Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
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Faculty of Sciences USQ Home > Faculty of Sciences > Research > Postgraduate research
Project Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students Name Dr Trevor Langlands
Email
[email protected]
Project Description Title: Modelling reactions and forcing in subdiffusive systems. Area of Interest: Mathematical Modelling of diffusion in complex systems such as in biology, Anomalous diffusion, Continuous Time Random Walks Theory, Partial Differential Equations, Monte Carlo Simulations, Fractional Calculus Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: In the recent decade there has been rise in the number of physical systems that exhibit anomalous sub-diffusion due to trapping and obstacles which is characterized by a mean-squared displacement which scales sub-linearly with time. Examples of such systems can be found in the diffusive behaviour of proteins in cells and ions in nerve cell signalling in spiny dendrites. However there is a need for mathematical models that accurately model the diffusion in such systems which account for reactions and forcing effects. However the simple addition of the traditional reaction kinetic terms to the equation of the model of diffusion (as in reaction-diffusion equations) is no longer correct in the presence of sub-diffusion and the correct form is yet unknown. This research aims to derive such an equation with the use of random walk theory, computational mathematics Monte Carlo simulations, partial differential equations, and Laplace transforms.
Associate Professor Ron Addie
[email protected]
Title: Modeling, analysis and design of layered networks Area of Interest: Layered network design, fractional Brownian motion, Gaussian measures, financial mathematics Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project is conducted in conjunction with the City University of Hong Kong. It makes use of the publicly available network and analysis web site, http://cs.sci.usq.edu.au/netml3_5, which was
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 2 of 48 developed at USQ. The aim is to develop tools which can model, analyse, visualise, and design, networks which include layers for optical fibers, wave-division multiplexing, ethernet, SDH, IP, and potentially other technologies. The way these different technologies work together is described in a generic manner in the analysis and design tools. These can then be used to undertake case studies which allow future scenarios in which traffic is much greater and technologies have different cost parameters to be visualised and explored.
Associate Professor Ron Addie
[email protected]
Title: Performance analysis of systems with longrange-dependent traffic. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Traditional methods for performance analysis are limited due to the difficulty of mathematical and simulation analysis. In particular, it is very difficult to analyse systems with long-range-dependent traffic. However, this is the main type of traffic in the networks of today. New methods have been developed by the supervisor which enables systems with long-range-dependent traffic to be analysed. The simulation method is called snapshot simulation. The mathematical method makes use of the consistent group method. These new techniques are being developed in conjunction with the City University of Hong Kong. Http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/addie, http://cs.sci.usq.edu.au/netml
Dr Ravinesh Deo
[email protected]
Research Interests: Engineering Fluid Dynamics (Experimental and Computational); Climate modelling and environmental science. Research Topic Title: A new approach for objective definition of drought duration, frequency and severity in Australia Areas of Interest: Climate physics, modelling, analysis and projections, time-series analysis, probability density functions, spatial-temporal and cluster analysis, climate extremes, droughts, rainfall variability Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Australia being the driest inhabited continent has
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 3 of 48 the lowest water volume in rivers, surface run-offs and smallest areal wetlands. The country is vulnerable to frequent droughts. Knowledge regarding the duration, frequency and severity of droughts is crucial for monitoring, diagnosis, preparation, planning and management of action plans. Accurate and timely diagnosis gives in early warnings that reduce response time and helps optimise strategies and curb detrimental impacts on various factions of our community. Australian droughts are traditionally diagnosed by the rainfall-based decile drought index or the soil moisture-based decile drought index (Deo et al. 2009; Mpelasoka et al. 2008) since its inception by Gibbs & Maher (1967). However these indices employ the monthly rainfall accumulations relative to a base period. In this approach, the time-step used is a constraint of accuracy especially if drought onsets in middle of a month and withdraws just before the end. Such discrepancies can impact the response to detecting anomalous changes in semi-monthly, monthly, multi-monthly, semi-yearly or yearly rainfalls. This project proposes a technique that will utilise daily time-steps instead of monthly used by previous indices. The method recognises that water accumulation in an impacted region can return to normal with only a single day’s rainfall. The new index will incorporate the water storing term unaccounted for by other kinds of indices. Although soil moisture is influenced by recent rainfall shortage, however deficiencies in reservoirs are affected by much longer-term accumulations. In other indices, the diminishing storage over time is unrealistic so summations of rainfall do not pragmatically represent the accumulated deficit. This approach, a first of its kind for Australia, will test, adopt and apply the Effective Drought Index (EDI). The index functions on a daily time-step to enable better diagnosis and monitoring of droughts (Byun & Wilhite (1999). The innovation lies in using daily rainfall values and the concept of Effective Precipitation (EP). EP represents the summed daily rainfall with a time-dependant reduction that has been tested to correlate with soil moisture depletion to better diagnose droughts based on storage (Kim & Byun, 2006). It expresses the standardized deficit or surplus to enable one location’s severity to be compared with another regardless of climatic differences.
