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I am a postdoc at the Computational Imaging Group, led by Steffen Bollmann. I recently finished my Ph.D. in Computational Imaging at UQ. Specifically, my Ph.D. work involved predicting the functional organization of the human visual cortex from underlying anatomy using geometric deep learning. To tackle this and other research questions, I am leveraging my interdisciplinary background in Biophysics (Bachelor's degree; University of Sao Paulo, Brazil), Neuroscience (Master's degree; Federal University of ABC, Brazil), and now the intersection of AI and imaging. I am interested in (geometric) deep learning, vision, neuroscience, and explainable and fair AI research.

I am an early career neuroscientist investigating the capacity for neural progenitor cell behaviour to shape neural circuit formation, maintenance and function during development and throughout adulthood. More specifically, the role of oligodendrocyte progenitors and myelin in brain circuit formation and maintenance. My research examines the brain under health and pathological conditions by performing manipulations relevant to autism spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. While under the supervision of Prof Helen Cooper at the Queensland Brain Institute – University of Queensland - I studied how the WRC-Cyfip1-FMRP protein network impaired apical radial glial progenitor function and neural migration, leading to cortical malformation and Autism-like traits in mice. During my PhD at University of Tasmania and under the supervision of Prof Kaylene Young, I studied the effect of neuronal activity on cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage. I found that voltage-gated calcium channels are critical for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell survival and characterised the impact of kainite receptor dysfunction on neuropathology and behaviour in mice. Currently under the supervision of Dr Carlie Cullen I am using transgenic mice strategies to determine how aberrant myelination can contribute to onset of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. I am also using mouse models of demyelination to investigate the effect of infectious diseases such as COVID19 and influenza on oligodendrocyte lineage cell function and the impact for myelin repair and multiple sclerosis disease progression. I have a long-standing interest in neuroscience research, that extends from understanding how brain function is regulated during development and in healthy ageing, and the dysregulated signalling pathways that enable neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr Veronique Richard earned her doctoral degree in Sport Science from the University of Montreal and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Sport Psychology at Florida State University. Specialising in performance psychology and creativity, she has extensive experience in both research and applied settings.

Currently a research fellow at the University of Queensland, Dr Richard conducts pioneering research that integrates creativity and movement sciences to enhance performance, health, and wellbeing. Her research interests stem from her dual engagements with high-performance sports and circus arts. In her previous roles as a mental performance consultant for Canadian national sports organisations and Cirque du Soleil, Dr Richard observed the complexities of balancing high-level performance with wellbeing among athletes and performers.

To address these challenges, she designs enriched movement activities aimed at fostering creativity-supportive environments and investigates their impact on cognitive, affective, and socio-cultural variables related to creativity. Her research aspires to promote holistic growth by creating spaces where individuals can use their physicality to experiment, discover, connect, and express themselves.

While sports organisations remain a significant area of her research, Dr Richard is expanding her focus to other high-performance domains such as the medical field, educational institutions, and health and wellbeing organisations. She is also exploring how creativity-supportive environments can enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion within organisations.

Bernadette Richards, BA, LLB (Hons), PhD is the Associate Professor of Ethics and Professionalism and Director Higher Degree Research at the University of Queensland Medical School. Prior to that she was working on the Future Health Technologies Project at the Singapore ETH Centre, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, exploring trustworthy data governance. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at the Queensland University of Technology Australian Centre for Health Law Research. She is recent past member of the NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics Committee, the Embryo Research Licensing Committee and current member of the Dietary Guidelines Governance Committee. She was previously a member of the South Australian Voluntary Assisted Dying Taskforce and was also the Chair of the Mitochondrial Donation Expert Working Committee and was involved in the proposed amendment to the law. Bernadette was the President of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL, 2014-2024) and is now the ‘Teaching Ethics’ Stream Lead and has been awarded Life-Time Membership. She is an active researcher, having completed major projects on organ donation, consent to treatment and legal issues around innovative surgery. She is a chief investigator on four current major grants, MRFF 2021 Genomic Health Futures Mission, “Ethical governance for clinical and genomic data”, NHMRC Partnership Grant, “Strategies for the inclusion of vulnerable populations in developing complex and sensitive public policy: A case study in Advance Care Planning”, NHMRC Ideas Grant, 'The algorithm will see you now: ethical, legal and social implications of adopting machine learning systems for diagnosis and screening' and ARC Discovery Grant, 'Support or Sales? Medical Device Representatives in Australian Hospitals'. Her co-authored book, ‘Technology, Innovation and Healthcare: An evolving relationship’ was published in February 2022 and she has over 100 other scholarly publications.

Professor Anthony J. Richardson uses mathematical, statistical, computational and spatial planning tools to investigate human impacts on our oceans - and to find solutions. Particular foci include:

• Marine spatial planning - Where best to locate marine protected areas to minimise impacts on people, maximise ecosystem benefits, ensure they are climate-smart and connected, and enable multiple-use zoning of the ocean.
• Developing models of marine ecosystems - How do lower trophic levels (plankton) regulate fisheries productivity and carbon sequestration, and how will these be impacted by climate change.
• Long-term change in lower trophic levels (plankton) in the ocean. This includes both field work around Australia and global analyses.

Anthony did an undergradulate degree in Mathematics and Biology at the University of Queensland, followed by an Honours degree there. He was awarded a PhD degree from the University of Cape Town in 1998, modelling the dynamics of marine ecosystems. Since 2005, Anthony has held a joint position between UQ (School of the Environment) and CSIRO Environment. He has previously held positions at the University of Cape Town (South Africa), the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), and the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation of Ocean Science (UK).

Anthony runs a dynamic lab at the nexus between conservation science and mathematics. His focus is on using mathematical tools to better conserve biodiversity, predict impacts of climate change, and understand the functioning of marine ecosystems. If you have a background in marine ecology and are interested in applying mathematics/statistics/computational science and want to apply your skills to real-world problems, get in touch.

I am a Group Leader at Mater Research Institute, heading the Developmental Molecular Genetics Lab. My team investigates the dynamic interplay between mobile DNA sequences and mammalian genomes, with a primary focus on the retrotransposon Long Interspersed Element 1 (L1). L1 sequences are “selfish” genetic entities, which must insert new copies (retrotranspose) in the genomes of cells that will contribute to the next generation. This evolutionary drive sets up a perpetual conflict between L1 propagation and genome stability, which plays out in pluripotent embryonic cells as well as in cells of the developing germline. My ongoing research is focused on elucidating the developmental timing of heritable L1 retrotransposition, and understanding how L1 activity is controlled in these critical niches. I am interested in the capacity of L1 retrotransposition events to generate genetic diversity and drive genome evolution, as well as their contribution to somatic and germline genetic mosaicism and their potential to cause human genetic disease and reproductive dysfunction.

Rickard is an NHMRC Leadership 2 Fellow and esteemed nurse researcher. She has completed over 50 randomised controlled trials and focuses on preventing healthcare associated infections and other complications for people with central, peripheral, venous and arterial catheters. As a Registered Nurse, she specialized in acute and critical care, and then coordinated pharmaceutical and investigator-initiated ICU research at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Her PhD (QUT, 2004) studied the impact of the duration of intravascular administration set use on bloodstream infection. Rickard has consistently won funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) since 2008. She is committed to mentoring and developing opportunities for nursing clinician researchers, with many going on to prestigious careers and externally funded fellowships. Her international projects include the largest ever vascular access study - The One Million Global peripheral intravenous catheter Study (OMG Study). Rickard established the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR) in 2007 as a mentoring network which has evolved into a mature multi-institutional investigator network of >100 nursing and medical clinicians, scientists, consumers, statisticians and health economists who undertake large randomized controlled trials and related work in partnership with hospitals in Australia and overseas. AVATAR also has a significant educational focus, with workshops, a Masters level course and a focus on PhD and postdoctoral researcher development. Professor Rickard's awards include induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2013, and election to the prestigious Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2015. She has >300 publications in leading journals such as The Lancet.

Nicole is a Research Officer at the RECOVER Injury Research Centre, working within the Improving Health Outcomes after Musculoskeletal Injury program. Her current research focuses on the design and implementation of single-case experimental design studies to evaluate multidisciplinary interventions for whiplash and other musculoskeletal injuries sustained in road traffic incidents. Nicole completed her PhD in Psychology at The University of Queensland, where she investigated the effectiveness and mechanisms of mind-body therapies for pain management in injured athletes. This work advanced understanding of psychological predictors of pain, injury perception, and recovery in sporting contexts. Nicole has published in leading journals including Journal of Sports Sciences and Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, and presented at national and international conferences such as the Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting. She holds a Master of Clinical Research from The University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from UQ, and is committed to developing personalised, evidence-based approaches to injury rehabilitation.

My research looks to understand how effectively expectations are communicated, and how we can use this knowledge to implement methods that improve the effectiveness of this communication. My research has several major themes.

These are:

• Understanding the current expectations of all stakeholders and whether they believe those expectations are being met.
• The effectiveness of the means used to communicate expectation between stakeholders: do learners interpret information, such as learning objectives, in the same way as the instructors that wrote them? Do learners understand how assessment is used to evidence their competency in specific skills?
• Are learning activities and assessment aligned to explicit learning goals?

Ecological and evolutionary genomics

My research group uses genetic markers as tools for understanding dispersal and gene flow, often with conservation implications and most frequently focusing on highly dispersive marine animals such as fishes, mussels, and corals. We also study how gene flow and natural selection affect genomic variation and limit gene exchange across genomes, populations, and species.

Jonah Rimer is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Queensland, and Convenor of the Cyber Criminology field of study for UQ's postgraduate Cyber Security programs. He is also an Associate Researcher with the Young Lives Research Lab (Canada), and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). Jonah holds a DPhil in Anthropology and an MPhil in Medical Anthropology from Oxford University, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar, and a BA (Hons) in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Guelph. His primary research areas are cybercrime; online sexual offending; child abuse; social science of the internet; childhood and youth studies; policy and the justice system; and qualitative, ethnographic, and digital research methods. He is particularly interested in the human factors and social elements of cybercrime, and more generally, the sociality of online spaces and impacts of digital media use.

Jonah has previous experience working in a child abuse prevention and treatment agency, and is keen to make connections between policy, practice, and academia. He collaborates with colleagues locally and internationally in academia, law enforcement, the public sector, and the not-for-profit sector, and he has been invited to present for organisations including the Ontario Provincial Police, the UK Ministry of Justice, the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Toronto Public Health, the Queensland Police Service, Task Force Operation Griffin (Australia), and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children. Jonah's research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the Royal Anthropological Institute, and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Australia. He has experience teaching Criminology, Anthropology, and Research Methods, and currently teaches CRIM7080 (Cyber Criminology and Global Security), CRIM7060 (Cybercrime Offending), and CRIM2080 (Criminology and Global Security).

Dr Vivian Rincon is a microbiologist from Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia . She joined the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 as RA to work in projects related to plant-pathogen interactions and soil microbiology. She obtained a scholarship from the Grain Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to start her PhD on the effect of tillage on soil microbial communities in wheat fields. Following her studies, she joined Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at UQ to work on different aspects of disease management in broadacre crops. Currently, she is a research fellow at the Centre for Horticulturals Science (CHS) working on an integrated disease management approach for the Macadamia industry.