Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Dr. Dale Robinson is a Lecturer in The School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering. He specialises in Biomechanics, applying advanced engineering and computational techniques to investigate the function and disease of the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Robinson is an expert in both experimental and computational biomechanics. He develops novel experimental methods that combine customised mechanical loading apparatus with state-of-the-art sensing equipment to measure load and analyse material properties in human tissue and implants across micro- and macro-scales.
His computational expertise centres on rigid body models and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for examining stress and strain in bone, soft tissue, and medical implants. A key focus is on integrating AI and statistical shape modelling with medical imaging (CT, MRI, micro-CT) to create automated workflows for the design and analysis of personalised 3D-printed implants.
Dr. Robinson’s significant research contributions include:
Design and analysis of customised 3D printed jaw-joint replacement
Changes in mechanical properties of cartilage with osteoarthritis
Fracture risk assessment in at risk populations including osteoporosis
Injury risk assessment for the lumbar spine and pelvis during blast attacks in military vehicles
Load analysis of osseointegrated transfemoral amputees
Pelvic fracture reconstruction using statistical shape modelling
Automated workflows for the design of 3D-printed implants
FEA of reverse shoulder replacements
Dale is an expert in the use of mechanical loading equipment to perform static, dynamic and fatigue tests of human cadaveric tissue and implants, with sizes ranging from the micro scale to macro-scale of full joints. Sensors that he has used extensively include:
Digital image correlation and digital volume correlation
Acoustic emission
3D scanners
Multi-axis load cells
Accelerometers
High-speed cameras
Prior to his academic career, Dr. Robinson completed his undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering and Science (Mathematics) at UQ, followed by industrial experience with Boeing Aerostructures Australia. He earned his PhD in 2016 and conducted post-doctoral research in Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne.
Conjoint Professor in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
Child Health Research Centre
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
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Conjoint Professor Paul Robinson is the Deputy Director of the Children’s Health Environment Program within the Child Health Research Centre (CHRC), and Senior Staff Specialist in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. His research program performs translational research outlining the role of peripheral airway function tests in early lung disease detection and ongoing monitoring of established disease.
He has led the development and standardisation of novel measures of lung function across the entire age range from infancy onwards, facilitating the development of commercial equipment available for widespread use. His research focuses on defining the clinical utility of two specific peripheral airway function tests (Multiple breath washout, MBW, and oscillometry) in important obstructive lung diseases (e.g., asthma, cystic fibrosis, and post bone marrow transplant pulmonary graft vs host disease) and in understanding the impacts of environmental exposures. Structure-function relationships have been explored using state-of-the-art imaging techniques, with the aim of also developing new strategies to reduce any radiation exposure associated with these to advance incorporation into clinical care (e.g., ultra-low dose CT).
These novel lung function tools not only in the hospital setting but also in the school and home setting, enabling the successful development of a parent-supervised remote monitoring strategy for asthma which has been shown to reflect clinically meaningful outcomes missed by conventional approaches. In collaboration with industry, this strategy is now being employed in a series of research projects.
Involvement in longitudinal birth cohorts has outlined the early lung function trajectories in health, and the identification of risk factors affecting normal lung development and contributing to the early development of asthma. Studies investigating environmental health have highlighted the adverse effects of ultrafine particle air pollution.
Professor Robinson’s standing as an international expert, both in terms of clinical and research experience, has led to broader leadership roles across national and international levels.
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Availability:
Not available for supervision
Dr Melanie Robitaille is a Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher working with the Calcium Signalling in Therapeutics Team (CaSTT) in the School of Pharmacy. This team specializes in the development and application of novel methodologies and cellular assays in drug discovery, including the use of genetically encoded indicator for high-content imaging in live cells.
Her interests are to elucidate how calcium signals are remodelled in disease states, to identify calcium transporters as new therapeutic targets and to develop molecular and cellular screening tools to be used in drug development programs. She has an established profile in cellular and molecular biology, with high expertise in plasmid cloning, lentiviral transduction and the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to modulate gene expression.
