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I am a basic science researcher trained in molecular and cell biology, with expertise in transdisciplinary research. My primary focus is investigating the circadian aspects of (patho-) physiology, specifically in relation to the liver. I am particularly interested in understanding how circadian, endocrine, and metabolic pathways work together to maintain homeostasis, as well as how disruptions in these pathways can contribute to pathological conditions.

Following the completion of my PhD at Heidelberg University in Germany in 2013, I pursued post-doctoral studies as a Marie-Curie Fellow at Birmingham University (UK) and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland). During this time, I utilized omics-approaches to elucidate the metabolic changes caused by impaired mitochondrial glucocorticoid biosynthesis and adrenal insufficiency. Additionally, I investigated the relationship between mitochondrial function and stress-induced depression. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying rhythmic expression of metabolic genes, I also developed tools that facilitate the study of how circadian clock components and glucocorticoids cooperatively drive these processes.

In 2019, I have joined the Physiology of Circadian Rhythms laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, to investigate the role of the circadian clock and chronodisruption in metabolism and liver disease.

Acid soil, Aluminium toxicity, soil acidity, rhizosphere, plant roots, root growth, plant cell wall, nutrient uptake, plant nutrition

Having completed my B.Sc. majoring in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Chemistry, I completed my M.Sc. (Agric) in Horticultural Science. After completing a PhD on the effect of heavy metals and aluminium on plant root biochemistry, I have worked for various plant biotechnology companies, focussing on genetic engineering of crops, in-vitro growth, propagation systems and salinity tolerant tree crops. After rejoining the University, I have been involved in minesite rehabilitation, focussing on plant-soil-water relationships. I have completed and ARC funded research on Al toxicity, focussing on the hydrolysis of Al in plant roots. I am currently researching the effect of coal seam water application and the movement of salts in soils. I am also teaching the introductory Soil Science course to undergraduate students.

Dr. Yongping Wei is Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, School of Earth and Environmental Science, the University of Queensland. Before joining the University of Queensland in 2016, she was research fellow, senior research fellow and principal research fellow at the Department of Infrastructure Engineering, the University of Melbourne during 2008-2015. She had 11 years’ working experiences as an Irrigation Engineer then Water Manager in China in her early career. Dr Wei was awarded her PhD of Natural Resources Management at the University of Melbourne in 2007, and she also obtained Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Natural Resources Economics.

My list of publications exhibits a multifaceted exploration of the law. Spanning across different topics, as stated above, my research sits at the intersection of society, public policy, and the law. Exploring the traditional boundaries of doctrinal law and its theoretical foundations in relation to emerging and new societal challenges, my research unites several strands of legal inquiry linked to social justice and equality.

Fitsum is an economist and social scientist focused on sustainable human development effects of economic activities including those related to extractive resources, infrastructure, and industrial development. He is internationally recognised for his work on the potential for resource-rich countries to utilise the inter-sectoral linkages with the extractive sector for economic transformation, and the role of policy makers and industry actors in achieving it. He is particularly passionate about harmonizing the interplay between state intervention and market dynamics, and optimizing the opportunities related to the interface between extractive minerals and the transition to clean energy for harnessing sustainable energy solutions.

Having started his career in economics and finance in government and banking sector, Fitsum applied his development economics and political science training in his role as researcher with the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at SMI between 2011 and 2016. In this role, he conducted applied research on fiscal and non-fiscal contribution of large-scale mining, impact of extractives on political settlements and conflict, mining and sub-regional development, engaging the private sector for inclusive extractive industries, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and formalisation efforts, extractive industries transparency and governance, social license in technology design, resettlement and livelihoods, and social aspects of mine closure. He has also delivered capacity building programs to practitioners, policy makers and key stakeholder groups from several countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Topics included connecting mining to human development outcomes, managing the social and environmental impacts of mining, community research methods, and resource governance.

Fitsum then took the role of Senior Researcher with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in London from 2016 to 2019. In this role, he led ASM action dialogue programmes, overseeing research to support the national dialogues in Tanzania, Ghana and Madagascar. He also led and conducted a series of research activities to inform decisions by more than 60 member countries of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (IGF).

More recently, Fitsum worked as an independent senior research consultant; and Senior Social Specialist for GHD in Australia. In addition to applied and academic research and capacity building experience, he has delivered presentations and guest speaking in numerous global conferences and workshops.

Dr Timothy Wells joined the Frazer Institute in 2016 as a Senior Research Fellow. His research aims to find novel methods of treating multi-drug resistant bacteria, by examing the interactions between the host immune system and Gram negative bacteria. His research largely focuses on Pseudomonas aeruginosa acute and chronic infections, espeically in people living with cystic fibrosis. Dr Wells is passionate about making his research as clinically relevant as possible, with his work previously having led to novel treatment of critically ill patients. His research uses a mixture of molecular microbiology, immunology and genomic approaches.

Associate Professor James Wells leads the Novel Cancer Therapeutics Group at Frazer Institute and is the Director of Immunology at the Dermatology Research Centre, University of Queensland. He is also the Vice President of the Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia (MEPSA), and a mentee of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS). He received his PhD in cancer immunotherapy from King's College London, UK, and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, USA, where he received an award for research excellence and was promoted to Faculty as an Instructor. In 2011, he was awarded a prestigious 5-year Perpetual Trustees Fellowship and was appointed as a Group Leader at the University of Queensland’s Frazer Institute.

