which aim to:
Food:• develop crops that are resilient to climate change, pests and diseases• monitor and control the threat of invasive species• enhance the nutritional value of staple foods in developing countries• deliver advanced and sustainable methods for agricultural production
Environment:• build and maintain resilient landscapes• ensure the health and security of our groundwater supplies• help reduce greenhouse gas emissions• monitor, manage, conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystems• understand the genetic basis of evolution and biodiversity in modern species
Biotechnology:• Process industrial and agricultural waste to generate animal feed and other
commodities• Use plants and other biological organisms to generate novel drugs and chemicals• Diagnose, prevent and treat animal diseases• Develop novel biosensors and biological switches
Testimonials
Help communities make sustainable decisions
‘My PhD research will help improve our understanding of groundwater resources at Tamborine Mountain in Queensland.
This will give the local community and government the information they need to monitor and manage water resources, and to help maintain this beautiful location sustainably into the future’.
- Lisa Bagger Gurieff, QUT PhD researcher (Principal Supervisor: Dr Lucy Reading)
World-renowned researchers as mentors
'My research explores how a native Australian plant can be used for pharmaceutical applications like the production of antibodies and vaccines.
QUT was an obvious choice for a research degree because of their proven reputation for producing ground-breaking research and technologies that are used by scientists worldwide.
The senior scientific staff have given me guidance and mentorship, and the freedom that I need to progress as a scientist.'
- Zach LeBlanc, QUT PhD researcher (Principal Supervisor: Prof Peter Waterhouse)
POSITIONSenior Lecturer
RESEARCHAndrew Baker is an ecologist and holds the position of Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane where he teaches ecology and environmental science at all levels of the undergraduate program. Andrew has expertise in mammal ecology, taxonomy and genetics, most specifically in carnivorous marsupial research focusing on antechinus. He holds an adjunct / honorary position as Senior Research Fellow at the Qld Museum, where he assists with research, identification and curation of specimens held in the mammal collection.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• None at present.
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/am.baker
ANDREW BAKER
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 4443EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 320
POSITIONProfessor
RESEARCHProfessor Kirill Alexandrov obtained his PhD in Cell Biology at EMBL Heidelberg, Germany in 1995. He went on to postgraduate work at the Department of Physical Biochemistry at the Max-Planck Institute in Dortmund, Germany, and remained with the Institute for 12 years, becoming a group leader in 1999. He co-founded the German biotechnology company JenaBioscience in 1998 and the UK/Australian SynBio company Molecular Warehouse Ltd in 2015. He joined the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Biotechnology of the University of Queensland, Australia in 2008 as an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. In 2018 he joined Queensland University of Technology as CSIRO-QUT Inaugural Professor of Synthetic Biology. His group is interested in protein engineering of artificial sensing and signal transduction and two-way connectivity between biology and electronics.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Protein nanocage disassembly using light-responsive unnatural
amino acids (Hons, Masters)• Just add water to make life! Engineering dry cell-free
expression systems to fight viruses and bio-terrorism (Masters, PhD)
• Using in vitro evolution to design next generation macrocyclic cellular probes (PhD)
• Engineering protein-based molecular switches for diagnostic and biosecurity applications (PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/kirill.alexandrov
KIRILL ALEXANDROV
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 8600EMAIL: [email protected] OFFICE: GP, M Block, Rm. 582
POSITIONPostdoctoral Research Fellow
RESEARCHJames has recently joined QUT after several years working abroad in academia and industry, focused on trying to use synthetic biology to solve problems. His main interest is developing biological methods for using or upcycling seemingly unusable industrial waste products.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Better bugs: CRISPR-based modification of unconventional
bacteria to make them easier to engineer (Hons, Masters)• Pumped up protein production: Engineering bacteria for better
production and secretion of extracellular enzymes (Hons, Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/james.behrendorff
JAMES BEHRENDORFF
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 0498 948 596EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, M Block, Level 5
POSITIONPostdoctoral Research Fellow, Program Leader, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
RESEARCHIn our team we focus on developing plants/crops with enhanced characteristics using genetic engineering, genome editing and new plant breeding techniques. Our current projects include -investigating wild native plants in Australia and using genomic approaches for studying crop evolution and adaptation -developing multipurpose Nicotiana crops for molecular farming and use as biofactory - using trans-kingdom RNAi to improve plant resistance to pest and diseases - working on RNA interference, studying production, regulation and movement of sRNAs in Plants.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Developing novel technologies to give effective plant protection
