Spring Hill PhD scholar to help money markets develop solid investments
Published Thursday, 12 February, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Spring Hill resident Roger Zhu is among 27 of Australia’s top research students who will take 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.
Roger, who will be studying at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, will examine the risks and returns associated with investments across world financial markets.
“My research will cover the three most traded financial markets which are equities, foreign exchange and commodities,” he said.
Mr Zhu said he hoped his research would lead to the development of more innovative products or tools, particularly in the area of superannuation funds.
“These products or tools will be fairly neutral so they are not affected by constant fluctuations in world money markets,” he said.
“This will be particularly important for superannuation funds which have been greatly affected over the past year due to the global financial crisis.”
Ms Boyle said all 27 projects undertaken by the PhD scholarship-holders will have wide-reaching benefits.
“Other 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.
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.
The Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland and Queensland Institute of Medical Research will host 17 of the scholarship recipients in Brisbane.
Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said Roger should be very proud of his achievements and wished him luck with his PhD over the next three years.
“More than ever people are concerned with the global financial market so Roger’s work will hopefully go someway to protecting people’s investments in the future.”
Ms Boyle added 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 27 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
Queensland University of Technology: Astra Dadzis 3138 2361
Ends
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.
Roger, who will be studying at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, will examine the risks and returns associated with investments across world financial markets.
“My research will cover the three most traded financial markets which are equities, foreign exchange and commodities,” he said.
Mr Zhu said he hoped his research would lead to the development of more innovative products or tools, particularly in the area of superannuation funds.
“These products or tools will be fairly neutral so they are not affected by constant fluctuations in world money markets,” he said.
“This will be particularly important for superannuation funds which have been greatly affected over the past year due to the global financial crisis.”
Ms Boyle said all 27 projects undertaken by the PhD scholarship-holders will have wide-reaching benefits.
“Other 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.
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.
The Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland and Queensland Institute of Medical Research will host 17 of the scholarship recipients in Brisbane.
Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said Roger should be very proud of his achievements and wished him luck with his PhD over the next three years.
“More than ever people are concerned with the global financial market so Roger’s work will hopefully go someway to protecting people’s investments in the future.”
Ms Boyle added 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 27 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
Queensland University of Technology: Astra Dadzis 3138 2361
Ends