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 4 of 48 This research has been ongoing. The robustness of the EDI has been tested elsewhere (e.g. Morid et al 2006) but its application to Australian will be new. The student will conduct time-series analysis, cluster analysis, probability density and spatial analysis together with modelling the trends of drought episodes to examine the response to onset, progression and withdrawal. The project is suitable for students with a background in mathematics/statistics with interest in climatology or environmental science. Some programming skills especially in MATLAB are preferred. There is a potential for collaboration with CSIRO and/or overseas partners and for advancing research and programming skills, spatial-temporal analysis and publication records. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): Honours, Masters, PhD
Dr Ravinesh Deo
[email protected]
Research Interests: Engineering Fluid Dynamics (Experimental and Computational); Climate modelling and environmental science. Research Topic Title: Is Australian drought always together with the El Nino Southern Oscillation? Areas of Interest: Climate physics, El Nino effects, time-series analysis, rainfall studies, worst droughts and climate extremes Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The Australians climate is fragile and responds to low amplitude perturbations. Climate records exhibit substantial variability at the inter-annual and decadal scales that are believed to be strongly influenced by the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The driest years in history (1902, 1972, 1982 and 2002) have often been associated with El Ninos while the wettest years (1973, 1974, 1999 and 2000) with La Ninas. Additional to inter-annual variability are prolonged periods of above or below average rainfall that last several years to accentuate worst persistent droughts (Federation 1896–2002 & Millennium 2001–2007). While their exact causes are not known, they do synchronise with El Ninos and are coupled with the quasidecadal and inter-decadal fluctuations in sea
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 5 of 48 surface temperature (White et al 2003). The synchronicity/asynchronicity of worst drought in history with ENSO events is the subject of this project. This project will employ the Bureau of Meteorology’s high quality dataset to investigate past 100 years of droughts while focussing on the dynamics of the Federation and Millennium drought. The approach will involve comparing results using the Effective Drought Index (EDI), the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Rainfall-decile based Drought Index (RDDI) (Byun H et al. 1999; McKee et al 1993; Deo et al 2009). Spatio-temporal analysis will be conducted for the worst impacted regions over the last 100 years. Correlations analysis between the phases of Southern Oscillation, cumulative rainfall and indices will be conducted to examine the negative and positive phases of ENSO and to model the onset, progression and withdraw of worst droughts in history. The project is suitable for students with a background in mathematics/statistics and interest in climate sciences. Some programming skills (e.g. MATLAB) are preferred. There is potential for collaboration with CSIRO and/or overseas partners and for advancing research, programming and publication skills with opportunities for authorship. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): Honours, Masters, PhD References et al. (2009) Impact of historical land cover change on daily indices of climate extremes including droughts in eastern Australia. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36 (8). 1-5. On meteorological droughts in tropical Pacific Islands: time-series analysis of observed rainfall using Fiji as a case study. Meteorol. App. 18 (2). 171-180. et al. (2007) Comparison of suitable drought indices for climate change impacts assessment over Australia towards resource management, Int. J. Clim. 28, 1283–1292. Drought Indicators. Aus. Bur. Meteorol. Bull. 48, 37. orid S et al. (2006) Comparison of seven meteorological indices for drought monitoring, Int. J. Clim. 26, 971-985. et al. (1999) Objective quantification of
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 6 of 48 drought severity and duration. J. Clim. 12, 27472756. et al. (1993) The relationship of drought frequency and duration to time scales. Preprints, Eighth Conf. on Applied Climatology, Anaheim, CA, Amer. Meteor. Soc. 179–184.
