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I am a Research Fellow and Leader in Pain Relief Innovation at AIBN, UQ. My research interests sit at the interface of drug delivery and the pain field. My overarching research goal is to improve the quality of day to day life of patients suffering from chronic pain, by applying nanotechnology to the development of novel highly effective pain-killer products for improving chronic pain management. I am looking for highly motivated postgraduate students.

I also enjoy volunteering within the academic community, most notably as Head of the SBMS ECR Committee and Treasurer for The Queensland Chinese Association of Scientists and Engineers (QCASE). I am currently serving as guest editor of Pain Research and Management.and JoVE Methods Collection.

Research Interests

My research is focusing on nano-based drug formulation and development to improve chronic pain management. I have a broad and unique background in both pharmacology and drug delivery systems, with specific expertise in the development of novel drug products and testing their analgesic efficacy and safety including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. To date, I have established five different techniques to produce painkiller–loaded nanoparticles and nanofibers aimed at improving pain relief for patients where currently available pain-killers either lack efficacy or produce dose-limiting side-effects. For example, there is a small and very potent peptide that has been on the market as a chemical for over 10 years but which cannot be used as a therapeutic due to its short half-life and poor oral bioavailability. In the form of my nanoparticles, that peptide has the potential to become an oral treatment for improving pain management in patients whose pain is currently poorly alleviated by clinically used pain-killers. I have significant expertise in the use of rodent pain models to assess novel analgesics, and I have received excellent training in conducting research in accordance with the stringent requirements of the Quality Management System (quality accreditations (GLP and ISO17025) from NATA). Together, my knowledge, skills and experience will facilitate the efficient translation of my research from the bench to the clinic.

The current focus of the lab is on the development of drug-products to solve one of the largest unmet medical needs in the pain field through use of sustainable materials. 1) We are developing multifunctional sutures including biodegradable pain relief sutures. 2) We are developing my innovative novel nanoparticles, which deliver innate-immune targeting peptides for the treatment of cancer and cancer-related pain. We are establishing a platform for the development of safe, effective delivery for other small molecule peptide drugs in general to pave their way to clinical trials. 3) Our research also investigates the role of C5a and C3a, estrogen, etc. in the pathogenesis of chronic pain including neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, low back pain and OA pain.

We work in collaboration with other leading Australian and international researchers to stay at the forefront of the drug delivery systems field and the pain field. We also provide preclinical evaluation of novel compounds and formulations.

Dr Pingping Han is currently leading the Epigenetic Nanodiagnostics and Therapeutics Group within the Centre for Orofacial Regeneration, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (COR3), at the UQ School of Dentistry. Dr Han received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2014. Dr Han's current research focuses on three themes: a) salivary diagnostics for periodontal disease, b) “cell-free” regenerative therapy for periodontal tissue engineering and c) cellular nano-mechanics on different modified biomaterial substrates.

I undertake multi-disciplinary collaborative research developing mathematical, computational and visualisation approaches and techniques that facilitate the research and education in animal and plant systems.

My major research theme is development of mathematical, computer graphics and simulation approaches and techniques that facilitate the study of genetics, physiology, morphogenesis and ecology at the scale of cells, individual plants and insects and their components. These developments in computational biology are being used to increase our understanding of the dynamics of morphogenesis, and as a tool in applied research and education.

Dr. Jonathan Hand specializes in infectious diseases at Ochsner Health. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans and completed his internship, residency and infectious diseases fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. He is currently an associate professor of medicine at The University of Queensland School of Medicine Ochsner Clinical School. Dr. Hand specializes in the treatment of infections in immunocompromised patients who anticipate or undergo solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as patients treated with other immunosuppressive therapies. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Transplantation and has served on the executive committee of the Infectious Diseases community of practice. He is also a member of The Transplantation Society, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and Fellow of The Infectious Diseases Society of America. Dr. Hand is the Section Head of Transplant Infectious Diseases and the Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Ochsner Medical Center. He also serves as co-chair of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency's Advisory Board and Associate Medical Director providing guidance on infectious diseases-related concerns in organ donors and recipients. Dr. Hand leads clinical trials as Associate Research Medical Director of Infectious Diseases for Ochsner Health. His practice and research interests include infectious complications of transplant donors and recipients, vaccine and antimicrobial clinical trials and antimicrobial stewardship.