against important agricultural pests, without affecting the environment, such as new delivery strategy for trans-kingdom RNAi. (Masters, PhD)
• Humanised glycosylation pathway engineering in chloroplasts of higher plants. (Masters, PhD)
• Plant biofactory systems for recombinant protein production. (Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/Julia.bally
JULIABALLY
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 7670EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, H Block, Rm. 1M02
POSITIONResearch Associate
RESEARCHSustainable Agriculture, predictive modelling, spatial and temporal variability, Digital Agriculture, Climate Change, soil science, Nitrogen and Carbon cycling, Greenhouse gas emissions, Fertiliser use efficiency.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Digital soil mapping application for the strategical management
of nitrogen fertiliser• Cropland mapping using satellite images and AI• Spatial management of soil organic amendments application
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/d.derosa
DANIELEDE ROSA
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 0256EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, P Block, Level 703-24
POSITIONProfessor and Chair of Fruit Fly Biology and Management
RESEARCHMy lab researches the biology and ecology of tephritid fruit flies, which are internationally important pests of fruit and vegetables. We use tools and approaches from molecular biology, evolutionary biology, autecology and behaviour to develop environmentally and ecologically sustainable control tools for these pests. As fruit flies are also highly biodiverse members of rainforests, we also focus on the multitrophic interactions between flies, the fruits they feed within, and their natural enemies within their natural ecosystems.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• None available for 2021.
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/a.clarke
ANTHONY CLARKE
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1649EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 113
MELODYDE LAAT
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1618EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 407
POSITIONSenior Lecturer
RESEARCHOur team is trying to develop novel, efficacious medications for animal metabolic diseases. We study the endocrine system and associated sequelae of metabolic diseases in animals.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Can fructosamine be used to predict equine metabolic
syndrome in horses? (Hons)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/melody.delaat
FELIPEFENSELAU DE FELIPPESCONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 7670EMAIL: [email protected]: GP. H Block, Rm 407
POSITIONSenior Research Associate
RESEARCHThe decision of how, when and where genes are expressed is an essential aspect of life. Studying the mechanisms regulating gene expression is therefore fundamental to better understand how organisms develop and answer to external stimuli. I am mainly interested in the regulation mediated by small RNAs, also referred as gene silencing. Gene silencing is key for the proper plant development and physiology and is also one of the main defencemechanisms against virus. Expanding our knowledge of how this pathway works will allow for new and improved strategies to manipulate gene expression, resulting in plants with better agricultural traits
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Mechanisms and applications of sRNA-mediated gene
silencing in plants (Master, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/felipe.felippes
JOHANNES FRIEDL
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 9555EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, P Block, Rm. 703A
POSITIONResearch Fellow (Environmental Science)
RESEARCHMy research focusses on carbon and nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils, using stable isotopes to link the production and consumption of reactive nitrogen species in the soil to the underlying microbial processes. This research is embedded in the development and evaluation of sustainable farming practice adapted to global climate change, reducing reactive nitrogen losses to the environment while maintaining crop and pasture productivity.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Denitrification losses from Australian cropping soils - key
drivers and mitigation (PhD)• Nitrogen Turnover and loss in Australian cropping soils
(Hons/Masters)• Denitrification losses from intensively managed agricultural
soils – automated sub-diurnal measurements of N₂ and N₂O using an in-situ continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/johannes.friedl
POSITIONProfessor
RESEARCHFrom grasslands to tropical forests: understanding the implications of pervasive environmental change on plant populations, plant communities and local people. I am a restoration ecologist who specializes in studying ecological theory and then linking these theoretical constructs to the practical management of grasslands and tropical forests. The driving motivation in my Academic career is to find smarter, cheaper and more sustainable ways of restoring degraded plant communities, whether that be grasslands or forests. Globally, unsustainable land use has led to the degradation of many valuable ecosystems and the loss of irreplaceable biodiversity. My research and the research of my HDR students focuses on developing a better understanding of how the loss of native biodiversity impacts on ecosystems and subsequently finding better ways to bring it back.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• ARC Discovery 2019: Managing complex networks in