Dr Ravinesh Deo
[email protected]
Research Interests: Engineering Fluid Dynamics (Experimental and Computational); Climate modelling and environmental science. Research Topic Title: Application of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition to investigate Reynolds number similarity in two-dimensional jets Areas of Interest: fluid dynamics, applied mathematics, time-frequency analysis, signal processing, turbulent flows, eigen functions, eigen values, eigen spectra, proper orthogonal decomposition Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The cascading of turbulent energy in fluids is governed predominantly by large-scale motions. Capturing the space-time evolution of eddy motions can broaden our understanding of heat, mass and momentum transport processes especially for engineering applications. This project adopts the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) approach to study the dynamics of turbulent eddy motions in 2D jets. The purpose is to examine the energy cascade process for jets characterised by different Reynolds numbers (dynamic characteristic defining the role of viscosity). Mathematically, application of POD on a real timevarying signal generates orthogonal basis vectors whose elements sorted by their spectral energy. A peculiar feature is optimality: i.e. among all linear decompositions, it provides the most efficient detection, in the least squares optimal sense, of the dominant components and trends of an infinite dimensional process. POD modes of higher energies represent most significant fluctuations while Fourier transform provides spectral information related to the modes. Importantly the amplitude-frequency components associated with particular modes are obtained by convolution of the source signal. This procedure increases the efficiency of energy extraction in contrast to
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 7 of 48 singular spectrum analysis especially in real applications. Considering the theoretical aspects and its application to 2D flows, the project will examine the role of initial and boundary conditions on largescale dynamics. Some preliminary research has been done. Opportunity exists for collaboration with The University of Adelaide and Peking University. The project is suitable for students with background in applied mathematics and/or fluid mechanics with programming skills (e.g. MATLAB), and for those interested in advancing their research and publication records. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): Honours/Masters References et al. (2013). Similarity behaviour of the momentum field of a series of subsonic, plane air jets with varying jet-exit Reynolds numbers. Phys. Fluids. 25, 015115. et al. (2008). The influence of Reynolds number on a plane jet. Phys Fluids, 20(1). et al. (2011). A procedure based on proper orthogonal decomposition for timefrequency analysis of time series. Exp. Fluids. 51, 969-985. Web Address: https://eportfolio.usq.edu.au/view/view.php?id=1 1510 Contact: Phone – (07) 3470 4430 (Springfield Campus)
Dr Oleksiy Yevdokimov
[email protected]
Research Interests: Mathematics education. Research Topic Title: Investigations in the theory of procepts Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The theory of procepts was developed by Gray and Tall. The name “procept” arose because of any symbol’s dual role as process and concept. It was an idea generated by looking at a symbol, for example, such as 3+2 both as a process (of addition) and a concept (of sum). In particular, Gray and Tall noted the peculiar case of the limit concept where the (potentially infinite) process of
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 8 of 48 computing a limit may not have a finite algorithm at all. Thus, a procept may exist which has both a process (tending to a limit) and a concept (of limit), yet there is no procedure to compute the desired result. Many other features of college mathematics concepts still need further investigations in the framework of the theory of procepts and they are in the focus of our consideration.