Centre for Solar Biotechnology: Prof Ben Hankamer is the founding director of the Solar Biofuels Consortium (2007) and Centre for Solar Biotechnology (2016) which is focused on developing next generation microalgae systems. These systems are designed to tap into the huge energy resource of the sun (>2300x global energy demand) and capture CO2 to produce a wide-range of products. These include solar fuels (e.g. H2 from water, oil, methane and ethanol), foods (e.g. health foods) and high value products (e.g. vaccines produced in algae). Microalgae systems also support important eco-services such as water purification and CO2 sequestration. The Centre is being launched in 2016/2017 and includes approximately 30 teams with skills ranging from genome sequencing through to demonstration systems optimsation and accompanying techno-economis and life cycle analysis. The Centre teams have worked extensively with industry.

Structural Biology: The photosynthetic machinery is the biological interface of microalgae that taps into the huge energy resource of the sun, powers the biosphere and produces the atmospheric oxygen that supports life on Earth. My team uses high resolution single particle analysis and electron tomography to solve the intricate 3D architecture of the photosynthetic machinery to enable structure guided design of high efficiency microalgae cell lines and advanced artificial solar fuel systems.

Scott Hanna is Principal / Senior Environmental Advisor of Roberschan Environmental based out of Brisbane, Australia, a role he assumed after retiring from a 34 year career with Hatch Ltd. Until his retirement from Hatch, Scott was Director Australia-Asia, and before this, Director North America, for Hatch's Environmental Services Group. As a senior environmental advisor, Scott has been responsible for providing strategic direction and management on projects requiring environmental and social impact assessments; environmental permits, approvals and licenses; sustainable design in development; community stakeholder and indigenous peoples consultation; and climate-change strategies.

Scott is a Senior Environmental Specialist with over 40 years experience in environmental and socioeconomic due diligence assessment, environmental and social impact assessment, natural resource and environmental management, regulatory management, strategic planning, and environmental auditing and training, in the transportation, energy and mining sectors. He has provided senior level environmental advisory services to various levels of government, as well as to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and environmental and regulatory management advice to private sector developers.

Scott has completed environmental assignments in Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Canada, China, Estonia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Zambia. He is a qualified ISO9001 and ISO14001 Lead Auditor, former Chair of the Transportation Association of Canada's (TAC) Environment Council, former member of TAC's Education and Human Resources Development Council, and a former Adjunct Professor in Simon Fraser University's School of Resource and Environmental Management.

He has a bachelor of science degree in biology (ecology) from the University of Victoria (Canada), and a master of natural resource and environmental management degree from Simon Fraser University (Canada). He is also a Registered Professional Biologist (British Columbia), Professional Biologist (Alberta), certified Environmental Professional (Canada), member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and a Certified Environmental Practitioner (Impact Assessment Specialist).

Scott joins the University of Queensland as an Adjunct Professor in joint collaboration with the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Business.

The continuing interest underpinning my research is that of the self-presentation of the non-native speaker, in different genres. This has led me to work on: culturally determined practices; cross-cultural comparisons; and on intercultural behaviour, how this is conceptualized and how, in practice, encounters between different expectations of appropriate behaviour play out.

One focus of my attention has been the proliferation of new intercultural encounters which are made possible by online technologies. In particular, Juliana de Nooy and I undertook a project examining discussion fora on media websites, culminating in our 2009 book. The pedagogical implications of this work, and my own teaching practices have allowed me to develop expertise in language learning and technology which I have extended through other collaborations (e.g. Cowley & Hanna, 2013 on Wikipedia) research supervisions and publications which derive from it (Gao & Hanna, 2016, on instructional software; work with Khosravi, Gyamfit et al; and a forthcoming paper with Aljohani).

One current project focuses on another critical area of intercultural contact: Study Abroad experiences. Many institutions encourage Study Abroad participants to share their experiences online with other students, with a view to publicizing the opportunities and providing advice - such testimonials are the primary source for my current work. I am looking at the ‘selves’ which these online testimonials hold up as exemplary (see Hanna 2016 on food; also Hanna & de Nooy 2003 b; 2006). What, the student reader of these testimonials might ask, will I feel like? How will I change? What counts as successful life as a Study Abroad student? How can I be successful too? In order to tackle these questions, I draw on theories of learner motivation and imaginary or ideal selves.

This interest in self-presentation underpins a current project on employability and language students (SLC funded project, undertaken with Alicia Toohey).