endangered grasslands to restore food webs focus on invertebrates (PhD)
• Management of native grasslands in the Bunya Mountains and surrounding lowlands, under a range of anthropogenic pressures, (PhD, Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/Jennifer.firn
JENNIFER FIRN
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 9016EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 111
PETERGRACECONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 9283EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, P Block, Rm. 731
POSITIONProfessor of Global Change
RESEARCHTerrestrial biogeochemist specialising in soil-plant-atmosphere interactions and the carbon, nitrogen and water cycles. Using stable isotopes and simulation model to develop innovative solutions to increasing nitrogen use efficiency and soil carbon storage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural soils.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Reducing nitrogen losses to increase fertiliser use efficiency in
grain systems of Queensland (PhD).• Increasing soil carbon in grazing lands of Qld (PhD).• Impact of conservation agriculture on soil carbon storage in
tropical crops (PhD).
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/pr.grace
SUSANFULLER
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 2497EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 408
POSITIONAssociate Professor (Ecology)
RESEARCHLarge areas of Australia are experiencing sustained anthropogenic pressure, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. I am passionate about protecting our ecosystems and biodiversity using interdisciplinary and innovative technological approaches in ecological research. I have a particular interest in using ecoacoustic innovations to monitor changes in ecosystem health and impacts on biodiversity.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Characterising the effect of the lunar cycle on soundscapes.
(BSc Hons, Masters)• Acoustic monitoring of Powerful Owls – how good is the
species distribution model? (BSc Hons, Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/s.fuller
POSITIONProfessor, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
RESEARCHMy research interests lie mainly in the area of banana biotechnology. The Banana Biotechnology Research Program is probably the leading banana biotechnology program internationally. The program has extensive sub-programs including (i) tissue culture and transformation (ii) transgene expression (iii) gene editing (iv) genomics and gene discovery and (v) disease resistance. The major research projects include (i) banana biofortification for Africa (funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) (ii) virus resistant bananas for Africa (funded by the Gates Foundation) (iii) Fusarium wilt TR4 resistant Cavendish (genetically modified and gene edited) and (iv) enhanced banana fruit composition (vitamins, antioxidants).
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Increasing banana transformation efficiency (PhD)• Banana genomics (PhD)• Banana biofortification (PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/r.harding
ROBHARDING
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1370EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, H Block, Rm. 302
POSITIONAssociate Professor (Ecology)
RESEARCHGlobal Biodiversity is in crisis worldwide, with losses in biodiversity occurring at 1,000 times the estimated background rate of extinction. Biodiversity declines in Australia are amongst the worst in the world. I work with colleagues across disciplines to address major global questions in conservation. With projects across Australia and the world, we have developed leading edge methods using drones and artificial intelligence to rapidly and automatically detect and monitor wildlife and vegetation. Species we are looking at include koalas, deer, to contribute to monitoring at a landscape scale.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Detection and landscape assessment of multiple species using
drone surveys (BSc Hons, Masters, PhD)• Post bushfire monitoring of threatened and feral species
(Masters, PhD)• Looking through a Virtual Forest (Masters, PhD)• Assessment of Greater Glider populations (Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/g.hamilton
GRANT HAMILTON
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 2318EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 329
POSITIONAssociate Professor, Program leader (BioAg), Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
RESEARCHWe study the interactions between microorganisms, invertebrates and the environment, particularly agricultural crops. We work with industry to find solutions to critical problems in agriculture and the development and production of microbial inocula and biopesticides. We use molecular and bioinformatic analyses to investigate the ecology and biology of invertebrate, plant and soil microbiota and the health of pollinators
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• SCB500 Work Integrated learning, Summer semester
2020/21: microbe and invertebrate interactions.