Affiliate of Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Affiliate of Leading for High Reliability Centre
Leading for High Reliability Centre
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Senior Research Fellow
Sustainable Minerals Institute
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Louisa is a hydrogeologist with twenty years of experience. She has had a diverse career working in research, consulting, and government. Louisa’s main areas of expertise include hydrogeological investigations, impact assessment, groundwater resource management, and contaminated land management. She has worked across a range of sectors including mining, energy, transport, and agriculture and her experience includes developing water resources legislation and policy and leading complex groundwater and surface water investigations for project approvals, operations, and compliance.
Louisa is currently working as a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining (CERM). The role involves leading the hydrogeological research, training, and consulting services that CERM provide to the minerals industry in Australia and globally and working with a team of water resource management specialists to contribute to a range of inter-discplinary projects. She has recently completed a project for The Australian National University developing draft National Guidelines for Groundwater Monitoring in Australia.
I am a Research Fellow at the TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland, with an interdisciplinary background spanning molecular biology, philosophy of science, and the study of scientific practices. My research focuses on unraveling the complex dynamics of power, ethics, and knowledge production within scientific institutions.
With a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Science from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), my doctoral thesis, "Biobanks in Mexico: Aspects of the Economy of Scientific Capital," explored the intricate relationships between biological sample management, scientific capital, and the broader scientific landscape.
Currently, I am engaged in research projects associated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology, investigating the intricacies of authorship, recognition, and credit distribution within cross-disciplinary scientific collaborations.
My research employs qualitative methods such as ethnography, participant observation and interviews to shed light on the interplay of scientific practices, intellectual property, and the sociological dimensions of research. I have contributed to the field through publications in journals and edited volumes, as well as presentations at international conferences.
Throughout my career, I have held various roles, including managing a molecular diagnostic service, conducting research and development in the private sector, and teaching at the university level.
Affiliate of Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Professorial Research Fellow
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
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Available for supervision
Professor Dr. Rodriguez is a biophysicist trained at Wageningen University, specializing in crop ecophysiology and systems modelling to enhance adaptation in broadacre crops. His recent research focuses on trait physiology and high-throughput field phenotyping for drought tolerance in grain crops. He combines empirical research, crop modelling, and data analytics to develop more profitable, sustainable, and resilient crops and cropping systems. Dr. Rodriguez collaborates with institutions in Australia and various countries in eastern and southern Africa, Indonesia, Latin America, and China. He served as President of the Australian Society of Agronomy and organized the 2022 Australian Agronomy Conference. He has contributed to the Academic Board of the University of Queensland and its Research and Innovation Committee. Dr. Rodriguez is the founding editor-in-chief of Nature’s npj Sustainable Agriculture and serves as an Expert Advisor for the Independent Science for Development Council of CGIAR. He is also a member of the College of Experts at the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute and sits on the Editorial Board of multiple academic journals.
Affiliate of Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
Faculty of Science
Associate Professor
School of the Environment
Faculty of Science
Availability:
Available for supervision
Media expert
Research interest: Monitoring ecosystem health of coral reefs and seagrass habitats, integrating field and remote sensing image datasets, and the developing applied cost-effective mapping and monitoring approaches. Developed approaches have been adopted as standard practice globally, making a difference in conservation of these valuable habitats. The long term monitoring studies at Heron and Moreton Bay formed the basis for the development of mapping and monitoring over time and space at local to global scale. See here major research impact
Major projects:
Long term monitoring of benthic composition at Heron Reef (2002-ongoing).
Long term monitoring of seagrass composition and abundance in Moreton bay Marine Park (2000-ongoing).
Smart Sat CRC Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Seagrass and Coral Reefs 2023-2027.
Developement of Underwater Field Spectrometry and Benthic Photo Collection and Analysis
3D GBR Habitat Mapping Project 2015 - ongoing:
Global habitat mapping project 2019-2023 Allen Coral Atlas .
