Paul Dennis leads an exciting research group that applies cutting-edge technologies to understand the roles of microorganisms and their responses to environmental change.
He is also a passionate educator and public speaker who advocates for the importance of biological diversity and evidence-based environmental awareness. He has talked about his research on ABC Radio and a range of other media outlets.
His teaching covers aspects of ecology, microbiology, plant and soil science, and climatology. He considers these topics to be of fundamental importance for the development of more sustainable societies and takes pride in helping others to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to build a better future.
Paul's research has taken him to Antarctica, the Amazon Rainforest, high mountains and oceans. The approaches used in his lab draw on a wide range of expertise in molecular biology, ecology, statistics, computer science, advanced imaging and soil science. He applies these skills to a wide-range of topics and systems including plant-microbe interactions, Antarctic marine and terrestrial ecology, biogeography, pollution and human health.
Affiliate of Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Affiliate of Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry
Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry
Faculty of Science
Professorial Research Fellow
Sustainable Minerals Institute
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Media expert
Professor Longbin Huang is a Full Professor and leader of an interdisciplinary research group in Ecological Engineering in Mining. His research focuses on mine waste rehabilitation, ecological engineering, and geomicrobial soil formation, integrating ecological, microbiological, and environmental processes to address sustainability challenges in the mining sector, with influence spanning industry, academia, and policy. Professor Huang leads cutting-edge research in: Geo-microbial ecology, Mineral bioweathering, Microbially and rhizosphere driven soil formation from Tailings Minerals.
Professor Huang's work has advanced nature-based solutions for transforming mine tailings, waste rock, and bauxite residues into sustainable ecosystems. Supported by approximately AUD $23 million in competitive and industry-funded research over the past 15 years, his team has developed and demonstrated innovative rehabilitation technologies with field-scale applications. These include a pioneering technology for the treatment and dealkalization of bauxite residues, which has been commercialized through the University of Queensland startup Bioculum Pty Ltd, and novel approaches for preventing acid mine drainage generation in mine waste materials.
Professor Huang has published over 190 scholarly outputs, including journal articles, conference papers, patents, and book chapters. His research has attracted broad international recognition and has contributed significantly to the advancement of mine waste management, ecological restoration, and sustainable mining practices worldwide.
He is highly experienced in industry-partnered research and translation of knowledge into field-based technologies for tackling large environmental challenges in the mining industry, for example, technologies for tackling global tailings problem. Since 2010, he has led many large and industry-partnered research projects attracting about $23M funding. The research aims to deliver transformative knowledge and practices (i.e., technologies/methdologies) in the rehabilitation of mine wastes (e.g., tailings, mineral residues, spoils, waste rocks) and mined landscapes for non-polluting and ecologically and financially sustainable outcomes. Prof Huang has successfully demonstrated innovative methodology and technology to achieve nature-based outcomes in treating and rehabilitating tailings and waste rocks. Prof Huang’s research program was featured in Rio Tinto’s media releases as one of the four most successful global R&D partnerships in 2024. Prof Huang led the development of the first field-feasible technology to treat and dealkalize alkaline bauxite residues for sustainable rehabilitation. His industry-partnered research was recognised in 2019 UQ’s Partners in Research Excellence Award (Resilient Environments) (Rio Tinto and QAL). Prof Huang is also developing new knowledge and technologies for achieving non-polluting and ecologically sustainable rehabilitation of, for example, coal mine spoils and tailings, Fe-ore tailings, bauxite tailings (from mining bauxite), and Cu/Pb-Zn tailings.
Membership of Board, Committee and Society
Professional associations and societies
2010 – Present Australian Soil Science Society.
2023 – Present AuSIMM
2015 – 2025 Present American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR)
Editorial boards/services
2025 - present: Member of Editorial Board, Energy & Environment Nexus
Affiliate of Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Affiliate of Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining
Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Senior Lecturer
School of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Availability:
Available for supervision
Media expert
Denys Villa Gomez holds a joint appointment at the University of Queensland as Senior Lecturer at the School of Civil Engineering and as a Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. She obtained her PhD at the world-leading institute’s IHE-Delft/Wageningen University, The Netherlands in 2013. She applies advanced methodologies such as omics approaches and micro spectral tools to develop biotechnology processes that reduce carbon emissions and recover resources from mine waste and wastewater. She is the leader of the key area “Synbio Mining” within the recently created UQ Biosustainability Hub and chief investigator at the ARC Training Centre in Critical Resources for the Future. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers cited more than 500 times, and has served as editor and reviewer for leading journals and advisory roles in industry and scientific committees (e.g. International Mine Water Association).
Teaching and Learning:
Course coordinator and lecturer for Introduction to Environmental Engineering (CIVL2135)
Course coordinator and lecturer for Environmental Phenomena (ENVE3160)
Lecturer in Integrated Design for Environmental Management (CIVL4516)
Lecturer in Sustainable Built Environment (CIVL4180)