Dr Oleksiy Yevdokimov
[email protected]
Area of Interest: Mathematics education. Research Topic Title: Modelling problem posing activities in teacher education Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Problem solving is one of the most widely used classroom activities throughout schools. At the same time, problem posing activities are quite neglected by teachers because of their complex structure. Moreover, there is a huge mismatch in how often students are involved in problem solving and problem posing activities. One of the reasons is that teachers’ problem posing skills are underdeveloped. We analyse problem posing as a theoretical issue in teacher education and look for the factors to encourage teachers to use problem posing as part of the learning process in and out classroom.
Dr Oleksiy Yevdokimov
[email protected]
Area of Interest: Mathematics education. Research Topic Title: Duality and common features between mathematics and mathematics education Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: We investigate inquiry activities from the didactic point of view and analyse how they can be constructed similarly to the process of mathematical research, and how such activities incorporated in teaching contribute to the development of students’ mathematical thinking. For example, de Villiers and Hanna noted that in actual mathematical research mathematicians have to first convince themselves that a mathematical statement is true and then move to a formal proof. One of the most important questions is to find out how natural is a process of
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 9 of 48 learning mathematical discovery for students and how inquiry activities in classroom can be seen from a psychological point of view.
Dr Xiaohui Tao
[email protected]
Research Interests: Ontology learning and mining; Knowledge engineering; Web intelligence; Data mining; Sentiment analysis and opinion mining; Machine learning; Information retrieval. Research Topic Title: Ontology-based User Concept Modelling in Personalised Web Information Gathering Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: User concept models are formal description and specification of user background knowledge. In their brains, users implicitly possess a concept model, which is generated from their background knowledge. While this concept model cannot be proven in laboratories, many ontologists have observed it in user behaviour. When users read through a document, they can easily determine whether or not it is of their interest, on the basis of a judgement that arises from their implicit concept models. Therefore, there exists a hypothesis if a user’s concept model can be simulated, we can understand how a judgment (e.g., whether a document is interesting) is made, and thus, we can infer user information needs by analysing the existing concepts in simulated user model. This study focuses on user concept models in the context of personalised Web information gathering. In the study, a personalised ontology model is proposed for knowledge representation and reasoning over user concept model, which is learned from both world knowledge bases and user local documents. The study will have significant contributions to the knowledge and applications in web personalisation, information retrieval, user modelling, and decision-making support.
Dr Xiaohui Tao
[email protected]
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
Research Interests: Ontology learning and mining; Knowledge engineering; Web intelligence; Data mining; Sentiment analysis and opinion mining; Machine learning; Information retrieval.
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 10 of 48 Research Topic
Title: Unsupervised Multi-Label Text Classification Using a World Knowledge Ontology Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The development of text classification techniques has been largely promoted in the past decade due to the increasing availability and widespread use of digital documents. Usually, the performance of text classification relies on the quality of categories and the accuracy of classifiers learned from samples. When training samples are unavailable or categories are unqualified, text classification performance would be degraded. This study focuses on the development of an unsupervised multi-label text classification model to classify documents using a large set of categories stored in a world knowledge ontology. The outcome of the study will improve our accessibility to textual information and help to design better systems for information retrieval. Such a contribution is significant, especially considering the rapid explosion of the Web in recent years. Dr Xiaohui Tao
[email protected]
Research Interests: Ontology learning and mining; Knowledge engineering; Web intelligence; Data mining; Sentiment analysis and opinion mining; Machine learning; Information retrieval. Research Topic Title: Personalised Web Information Gathering Using Agent Technology Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Intelligent agents are an advanced technology utilized in Web Intelligence. When searching information from a distributed Web environment, information is retrieved by multi-agents on the client site and fused on the broker site. The current information fusion techniques rely on cooperation of agents to provide statistics. Such techniques are computationally expensive and unrealistic in the real world. This study focuses on the development of a generic model that uses user personalised ontologies and intelligent agent technology to improve search performance in distributed information environment. The study has significant contribution to the design of systems and
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 11 of 48 applications in distributed information retrieval.