Current position: Associate Professior in Marine Remote Sensing leading the Marine Ecosystem Monitoring Lab. . Academic Director Heron Island Research Station and affiliated researchers with Centre for Marine Science and Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
Capacity Building and Citizen Science: Capacity: under/post graduate courses; Msc/PhD supervision, workshops/courses; Remote Sensing Educational Toolkit, and online courses (e.g. TNC).Strong supporter of citizen science based projects, as trainer, organiser and advisor for Reef Check Australia, CoralWatch, Great Reef Census and UniDive.
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Availability:
Available for supervision
Dr Roets is a consultant anaesthetist (Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH)), intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) and equipment expert within Metro North Hospital and Health Services (MNHHS), co-author of the National Australian Guidance documents for the Provision of ICS with the National Blood Authority (NBA) and the BloodSafe eLearning ICS module (2020) in Australia. As senior lecturer (academic title holder (ATH)) with the University of Queensland she supports students, registrars, and other staff members participating in research projects and education relevant to ICS, blood transfusion and the development and implementation of equipment in Anaesthesia. She holds qualifications in four countries and has developed valuable international collaborations. During her master’s degree in clinical research administration with Walden University (Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America (USA), 2011) she wrote her thesis on the development of equipment in anaesthesia. Within her PhD with the University of Queensland (conferred 27-8-2024), Dr Roets endeavoured to provide scientific evidence (related to identified knowledge gaps) and to encourage the development of ICS to protect national and international blood product supply, and to reduce adverse patient outcomes and related costs.
Affiliate of Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Affiliate of Global Centre for Mineral Security
Global Centre for Mineral Security
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Senior Research Fellow
Sustainable Minerals Institute
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Dr Paul Rogers is an economic geographer and applied researcher with more than 25 years’ experience working in the area of sustainable development and the extractive industries. At the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland, his research is focused on finding new and innovative ways to promote sustainable development in communities and regions impacted by the extractive industries, particularly the development minerals sector, in the Asia-Pacific region.
Paul is currently leading a number of applied research and capacity building projects that aim to build mineral security in the Pacific Islands, focusing on the affordable and adequate supply of minerals need to ensure human development and security, particular in terms of building resilience to the impacts of climate change. He is currently working with the Fiji Government and an international coalition of partners on the Blue Concrete Initiative - a project to bring sustainable low carbon concrete to the Pacific region, as well as a project investigating alternative sources of sustainable sand and aggregates to meet the growing demands of the infrastructure sector in the region. Paul is the project manager of the Mineral Security Masterclass in Fiji and has overseen the successful delivery of the program to dozens of students, early career geoscientists and other professionals working in related fields for the past three years.
In addition to his work on Mineral Security, Paul also consults to the World Bank provide regional minerals development support to the ASEAN Economic Community.
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Associate Professor
School of the Environment
Faculty of Science
Availability:
Available for supervision
Media expert
Sonia Roitman is an urban sociologist and planner by training. Her contributions to the field of development planning and urban sociology include influential research on urban inequalities and how they manifest in cities. Her research interests include housing and poverty alleviation policies; the role of grassroots organisations in urban planning; disaster planning and informal practices; and, gated communities, segregation and planning instruments in Global South cities. Her main research locations are Indonesia, Samoa, Uganda, Argentina and Australia. Her most recent book is: Roitman, S. and Rukmana, D. (Eds), 2023, Routledge Handbook of Urban Indonesia, Routledge, New York and London.
Teaching responsibilities
PLAN1101 Teamwork and negotiation for planners (Course coordinator and lecturer - 2021 and 2022)
PLAN3005/7121 Community planning and participation (Course coordinator and lecturer - 2019 to date)
PLAN3200/7200 Understanding development complexities: Indonesia fieldtrip course (Course coordinator and lecturer - 2015 to date)
PLAN4001/7120 Planning theory (Guest lecturer 2014-2019)
Sol's research interests include: (Critical) Discourse Analysis, Trauma and Memory Studies, Perceived Discrimination, Critical Translation Studies, Decolonial Thought.
