Overview
Background
Dr. Shaygan is a soil scientist who works on multidisciplinary projects. She obtained both her BSc and MSc degrees in Agronomy from the University of Tehran, followed by a Master of Environmental Management from the University of Queensland. Dr. Shaygan completed her PhD in Soil Science at the University of Queensland. Prior to joining SMI in 2017, she worked with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Dr. Shaygan's research focuses on the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes and mine sites, mine cover design, quantification and modelling of water flow, solute and nutrient transport in porous media, soil erosion, characterization of soil hydrological and mechanical properties, and soil salinity management. In addition, she investigates the integration of biofuel crops into mine closure strategies, with a particular focus on the use of Pongamia trees for land rehabilitation, carbon sequestration, and biofuel production.
Her research interests include but are not limited to: (i) salinity management, (ii) land rehabilitation, (iii) water flow and solute/nutrient transport in porous media, (iv) erosion processes, (v) Pongamia tree growth and responses to different environmental conditions, and (vi) soil hydrological modelling.
Since joining SMI, Dr. Shaygan has secured over $3.8 million in grant funding, including more than $1 million as Lead Chief Investigator (CI). Her research projects have been supported by the mining industry (e.g., Stanmore Resources and Anglo American), the Queensland Government, and the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).
Availability
- Dr Mandana Shaygan is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Assessing post-mining land use options for coal and metal mines
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Quantifying water flow and solute transport in porous media (e.g., soil, tailings, waste rock, and bauxite residue) using hydro-geochemical models
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Designing cover systems for mine sites
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Utilizing halophytes for the rehabilitation of saline lands and mining residues
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Integrating biofuel crop farming into mine closure strategies
Research impacts
The aim of Dr. Shaygan’s research is to reduce the environmental impact of mining and to develop effective land rehabilitation strategies for mine sites, while contributing to net-zero targets and decarbonisation goals. Her research is geared toward supporting the mining industry in transitioning to more sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and communities. For example, her work has provided guidance to the coal industry on the environmental impacts of underground mining on swamps overlying mine operations in the Sydney Basin, along with rehabilitation options for these sensitive ecosystems. Additionally, Dr. Shaygan’s research has supported the establishment of Pongamia plantations in Central Queensland’s mining regions, contributing to land rehabilitation and biofuel development initiatives.
Works
Search Professor Mandana Shaygan’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
The effect of weathering on salt release from coal mine spoils
Hilton, Melinda, Shaygan, Mandana, McIntyre, Neil, Baumgartl, Thomas and Edraki, Mansour (2019). The effect of weathering on salt release from coal mine spoils. Minerals, 9 (12) 760, 760. doi: 10.3390/min9120760
2019
Other Outputs
Investigating water quality of run-off from bauxite residue
Edraki, Mansour and Shaygan, Mandana (2019). Investigating water quality of run-off from bauxite residue. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry.
2019
Conference Publication
Preferential flow as a critical parameter for the performance of covers
Baumgartl, Thomas and Shaygan, Mandana (2019). Preferential flow as a critical parameter for the performance of covers. European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 7-12 April 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
The effect of particle size on weathering and salt release from coal mine spoils
Shaygan, Mandana, Hilton, Melinda, McIntyre, Neil and Edraki, Mansour (2019). The effect of particle size on weathering and salt release from coal mine spoils. European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 7-12 April 2019.
2018
Journal Article
The effect of soil physical amendments on reclamation of a saline-sodic soil: simulation of salt leaching using HYDRUS-1D
Shaygan, Mandana, Baumgartl, Thomas, Arnold, Sven and Reading, Lucy Pamela (2018). The effect of soil physical amendments on reclamation of a saline-sodic soil: simulation of salt leaching using HYDRUS-1D. Soil Research, 56 (8), 829-845. doi: 10.1071/sr18047
2018
Other Outputs
Improving the timing of deposition for red mud in waste disposal sites
Shaygan, Mandana and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). Improving the timing of deposition for red mud in waste disposal sites. Brisbane, QLD Australia : Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, The University of Queensland.