Dr Xiaohui Tao
[email protected]
Research Interests: Ontology learning and mining; Knowledge engineering; Web intelligence; Data mining; Sentiment analysis and opinion mining; Machine learning; Information retrieval. Research Topic Title: Data Analytics for Targeted Healthcare Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: To succeed in transforming healthcare, many countries will need to move to more targeted healthcare. Successful migration must encourage innovation, provide access to more complete patient information and incorporate advanced clinical knowledge into clinical decision-making. Aiming at successfully transforming healthcare, some interdependent challenges need to be overcome, such as prevalence of tightly coupled applications and data; inadequate data and knowledge standards; insufficient analytics capabilities; unsatisfactory security and privacy methodologies; absence of a clinical decisionmaking foundation. Knowledge discovery and data mining techniques, especially data analytics, have been proven holding much promise for solving these problems. Providers can use health care data analytics to learn about patient populations, enhance preventive care and drive business decisions by accessing key data such as demographics and chronic conditions. Therefore, nowadays the healthcare industry requires a much more open, robust health information technology environment than ever existed, especially the techniques and methodologies in knowledge discovery and data mining. Targeting on these interesting questions, this project focuses on how data analytics can improve information management in healthcare, and aims at providing an intelligent HCI system for targeted healthcare.
Dr Yury Stepanyants
[email protected]
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
Research Interests: Nonlinear dynamics and general theory of nonlinear oscillations and waves; theoretical and computational fluid mechanics; dynamics of bubbles, drops and solid particles in viscous fluids; instability of shear flows; groundwater flow and percolation processes in porous media; Nonlinear waves and vortices in fluids including plasma; Nonlinear waves in electric transmission lines and fibre optics.
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 12 of 48 Research Topic Title: Study of bathtub vortices in Nature, laboratory and industry. Areas of Interest: Fluid mechanics; applied mathematics. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Buthtub vortices are very common phenomenon observable even at home conditions (in kitchen sinks and bathes). They also often appear in undustry and in Nature (liquid drainage from big reservoirs, water intakes from natural estuaries, vortices forming in the cooling systems of nuclear reactors). Intence vortices can cause some undesirable and negative effects as they produce vibrations and noise, reduce a flow rate, etc. There is a chalenge to develop a theory capable to descibe main features of bathtub vortices and predict their behaviour at different conditions. Preliminary study has been published in the following papers. 1. Stepanyants Y.A., Yeoh G.H. Stationary bathtub vortices and a critical regime of liquid discharge. – J. Fluid Mech., 2008, v. 604, 77–98. 2. Stepanyants Y.A., Yeoh G.H. Burgers–Rott vortices with surface tension. – J. Appl. Math. Phys. (ZAMP), 2008, v. 59, 12 p.
Dr Yury Stepanyants
[email protected]
Research Interests: Nonlinear dynamics and general theory of nonlinear oscillations and waves; theoretical and computational fluid mechanics; dynamics of bubbles, drops and solid particles in viscous fluids; instability of shear flows; groundwater flow and percolation processes in porous media; Nonlinear waves and vortices in fluids including plasma; Nonlinear waves in electric transmission lines and fibre optics. Research Topic Title: Scalar description of three-dimensional flows of incompressible fluid. Areas of Interest: Fluid mechanics; applied mathematics. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The essential progress in the investigation of flows of incompressible fluid may be achieved with the
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 13 of 48 help of scalar functions, e.g., the velocity potential or stream-function. Flow description by means of one scalar function is much simpler than the description based on the three-dimensional vector field. The traditional usage of scalar functions such as the velocity potential or stream-function is restricted by certain assumptions. This essentially limits the range of applicability of traditional approaches. As was recently shown, there is another approach, also based on the introduction of only one scalar function capable to describe both potential and vortex fluid motion in 3D space (Stepanyants Y.A., Yakubovich E.I. Scalar description of three-dimensional vortex flows of incompressible fluid. Doklady Physics, 2011, v. 56, n. 2, 130–133). This work needs further development, what can be a good topic for a PhD Project.
