Scholarships bring best and brightest research students to Queensland

Queensland is set to gain from 27 top Australian research students taking up Smart Futures PhD scholarships at universities across the state in 2009.

Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the Queensland Government scholarships award each postgraduate $22,500 over three years for full-time research in varied disciplines.

“The projects undertaken by these students will have wide-reaching benefits,” Ms Boyle said.

“Topics for study include climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, skin cancer treatment, obesity intervention, developing new learning methods, improving police investigative practices and the effects of aerosols on rainfall.

“A landmark study into the Aboriginal perspective on health will also be conducted by Maryborough’s Victoria Close, the first Indigenous recipient of a Smart Futures PhD scholarship.

“Mrs Close is a legally blind, mature-age student with a decorated academic history, and will base her research at the University of Southern Queensland’s Toowoomba campus.”

While extremely excited to be embarking on this research, Mrs Close said her work will be the beginning of a long process.

“I hope to raise an awareness of the needs of Aboriginal people, which will have important ramifications for all Australians,” Mrs Close said.

Ms Boyle said the scholarships foster innovation in Queensland’s research and development sector, helping to build the foundations for a sustainable state-wide research community.

“This in turn plays a key role in our economic prosperity and social advancement,” she said.

“Brisbane universities will host seventeen of the scholarship-holders, the other ten will study at universities across the state from James Cook University in Townsville to Griffith University on the Gold Coast.

“Queensland has a reputation for building world-class R&D infrastructure and now there is a push to attract leading researchers too.

“During the past 10 years the Queensland Government has invested $3.4 billion in 36 new research institutes and more than 230 research scholarships and fellowships,” Ms Boyle said.

“The four-year $120 million Smart State Strategy, launched in 2008 and incorporating the Smart Futures scholarships, will boost science and industry’s capacity to solve problems through research, innovation and key partnerships across public and private sectors.

“The 28 scholarship-holders are to be congratulated on their success, given the calibre of applications received, and I look forward to the outcome of their research.”

12 February, 2009

Media contact: Marcus Taylor 3225 1005/0419 025 326 or Zoe Russell 3224 2007/0437 436 914
2009

Central Queensland University: Michael Donahue 4930 9384

Griffith University: Fiona Taylor 3735 6741

James Cook University: Jim O'Brien 4781 4822

Queensland University of Technology: Astra Dadzis 3138 2361

University of Queensland: Jan King 3365 1120

University of Southern Queensland: Josh Ada 4631 2559

Link to photographs of recipients (hover mouse over photograph for recipient’s name):
http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/media/20093001_smartfutures/







University & recipients PhD topic

University of Queensland
Matthew Thompson Developing methods to correctly identify forensic evidence in partnership with Qld Police.
Christopher Doropoulos Effects of climate change on coral and algae on the Great Barrier Reef.
Michael Hewson The significance of aerosols on clouds and rainfall in South East Queensland using remote sensing.
Esther Lau Controlling medication release using novel delivery systems based on plant proteins.

Queensland University of Technology
Ken Dutton-Regester Identification of therapeutic targets in melanoma skin cancer.
Simon de Veer Investigating enzyme activity in skin disease.
Lisa Hamilton Intellectually disabled share their experiences of home while living in supported accommodation.
Hayley Moody Examining stages of osteoarthritis in knee joints at a cellular level.
Steven Dargaville Methods of safely storing bagasse (sugar cane fibre residue) in large stockpiles.
Lee-Ann Wilson Exploring environmental conscience amongst mid age adults.
Ying Jie Zhu (Roger) Application of co-integration methods on pairs trading strategies in financial markets.
Colleen Morgan Mobile information & communication technologies (ICTs) in schools for 21st century learners.
Kerryn Dowding Evaluation of practical strategies for teaching nutrition skills for mental health.
Kelly Dixon Psychological effects of the 2008 Mackay floods and resilience testing.
Rebekah Chapman Boosting the effects of a curriculum-based injury prevention program for adolescents.
Michele Furlong Obesity prevention in young adults.
Kate Cantrell Unravelling the fabric of gender and genre in Australian women's contemporary memoir/autobiography.
Zoe Staines Developing effective investigative techniques for police investigators.

James Cook University
Erica Todd A molecular ecological assessment of endemic freshwater turtles in the Burdekin and Fitzroy Rivers.
James White Efficiency of current marine park zoning on shark conservation on the Great Barrier Reef.
David Jones Predicting the distribution of the box jellyfish and Irukandji jellyfish using population genetic structure.
Christina Hicks Understanding the flow of coral reef ecosystem goods and services in a changing climate.
Grant Sinnamon Links between environmental stress and biological stress for Type 1 diabetes sufferers.
Rowan Trebilco The role of top predators in reef ecosystem resilience: mechanisms and management.

Griffith University (Gold Coast)
Sarah Gardiner An exploration of generational influences on consumer behaviour.

Central Queensland University
Morwenna Kirwan A self-management application for an portable device for adolescents with Type I Diabetes.
Mitchell McClanachan Optimisation of train haulage operations.

University of Southern Queensland
Victoria Close Aboriginal perspective on health communication.