Associate Professor Wells is passionate about delivering effective new treatments to combat cancer through the translation of his research. To achieve this, he collaborates with medicinal chemists, imaging specialists, clinical research teams and industry partners to identify and target pathways and mechanisms that allow cancer cells to grow within the body.

In collaboration with the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative, he has recently developed and patented a drug (Q2361) designed to prevent and treat skin cancer in immune-suppressed solid organ transplant recipients. Q2361 is a first-in-class drug candidate capable of reactivating anti-tumour CD8 T cells in the skin of organ transplant recipients on the immunosuppressive drugs Tacrolimus (FK506), Sirolimus (rapamycin), and Everolimus. He is currently striving to bring Q2361 across the ‘valley of death’ and into clinical trials.

James would like to thank the granting bodies and philanthropic partnerships that make his goal of delivering new and effective cancer drugs possible.

Dr Han Weng is an emerging global leader in soil carbon research. His track record of interdisciplinary, innovative and high-quality research is outstanding for his early career stage. Dr Weng has 20 peer-reviewed papers (eight published since joining UQ in 2020) featuring in the highest impact journals of his research field, particularly those focused on environmental sciences and soil science. His first-author publications feature in Nature Climate Change (IF 25.3), Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology (IF 12.6), Science of the Total Environment (IF 8.0), and Soil Biology and Biochemistry (IF 7.6). To date, he has been cited over 530 times, and has an h-index of 10, and has a Field-Weighted Citation Impact factor of 2.82 (SciVal). This indicates that his papers are being cited 2.82 times more than the world average for publications of the same age and discipline. His achievement also includes one Highly Cited Paper as the first author in Nature Climate Change, which ranks in the top 1% in the field of environmental sciences, and the most downloaded article in 2021 (10,419 times) in Global Change Biology Bioenergy (IF 4.8).

Dr Weng has challenged the existing body of research on soil carbon. His research fills an important gap for maintaining agricultural productivity and mitigating climate change in the absence of a clear national strategy for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Weng’s outstanding contribution to the food and agriculture sector has been recognised through cross-disciplinary awards and competitive prizes, including 2014 Soil Science Australia Best oral presentation under 35 years of age and 2016 New Initiative Grant Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University.

I hold a joint position with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as the Lead of the Water Pollution Program ( wcs.org/water-pollution) and with UQ as a Senior Research Fellow within the School of the Environment and the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (https://cbcs.centre.uq.edu.au/). My role at WCS involves co-developing strategic approaches to pollution assessment, monitoring, and management that integrate scientific insights to guide country programs effectively. My research at UQ identifies and critically assesses management gaps and conservation solutions to address water pollution and deliver co-benefits for nature and people. Paramount to all of my research is an interdisciplinary approach that emphasises the ecological and social connectivity of systems and the need for cross-sector collaboration.

Educated at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Australian National University, Canberra. Career at the Université de Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Universität Marburg, Germany. Professor and Chair of Organic Chemistry and Head of the Organic Chemistry Section, The University of Queensland from 1985. Emeritus professor from 2008. Chair of the National Committee for Chemistry of the Australian Academy of Science 2009-2014. Editor-in-Chief, Australian Journal of Chemistry 2008-15. Editor, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Elsevier, IF 3.65) 2016-. Visiting Professor Université de Pau, France, 2011-19; Visiting Professor University of Kuwait 2014-18; Visiting Professor / Special Appointed Professor Hiroshima University 2014-18. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Centenary Medal of the Australian Commonwealth 2003 for research in organic and physical chemistry. David Craig Medal of the Academy of Science 2014 for research in chemistry. JSPS Fellowship (Japan) 2014. Honorary doctorate, University of Pau, France, 2014. A.J. Birch Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) for ecellence in research in organic chemistry, 2014. Leighton Medal of the RACI 2018.

Research on Unusual Molecules and Reactive Intermediates: Synthesis and Reaction Mechanism. Heterocyclic chemistry. Pyrolysis reactions. Photochemistry

Research in the Wentrup group is concerned with the discovery of novel types of molecules with new and unusual bonding patterns. Such molecules are mostly highly reactive, and special methods are required both for their generation and for their detection. The group has developed these methods over many years and acquired world-class equipment for these purposes, including flash vacuum thermolysis apparatus, cryostats for matrix isolation of reaction products at cryogenic temperatures (down to 7 K), matrix and solution photochemistry equipment, infrared, UV and mass spectrometers, as well as modern computational facilities.

This research has resulted in the synthesis and characterization of many novel compounds, including extended cumulenes of the types RN=C=C=C=X, which themselves are used in the synthesis of many novel types of molecules, some of them of potential pharmaceutical interest (quinolone antibiotics; diazepines).

The research group has a world reputation in the field of carbene and nitrene chemistry, involving reactive intermediates with sextet carbon or nitrogen. These species are also very useful in synthesis, for example in the preparation of diazepines and diazepinones, a family of pharmaceutically interesting compounds. Numerous mechanistic studies and synthetic applications of ketenes have been carried out in our group.

Active collaborations are ongoing with scientists in Australia (UQ and CSIRO), China (Suzhou), France (Pau), Germany (Oldenburg), Japan (Hiroshima), Spain (Donostia - San Sebastian), and Portugal (Coimbra).