Dr Yury Stepanyants
[email protected]
Research Interests: Nonlinear dynamics and general theory of nonlinear oscillations and waves; theoretical and computational fluid mechanics; dynamics of bubbles, drops and solid particles in viscous fluids; instability of shear flows; groundwater flow and percolation processes in porous media; Nonlinear waves and vortices in fluids including plasma; Nonlinear waves in electric transmission lines and fibre optics. Research Topic Title: Three dimensional patterns and their dynamics in Bose–Einstien condensate. Areas of Interest: Fluid mechanics; condensed matter physics; applied mathematics. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Bose–Einstein condensate is a pure quantum phenomenon consisting of the macroscopic occupation of a single-particle state by an ensemble of identical bosons (elementary particles of integer spin) in thermal equilibrium at very low temperatures. In 1995 Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman in US obtained the first Bose–Einstein condensate in dilute gas and were awarded by Nobel Prize for that. The existence of localized structures in Bose–Einstein condensate was then discovered experimentally. This is currently one of the most topical directions in physics and applied mathematics. Three-dimensional patterns can be
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 14 of 48 investigated theoretically and by means of numerical modelling what can be an interesting topic for a PhD Project. Results of preliminary study were published in the following paper: Malomed B.A., Stepanyants Y.A. The inverse problem for the Gross−Pitaevskii equation. – Chaos, 2010, v. 20, 013130, 14 p.
Dr Sonja March
[email protected]
Research Interests: Child anxiety, online interventions, cognitive behaviour therapy, youth mental health, assessment of youth emotional difficulties, child and family psychology. Research Topic Title: Alternative methods for delivering CognitiveBehavioural Therapy (CBT) in Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders (ONLINE THERAPY) Areas of Research Interest: Child and adolescent psychological disorders, anxiety disorders, risk factors for anxiety, online therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, computerised assessment, post-traumatic stress disorder, young adults and mental health Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Clinic-based CBT has long been established as the treatment of choice for child and adolescent anxiety disorders, but anywhere up to 75% of children and adolescents do not seek or receive assistance for their anxiety. Stigma, long waiting lists, high costs and busy family schedules are some of the reasons families don’t attend face-to-face clinics. Online therapy has gathered momentum as a potential alternative for those families who are not willing or unable to attend face-to-face therapy. The supervisor, with colleagues from Griffith University and The University of Queensland has developed and evaluated an online CBT intervention for child and adolescent anxiety disorders (BRAVE-ONLINE). The program has demonstrated to be as efficacious as face-to-face therapy, when combined with minimal email therapist contact. This area is a new area, and there is still much to be examined with respect to online CBT for youth anxiety (or for any psychological disorders of childhood). This program could be utilised in this research.
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 15 of 48 This project could involve examining various issues related to online interventions for youth anxiety: Possible projects might examine: a) Ways of improving the efficacy of online interventions (e.g. inclusion of face-to-face contact, videoconferencing, chat forums) b) Alternative ways of delivering online interventions (e.g. in group/school settings, delivered by non-psychologist professionals) c) Examining brief versions of the program compared to full version. d) Examining self-help versions of the program e) Examining the use of the program with different target groups (e.g. mixed anxiety and depression, school/academic stress, youth with medical conditions) The project would involve collecting diagnostic and questionnaire data and the delivery of online CBT to youth with anxiety. The student would need to have a keen interest in clinical psychology. There would also be scope to run this project in different countries (with multiple students).