Dr Amy Hanna’s research expertise includes functional characterization of skeletal and cardiac muscle, and investigation of the mechanisms underlying muscle function in health and disease. Amy is a Research Fellow in the laboratory of Assoc Prof Nathan Palpant at the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience. Amy obtained her PhD in 2014 at the John Curtin School of Medical Research under the supervision of Assoc Prof Nicole Beard and Professor Angela Dulhunty, investigating mechanisms of anthracycline-mediated cardiotoxicity using a combination of electrophysiology and calcium imaging in isolated cardiomyocytes. In 2014 Amy was awarded the Frank Fenner medal for most outstanding PhD thesis at JCSMR. Following completion of her PhD, Amy relocated to the United States to complete postdoctoral studies with Professor Susan Hamilton at Baylor College of Medicine. At BCM, Amy developed a strong interest in muscle diseases linked to calcium mishandling and protein quality control, including congenital myopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy. Amy has been an invited speaker at national and international conferences, and was co-chair of the 2019 Gordon Research Seminar of Muscle EC Coupling. Amy is currently funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Australian Functional Genomics Network.

Adam is a public policy scholar and teacher, an expert in health policy and recent recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). He is also the Program Director of the Master of Governance and Public Policy, one of Australia's leading postgraduate qualifications for public servants and policy practitioners.

His research primarily concerns how governments draw on ideas and knowledge and negotiate capacity constraints in the policy process. His recent research has addressed policy responses to health crisis, such vaccine hesitancy and anti-microbial resistance, and the role of ignorance and non-knowledge in generating policy failure, such as regarding the Robodebt scandal. He has published in a range of high-ranking international journals, such as Nature, Public Administration, Policy Sciences and Policy and Society.

Adam's DECRA project is entitled Health workforce crisis: understanding political capacity for policy change, and addresses the political factors that constrain and enable health workforce policymaking in Australia, Canada, England and New Zealand.

Adam is available for PhD supervision and is keen to work with students who are interested in the following topics:

• Major issues in health policy, such as workforce shortages, access issues, vaccine hesitancy.
• The politics of health policymaking.
• The role of ideas and knowledge in health and social/welfare policy.
• Policy capacity challenges.
• Non-knowledge, ignorance and misinformation in public policy.

Dr Mejbaul Haque is a Senior Engineer (Power System Stability Assessment) with Energy Queensland and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow/Senior Lecturer in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Australia. He joined as a UQ Stimulus Research Fellow/Lecturer at the same school in June 2022. Prior to joining University of Queensland, Dr. Haque was a Research Fellow in the School of Engineering at Australian National University (ANU). He led the technical research of Realising Electric Vehicle-to-Grid Services (REVS) project with a total budget of $6.59m at ANU which was funded by Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and ACT Government. Dr Haque started his professional career as a Lecturer in EEE department of KUET, Bangladesh in June 2010 and was promoted to Assistant Professor in September 2013.

Dr Haque received Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Engineering (MEng) degrees in Electrical Engineering from CQUniversity Australia in 2016 and 2020, respectively. He received Thesis Academic Excellence Awards in recognition of high-quality research theses and outstanding performance in PhD and MEng research studies at CQUniversity Australia. Previously, he completed B.Sc. degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE) from Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET) on 19 April 2010 and M.Sc. degree in EEE from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) on 31 October 2013.

His research interests include power electronics and its application to power system networks, smart EV charging and vehicle-to-grid technology, microgrid energy management systems, grid integration of large-scale solar farms and battery energy storage systems, stability analysis of high penetration of grid forming inverters in power systems, power quality and renewable energy technologies. He collaborates with national and international researchers and local industry partners on various research projects. He has published over 40 articles including book chapters, journals, conference papers and technical reports in electrical engineering.

He has served in the committee of IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Technology and Engineering (i-COSTE) as a member and industry & local arrangement co-chair in 2020 and 2021, respectively. He has been working as a student activities chair in 7th IEEE Southern Power Electronics Conference (SPEC) 2022. He was elected as a member of IEEE PELS student subcommittee in 2020. He was a recipient of the best paper award in IEEE R10 HTC 2017 and received travel grants in IEEE R10 HTC 2017, IEEE IAS 2019, and IEEE PESGRE 2020 conferences. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and Engineers Australia and a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Queensland.

Teaching

His teaching interests includes Power Electronics, Signals and Systems, Fundamental of Energy and Electricity, Power System Analysis, Power System Protection, Electrical Circuits Analysis, Control System Analysis & Design, Integration of Renewable Energy into Power Systems and Microgrids, Grid Integration of Renewable and Storage Technologies and EV Charging Technologies. He has been active in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate electrical engineering courses since 2014 in CQUniversity, Australian National University and University of Queensland. He has been coordinating ELEC4410 course in S2 2022 at UQ and previously coordinated ENEE13019 course at CQUniversity in T1 2014. He has also delivered the following courses in various capacities such as Lecturer, Tutor, or Marker as Sessional Academic at CQUniversity, UQ and ANU. The available overall students’ feedback assessment is shown within the brackets out of 5.0.