2018
Journal Article
Modeling the effect of soil physical amendments on reclamation and revegetation success of a saline-sodic soil in a semi-arid environment
Shaygan, Mandana , Reading, Lucy Pamela , Arnold, Sven and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). Modeling the effect of soil physical amendments on reclamation and revegetation success of a saline-sodic soil in a semi-arid environment. Arid Land Research and Management, 32 (4), 1-28. doi: 10.1080/15324982.2018.1510439
2018
Journal Article
The potential of three halophytes (Tecticornia pergranulata, Sclerolaena longicuspis, and Frankenia serpyllifolia) for the rehabilitation of brine‐affected soils
Shaygan, Mandana, Mulligan, David and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). The potential of three halophytes (Tecticornia pergranulata, Sclerolaena longicuspis, and Frankenia serpyllifolia) for the rehabilitation of brine‐affected soils. Land Degradation and Development, 29 (6), 2002-2014. doi: 10.1002/ldr.2954
2018
Conference Publication
Wetting and drying cycles as a means to determine the effect and consequences of tailings ageing
Akesseh, Raphael, Shaygan, Mandana, Usher, Brent, Edraki, Mansour and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). Wetting and drying cycles as a means to determine the effect and consequences of tailings ageing. Life of Mine Conference 2018, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 25 - 27 July 2018. Victoria, Australia: The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2017
Journal Article
Germination of Atriplex halimus seeds under salinity and water stress
Shaygan, Mandana, Baumgartl, Thomas and Arnold, Sven (2017). Germination of Atriplex halimus seeds under salinity and water stress. Ecological Engineering, 102, 636-640. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.02.050
2017
Journal Article
Effect of physical amendments on salt leaching characteristics for reclamation
Shaygan, Mandana, Reading, Lucy Pamela and Baumgartl, Thomas (2017). Effect of physical amendments on salt leaching characteristics for reclamation. Geoderma, 292, 96-110. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.01.007
2017
Conference Publication
The impact of salinity on the calculation of evaporation from tailings
Richards, B. G., Shaygan, M., Edraki, M. and Baumgartl, T. (2017). The impact of salinity on the calculation of evaporation from tailings. Enviromine Srmining 2017, Santiago, Chile, 8-10 November 2017. Santiago, Chile: Gecamin.
2016
Other Outputs
Evaluating the leaching of salt affected soils for the purpose of reclamation and revegetation
Shaygan, Mandana (2016). Evaluating the leaching of salt affected soils for the purpose of reclamation and revegetation. PhD Thesis, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2016.241
2008
Journal Article
Effect of planting date and intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) on their grain yield and weeds control
Shaygan, Mandana, Mazaheri, Daryoush, Mashhadi, Hamid Rahimian and Peyghambari, Seyed Ali (2008). Effect of planting date and intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) on their grain yield and weeds control. Iranian Journal of Crop Science, 10 (1), 31-46.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mandana Shaygan is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Fire resilience of Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone
Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS) support distinctive vegetation that depends on soil water availability and organic-rich sediments, and can assist with carbon capture and storage, and enhance biodiversity. Bushfires can create or amplify soil water repellency, resulting in non-uniform rainfall infiltration, heterogeneous soil moisture patterns and preferential flow. Likewise, water repellent surfaces may reduce infiltration and intensify erosion through the loss of surface particle cohesion and rhizobial stabilisation. Soil chemical properties affected by fires include pH, nutrient content, organic matter content, sorption capacity, and major and trace elements. THPSS when wet have a high resilience to fire, due to their generally high soil moisture, and ability to support rapid vegetation re-growth. However, the resilience of THPSS affected by underground mining to fires is not understood. We are looking for motivated candidates to pursue PhD research with us in this area.
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Hydrology of Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone
Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS) support distinctive vegetation that depends on soil water availability and organic-rich sediments. The objective of this research project is to assess the resilience and sustainability of endangered Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone in response to variations in soil water availability as a result of changes to environmental conditions such as climate variability, climate change and mining-induced hydrological impacts. We are looking for a motivated candidate to pursue PhD research with us in this area.
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The effect of bushfire on erosion from Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone
During fire, soil physical characteristics and erodibility are impacted by the production of a new soil layer consisting of ash, and by the reduction of the impacts of binding agents such as roots, fungus, and organic compounds. In other words, fire destroys the aggregate stability of the soil and burns the near-surface roots resulting in a layer of unstructured and non-cohesive soil containing highly erodible particles. All of the above factors can result in major changes to the eco-system structure, composition and function across a variety of scales. We are looking for a motivated candidate to pursue PhD research with us on quantification of the effect of bushfire on erosion from Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone in the Sydney Basin.
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The effect of preferential flows on the fate and transport of solutes in coal mine spoils
During open cut coal mining activities, overburden is removed and deposited on the land in the form of waste rock dumps commonly known as coal mine spoil piles. When these coal mine spoils are exposed to atmospheric conditions and during rainfall events, they can create adverse environmental impacts through salt generation, affecting the surrounding environments, particularly final voids and water ways. To manage these environmental impacts, it is essential to understand the trajectory and magnitude of salt release from coal mine spoils. This project aims to investigate the effect of preferential flow on salt release from coal mine spoils. This study will quantify the effect of preferential flows on solute transport, and develop a numerical model for the accurate estimation of salt release from spoils. This study will also provide guidance on management strategies mitigating salt discharge. We are looking for a motivated candidate to pursue PhD research with us on this subject.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Prediction of the geochemical cycles of critical elements in acid and metalliferous drainage
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mansour Edraki
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Doctor Philosophy
Alternative uses of mine influenced water
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gordon Southam, Professor Mansour Edraki
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Doctor Philosophy
Applications of stable isotopes geochemistry to understand environmental geochemical impacts associated with mine waste in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mansour Edraki
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Doctor Philosophy
Improved Predictions of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage for Greenfield Projects Inform Better Design of Waste Rock Dumps
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor James Vaughan, Professor Mansour Edraki
Media
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