Dr Sonja March
[email protected]
Research Interests: Child anxiety, online interventions, cognitive behaviour therapy, youth mental health, assessment of youth emotional difficulties, child and family psychology. Research Topic Project title: Cross-cultural comparisons of childhood anxiety Project outline: Anxiety is a universal phenomenon experienced by children throughout the world. However there are qualitative differences between how anxiety is experienced by children from various cultures. CBT programs have been utilised in various cultures, however there is room for more systematic comparison of the efficacy of CBT techniques between various cultures. The supervisor, with colleagues from Griffith University and The University of Queensland has developed and evaluated a clinic-based and online CBT intervention for child and adolescent anxiety
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 16 of 48 disorders (The BRAVE Program and BRAVE-ONLINE program). This program could be utilised in this research. This project could involve examining various issues related to cross cultural comparisons of youth anxiety: Possible projects might examine: a) Differences in presentation and symptom profiles between children of various cultures b) Comparisons of children with and without anxiety across cultures c) Differing roles of various risk factors (e.g. parental factors, comorbidity, cognitive appraisals) across cultures d) Efficacy of clinic-based and online programs across cultures The project would potentially involve collecting diagnostic and questionnaire data and the delivery of CBT to youth with anxiety. There would also be scope to run this project in different countries (with multiple students).
Dr Sonja March
[email protected]
Research Interests: Child anxiety, online interventions, cognitive behaviour therapy, youth mental health, assessment of youth emotional difficulties, child and family psychology. Research Topic Project title: Examination of barriers to treatment for youth with anxiety, mental health or ‘anxiety’ literacy and the role of online resources in improving understanding of anxiety and help seeking behaviours Project outline: There have been many formal and informal attempts to improve mental health literacy in youth, particularly with respect to disorders such as depression and anxiety. There is still a great need for further examinations of whether such strategies work and result in improved help-seeking behaviours. Online resources, assessments and interventions represent one way of improving mental health (or ‘anxiety’) literacy. This project could involve examining various issues related to mental health literacy and help-seeking
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 17 of 48 behaviours in youth with mental health problems. Possible projects might examine: a) Examining barriers to therapy (clinic-based and online) in youth with anxiety (and compared to other disorders) b) Examining mental health literacy in different adolescent or young adult populations (e.g. rural vs urban, those with and without mental health problems, those with and without parents with a mental illness) c) Examining usefulness of online resources in improving mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours (for various disorders) d) Comparison of barriers and help seeking behaviours across cultures The project would involve collecting questionnaire data (most likely online) from youth or parents. There would also be scope to run this project in different countries (with multiple students).
Professor Lindsay Brown
[email protected]
Title: Interventions with natural products in rat models of chronic human disease Area of Interest: a) Chronic inflammatory states such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular remodelling, arthritis, kidney disease b) Developing rat models that mimic the human disease state, such as the high carbohydrate, high fat diet-induced model of human obesity and hypertension, adjuvant-induced arthritis, dietinduced fatty liver disease, adenine-induced chronic kidney disease c) Interventions with natural products, for example purple carrots, olive leaf, rutin, chia and selective anti-inflammatory drugs d) Definition of structural and functional changes in the heart, blood vessels, liver, abdominal fat pads, kidneys and joints Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Please see recent publications: 1. Poudyal H, Panchal S, Brown L: Comparison of purple carrot juice and β-carotene in high carbohydrate, high fat diet-fed rat model of metabolic syndrome. British Journal of Nutrition 2010:104; 1322-1332. 2. Panchal S, Poudyal H, Iyer A, Nazer R, Alam MA, Diwan V, Kauter K, Sernia C, Campbell F, Ward L,
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 18 of 48 Gobe G, Fenning A, Brown L: High carbohydratehigh fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular remodeling in rats. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 2011;57: 611-624. 3. Panchal SK, Poudyal H, Arumugam TV, Brown L: Rutin attenuates metabolic changes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and cardiovascular remodeling in high carbohydrate-, high fat-fed rats. