I am an insect ecologist by "bent" and my students and I work on various applied and basic research areas. We generally take an individuals-process based approach to the study of insect abundance and distribution. We use various "model" systems to ask questions ranging from the effect of host chemistry on oviposition behaviour and early stage caterpillar survival, to the effects of learning on oviposition behaviour at a landscape level and the effects of climate on insect abundance. I prefer to work on Butterfly-plant interactions, particularly Monarchs and milkweeds.
A substantial amount of our applied research has been on the ecology and biology of Helicoverpa spp, the major pest of Australian field crops, and more recently Diamondback moth, a key pest of horticulture.
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Dr. Xiangkang Zeng is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow at the UQ Dow Centre within the School of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Monash University, Australia, in 2017. Prior to that, he pursued his studies at Jiangnan University in China, attaining a Master's Degree in Fermentation Engineering in 2012 and a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Engineering in 2010.
Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Zeng conducted postdoctoral research training at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from 2017 to 2018. Subsequently, he held the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University, Australia, from November 2018 to July 2022.
Dr. Zeng's current research endeavors center around the development of two-dimensional functional photocatalysts, such as graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs). His primary focus lies in exploring their applications in solar-to-chemical energy conversion, water treatment, and antibacterial purposes.
As a testament to his contributions, Dr. Zeng has authored over 35 papers in prestigious journals, including Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Catalysis, Angewandte Chemie, Applied Catalysis B, Water Research, Chemical Engineering Journal, and Green Chemistry, both as the first author and co-author.
Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Affiliate of Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (formerly AWMC)
Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Biography:
Dr. Xueqin Zhang is currently a Research Fellow, and an ARC DECRA Fellow at Australian Centre of Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), and School of Chemical Engineering. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2021 at Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC) and then worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at ACWEB till November 2023. His research focuses on the physiology and ecology of novel microorganisms in biogeochemical cycling, bioelectrochemistry in carbon (methane) cycles and environmental bioremediation, and greenhouse gas (bio)conversion for value-adding applications. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals including Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications, Environmental Science and Technology and Water Research. He acted as a Guest Editor of two journals and has been invited as a reviewer for over 10 journals. He serves on the editorial board of Frontiers of Environmental Science Engineering.
Teaching and Learning:
Lecturer in Advanced Wastewater and Biosolids Treatment (WATR6103)
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Dr Chenming Zhang is a specialist in monitoring and modelling hydrological processes in coastal/terrestrial groundwater systems and tailings storage facilities, in particular the evaporation induced mass and heat transport in soil/tailings, hydrogeochemical dynamics in aquifer systems and wast rock dumps. He has been developing IoT-based geotechnical and environmental instruments to monitor continuously and in real-time the weather, soil and water conditions.
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
Availability:
Not available for supervision
Dr Yan Zhao is a dedicated researcher in the field of agricultural systems, utilizing remote sensing observations to unveil spatial and temporal patterns and advance earth observation techniques and modelling. He is an integral member of a multi-disciplinary predictive agriculture research group based at QAAFI.
Currently, Dr Zhao's focus lies in the intricate integration of spatial technologies, crop modelling, and climate forecasting systems at various scales. His primary objective is to leverage remote sensing and crop simulation techniques for a comprehensive understanding of Australia's dryland cropping system. In pursuit of this goal, he has successfully developed pipelines for handling volumetric spatial datasets and delivering crucial information on crop types, production, and phenology, spanning from local to national scales.
Engaging actively with agri-business companies, government departments, and local growers, Dr Zhao collaborates closely with stakeholders to validate and implement his research findings in practical applications.
Dr Zhao earned his Doctoral Degree in Natural Science, with a specialized focus on Cartography and Geographic Information Systems. He completed his doctoral research at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2013.