• ENEE13019 – Control Systems Analysis and Design (4.6/5.0 – T1 2014, 2017, 2018)
• ENEE13021 – Power System Analysis and Design (5.0/5.0 - T1 2017)
• ENEE14016 – Power System Protection (4.6/5.0 – T1 2018)
• ENEE12015 – Electrical Power Engineering (4.0/5.0 – T1 2017)
• ENEG11005 – Fundamental of Professional Engineering (4.1/5.0 - T1 2018)
• ENAE12003 – Control Technology (4.4/5.0 – T2 2018)
• ENEG11009 – Fundamentals of Energy and Electricity (4.1/5.0 – T1 2019)
• ENEE12016 – Signals and Systems (4.8/5.0 – T2 2016, T2 2021)
• COIT20148 – Information System Analysis and Design (4.9/5.0 – T2 2018)
• ENGN4625/6625 – Power Systems and Power Electronics (S2 - 2021)
• ENGN8831 – Integration of Renewable Energy into Power Systems and Microgrids (S1 2022)
• ELEC4410 – Advance Electronics and Power Electronic Design (4.83/5.0 – S2 2022)

Honours Student Project and HDR Supervision

Dr Haque has been active in research project supervision activities. As a UQ Stimulus Research Fellow, he has been supervising a PhD student who is working on “electric vehicle project” at UQ in the capacity of Associate Supervisor. He is also supervising a HDR (Masters by Research) student who is working on “remote isolated microgrid project” at CQUniversity in the capacity of Associate Supervisor. He has successfully completed supervision of two coursework Honours students from ANU solar racing project (https://solarracinganu.com.au/). He has completed the Foundations of HDR Supervision at ANU (HDRIN) and HDR at ANU: New Supervisors (HDRFN) courses. Dr Haque is available to supervise more research students.

Honors and Awards

Dr Haque has received several awards including research fellowship, best thesis awards, best paper award and travel awards in his professional career such as:

• UQ Research Stimulus Fellowship (2022-2023)
• Recipient of Thesis Academic Excellence Award 2020 for best PhD thesis and academic performance at CQUniversity
• Winner of 2020 RHD Candidate Experience Survey Prize
• Student Travel Grant awarded by IEEE Industry Applications Society to join IEEE PESGRE 2020 conference in Cochin, India
• Student Travel Grant awarded by IEEE Industry Applications Society to join IEEE IAS 2019 conference in Baltimore, USA
• Recipient of a Best Paper Award in 5th IEEE R10 HTC, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2017
• Student Travel Grant awarded by IEEE Industry Applications Society to join 5th IEEE R10 HTC 2017 conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Recipient of Thesis Academic Excellence Award 2016 for best Master by Research thesis and academic performance at CQUniversity.
• Student Travel Grant awarded by Australasian Power Engineering Conference committee to join AUPEC2014 conference in Perth, Australia.
• Awarded CQUniversity Top-up Scholarship (January 2018 – August 2019)
• Recipient of RTP living stipend by Commonwealth Government, Australia (August 2016 – February 2020)
• CQUniversity Postgraduate Research Award (UPRA) (November 2013 – November 2015)
• International Postgraduate Research Award (IPRA) (November 2013 – November 2015)
• Awarded Technical Scholarship, RUET, Bangladesh (March 2007 – March 2010)

Editorial Membership:

• Associate Editor of IEEE Access Journal, October 2021 – present
• Associate Editor for Smart Grid Technologies of Frontiers in Smart Grids Journal, June 2022 – present

Professional Membership and Services

• Secretary, Engineers Australia Rockhampton Region Committee (2019-2020)
• Member, Engineers Australia Rockhampton Region Committee (2017-2018 & 2018-2019)
• Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) (2020 - present)
• Member, The Institution of Engineers Australia (MIEAust) (2015- 2021)
• Member, The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (MIEB) (2011 - present)
• Member, IEEE Power Electronics Society Student Subcommittee (2020 - present)
• Member, The Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (MIEEE) (2015 - present)
• Member, IEEE Smart Grid Community, IEEE Industry Application, Power Electronics & Industrial Electronics Society (2015 - present)

Scholarly Activities and Engagement

• Chair (Student activities), 7th IEEE Southern Power Electronics Conference (SPEC) 2022, Fiji
• Co-chair (Industry and local arrangement), 7th IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Technology and Engineering (i-COSTE) 2021, Australia
• Organising committee member, 6th IEEE i-COSTE 2020, Australia
• Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
• Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
• Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy
• Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion
• Reviewer, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
• Reviewer, International Journal of Electrical Power System and Energy