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/caroline.hauxwell
CAROLINE HAUXWELL
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 8062 EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, M Block, Rm 580
POSITIONSenior Lecturer
RESEARCHMark Harrison is a biochemist with extensive basic, applied, and commercial research experience. He is a Senior Research Fellow and foundation member of the QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy (https://www.qut.edu.au/research/centre-for-agriculture-and-the-bioeconomy). Mark also provides consulting services to the Australian food and bio-industrial sector. Research in his group is focused on the conversion of agricultural wastes and residues into more valuable food, feed, fibre, fine chemical, and fuel products using both chemical and biological processes.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Development of analytical tools for microbial adhesion to
lignocellulosic biomass (VRES, Hons, Masters, PhD)• Investigating the mechanical properties of temperate, sub-
tropical, and tropical fodder (VRES, Hons, Masters)• Evaluating the functional response of the rumen microbiome to
low-quality fodder (Masters, PhD)• Microbial colonisation of low-quality fodder particles in the
bovine rumen: meta-genomics, -transcriptomics, and -proteomics (Masters, PhD)
• Near- and super-critical extraction of high value agricultural,• pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical compounds (Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/md.harrison
MARK HARRISON
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1234EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, H Block, Rm. 208
STUART PARSONS
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 3824EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 304
POSITIONProfessor and Head of School
RESEARCHI study how animals sense the world around them, and how this affects their behaviour. I am particularly interested in bats, but have also worked with birds, insects and whales. Much of my work has focused on studying how bats use echolocation to sense the world around them, how we can use AI to identify the species emitting these calls, and how we can use acoustics to study bat behaviour. This has led to research work around the world; I currently have research programs running in New Zealand, Australia, Belize and Taiwan.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Dispersal patterns of bats in fragmented and continuous
habitats as determined using least cost modeling (PhD)(Masters)
• Bat roosts as nutrient hotspots in native forest (BSc Hons, Masters)
• Using species distribution modelling to understand flying fox roost selection (BSc Hons)
• Behavioral ecology of Australia’s iconic ghost bat (PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/stuart.parsons
POSITIONSenior Lecturer
RESEARCHStemming from a background in molecular ecology, I have interests in using genetics to answer ecological questions, mostly relating to aquatic systems. This has expanded to: using a genetic/genomics approach to improving aquaculture; using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology for conserving and managing Australia's depauperate freshwater biodiversity; using genomics to investigate the evolution of freshwater species (i.e. how they evolved from marine ancestors). I am also interested in applying these technologies to addressing ecological issues in terrestrial systems.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Using eDNA analysis to compare diets between native and
feral herbivores in an arid habitat (Hons, Masters)• Testing expression of speciation genes in a species complex of
FW shrimp (Hons, Masters)• Using an epigenetics approach to determining underlying
mechanisms driving morphological differences in the giant freshwater prawn (PhD)
• Using eDNA to characterise soil bacterial communities associated with decomposing bodies (Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/d.hurwood
DAVID HURWOOD
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 5072EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 411
POSITIONSenior Lecturer (Genomics)
RESEARCHMy current research employs a combination of high throughput genomics, bioinformatics and ecological experiments to address questions in human dominated and marine ecosystems. The questions I am currently investigating include the evolutionary genetics of sea anemones, understanding the genetic underpinnings of flowering time and plant architecture in crops and how plant derived lures influence gene expression and fitness in true fruit flies.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Characterising toxins in sea anemones (PhD, Masters)• Genomics of fruit tree species (BSc Hons, Masters)• Understanding lure response if pest fruit flies (PhD, Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/p.prentis
PETER PRENTIS
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 2186EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 409
POSITIONAssociate Professor (Evolutionary Biology)
RESEARCHMuch of my earlier research focused on developing phylogenetic methods to resolve evolutionary relationships, usually among mammals or birds. Although I continue this work, my research now primarily involves using molecular and morphological phylogeny to infer macroevolutionary patterns and processes. I am particularly interested in integrating data from DNA sequences, ecology and fossils to better understand the origins and maintenance of mammalian biodiversity. Other long-term interests include inferring how dinosaurs and their extinction influenced the evolution of birds and mammals and understanding evolutionarily stable niche discontinuities between species and their impact on evolvability.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Why "living fossil" species just won't go extinct (Hons, Masters,
PhD)• Maintenance of biodiversity among marsupials (Masters, PhD)• Evolutionary origin of religion (this is just a possibility that would
need additional supervision) (Hons, Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/m9.phillips
MATTHEW PHILLIPSCONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 4805EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 117
DAVID ROWLINGS
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 9508EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, P Block, Rm. 703
POSITIONAssociate Professor (Environmental Science)
RESEARCHDavid specializes in the development and utilization of improved sensing and monitoring technologies for mitigating environmental greenhouse gases, improving crop fertiliser-use efficiency and monitoring soil carbon, reactive nitrogen and biogeochemical processes. His work spans the Australian beef, dairy, grains, sugar and horticulture industries and he has worked internationally in cropping and rice systems.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Grazing impacts on soil carbon sequestration in rangelands• Using agricultural waste and organic amendments for
sustainable agriculture and soil health.• Testing noval fertiliser formulations for improved environmental
and agronomic outcomes.• Quantifying Nitrogen turnover and release in Australian
cropping soils using novel 15N isotope techniques.
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/d.rowlings
LUCY READING
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1469EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 312
POSITIONSenior Lecturer
RESEARCHI research the movement of water and chemicals under the ground. Water stored under the ground, called “groundwater”, is often poorly understood because we can’t see it. Yet groundwater provides an essential freshwater resource for many communities, particularly during times of drought.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Modelling contaminant transport from groundwater to surface
water in the GBR catchments (PhD).• Modelling groundwater-surface water interactions at
Springbrook (PhD)• Development of a medical device for the early detection and
monitoring of equine laminitis (Hons)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/lucy.reading
POSITIONProfessor
RESEARCHProf Sillence trained in pharmacology before undertaking a PhD in animal physiology and nutrition. He as worked in the UK, the USA and in Australia to research animal production and health, studying a range of hormones and diseases. His current focus is on the hormones that influence equine laminitis, a foot disease of horses, and the relation of this condition to human metabolic syndrome.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Development of a medical device for the early detection and
monitoring of equine laminitis (Honours project)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/martin.sillence
MARTIN SILLENCECONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 2565EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 312
POSITIONResearch Fellow (Proteomics)
RESEARCHStudying proteins and small molecules as dynamic entities that continuously undergo modification, conversion or relocation to explore the significance of these alterations for living organisms using high throughout approaches. Specifically, applying cutting edge quantitative mass spectrometry techniques to investigate the dynamics of proteomes and metabolomes of species of economic importance.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Cross species plasma proteomics (BSc Hons, Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/pawel.sadowski
PAWEL SADOWSKI
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 9541EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, P Block, Rm. 632
POSITIONResearch Fellow
RESEARCHCurrently focused on bioconversion of agro-industrial residues and using various carbon and nitrogen sources yeast and fungal nutritional supplements for feed or food. I have a strong interest in hyphae and mycoprotein synthesis in solid-state and submerged fermentation. I am particularly interested in fungi with regards to residue transformation and the production of chitin, protein and fatty acids, medicinal compound as well enzymatic catalysis. Interested in halophilic methanotrophs for methane abatement and improved lysine synthesis in co-co-culture.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Producing mushrooms, mycelial proteins and medicinal
compounds from waste (Hons, Masters, PhD)• Biological engineering of waste into new composite materials
and fungal leather (Hons, Masters, PhD)• Hyper-accumulation of lipids and dietary fatty acids in microbial
cell cultures (Hons, Masters, PhD)• Using a robust methanotroph culture to mitigate atmospheric
methane release (Hons, Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/james.strong
JAMES STRONG
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 0459 652 099EMAIL: OFFICE: GP, H Block, Rm. 208
POSITIONProfessor
RESEARCHWe are a multi-disciplinary group working to develop and engineer microbial and enzyme systems for industrial applications. Areas of current focus are the development and manufacturing optimisation of advanced microbial livestock feed supplements, livestock waste processing, chemical manufacturing, textile waste processing and textile industry innovation. These industry focused projects are built on our interests in understanding and manipulating/optimising enzyme function, microbial production strains and fermentation processes and how these systems interface with business, the economy and the environment.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Production bottlenecks in the yeast Pichia pastoris: functional
studies of stress responses during recombinant protein expression (PhD)
• Metabolic engineering of methanotrophic bacteria to produce high-value compounds (Hons, Masters, PhD)
• Microbial cellulose synthesis, modification and elongation using engineered biology (Hons, Masters, PhD)
• Engineered microbial catalysts for the production of human and veterinary medicines (Hons, Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/robert.speight
ROBERT SPEIGHT
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 0373EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, P Block, Rm. 727
POSITIONLaureate Fellow & Professor of Molecular Genetics
RESEARCHMy past research started with molecular virology and has flowed through, the creation of naive antibody libraries by molecular shuffling, discovering, studying and applying RNAi interference, delving into epigenetics, protecting plants against insects, and is now more focussed on plant genomics and genome editing. I am currently investigating the evolution and utilisation of the Australian native plant Nicotiana benthamiana, which has become a world-wide biofactory for the production of vaccines and valuable proteins. We are trying to understand the harmony that exists between genes of the two sub-genomes of this polyploid plant and how we can develop ways to generate accelerated evolution through editing, mobilising, rewriting, and recombining genes and gene blocks.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• • Accelerating Evolution by genome shuffling (PhD, Masters)• • Rewriting the genome and epigenome (PhD, Masters)• • Vertical Biopharming (BSc Hons, Masters)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/peter.waterhouse
PETER WATERHOUSE
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 7793EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, H Block, Rm. 310
POSITIONAssociate Professor (Microbiotechnology)
RESEARCHI am interested in studying and understanding the underpinning fundamental mechanisms how model and non-model microorganisms and enzymes can biodegrade and/or bioconvertdifferent waste and environmentally hazardous materials such as biomass, plastics waste, persistent organic pollutants (e.g. PCBs, PFAs, etc), into neutral compounds, and/or intermediate products that can be recycled to make new material/bioproducts. My research also looks at molecular processes into creating recombinant microbes or GMOs, that can express and produce a protein/enzyme of interest at high levels, and then be able to perform and optimize fermentation conditions from laboratory scale (0.001 - 20L) up to industry scale (≥100L). Also interested in studying the structural, functional and biochemical properties of proteins/enzymes of interest with a focus, on different industrial applications.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:• Testing of a range of thermophilic bacteria from the Australian
Great Artesian Basin for activity on different types of plastics (Masters, PhD)
• Expression and testing of different enzymes against different plastics (Masters, PhD)
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/junior.teo
JUNIORTE’O
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1687EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, R Block, Rm. 405
POSITIONSenior Research Fellow, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
RESEARCHMy research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive plant stress responses to inclement environments and pathogens. In todays’ increasingly unpredictable climates and disease outbreaks, plant stress response pathways are becoming increasingly relevant for the sustainability of not just crops but all plant life. Using a multi-disciplinary and trans-institutional approach, my research harnesses the unique tolerance strategies of naturally resilient ‘resurrection plants’ to unravel the mechanics of plant stress tolerance. Outcomes of my research are important for the improvement of crops that can continue to yield even in unfavourable environments.
RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2021:None currently offered
QUT STAFF PROFILE:https://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/b.williams
BRETT WILLIAMS
CONTACTPHONE: +61 7 3138 1696EMAIL: [email protected]: GP, H Block, Rm. 301