Sol is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, University of Queensland in Australia. She teaches language, literature, and cultural studies courses. Sol’s research interests include memory and trauma studies, everyday discourses of discrimination, and Decolonial Thought. Sol has over 50 publications, including four books, one co-edited book, and five books as a translator. Her work has appeared in journals such as Social Semiotics, Critical Discourse Studies, Memory Studies, Journal of Pragmatics, Languages in Contrast, Babel, Delaware Review of Latin American Studies, and JILAR among others. Her co-authored historical Graphic Memoir Historias Clandestinas (2014) had a second edition in 2023 and is currently being made into a film. The English version of the graphic novel was published in 2023 in the U.S.
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Availability:
Available for supervision
Dr Floraidh Rolf is the Deputy Director (South West) for Southern Queensland Rural Health in Charleville Queensland, as well as an educator, researcher and nurse. She is a strong supporter of social justice and activism in healthcare, in particular the duty to address gaps in the care afforded to disenfranchised and vulnerable populations.
Floraidh's background encompasses mental health, critical care, rural and remote health, and higher education. Her research interests include sociological approaches to nursing and health, power and stigma, and qualitative methodology. She is committed to supporting social change through collaborative research.
Affiliate of ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR)
ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Principal Research Fellow and Group Leader
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
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Available for supervision
A/Prof Barbara Rolfe is a Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. A/Prof Rolfe is an immunologist and cell biologist, whose major research interests are the role of the innate immune system in cancer, the identification of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer, and nanomaterial safety. Her research has led to the identification of a previously unknown mechanism by which dysregulation of the immune system contributes to cancer development and growth, and provided information regarding the immune response to nanomaterials and the influence of physicochemical characteristics on biodistribution and cellular uptake. A/Prof Rolfe has used mouse models and small peptide agonists and antagonists to investigate the role of the innate immune system in tumour development and growth. This research demonstrated for the first time an important role for complement proteins in promoting tumour growth via regulation of immunosuppressive innate immune cells. Ongoing research is aimed focussed on gaining a better understanding of the role of complement proteins in tumour growth, developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer and investigating the application of nanomaterials for targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs.
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Affiliate of ARC COE for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS)
ARC COE for Engineered Quantum Systems
Faculty of Science
Associate Professor
School of Mathematics and Physics
Faculty of Science
Availability:
Available for supervision
Media expert
Dr Jacqui Romero is an expert in experimental quantum information. Her research is focused on using higher-dimensional systems for exploring curious quantum physics phenomena and developing future quantum technologies. She is the group leader of the research team Qudits@UQ, there's more information on her group's webpage.
Jacqui was born and bred in Manila, Philippines. Hearing her high school physics teacher complain about quantum physics, she became curious and googled "quantum physics"—she has been hooked ever since. She holds BS Applied Physics magna cum laude and MS Physics degrees from the University of the Philippines. She finished her PhD at the University of Glasgow (in sunny Scotland!) where she was a researcher for seven years. In 2015, she moved to Brisbane to join the Quantum Technology group at the University of Queensland. In 2016 she took up an ARC DECRA fellowship with the same group. In 2019, she took up a Westpac Research Fellowship and formed her own team, Qudits@UQ. Jacqui is recognised for moving the shape of photons to mainstream quantum information. She has received several prestigious national and international awards which include: a L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science award in 2017 (one of four in Australia), the Ruby Payne-Scott Medal of the Australian Institute of Physics for excellence in early-career research in 2018, and a L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science International Rising Talent Award in 2019 (one of fifteen awards globally).
She is currently an associate professor and Westpac Research Fellow. She is also a chief investigator at the Centre of Excellence For Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS).
Outside work, she is a busy mum to three lovely boys, and an occasional painter. She also loves sharing her research to the wider community, example here.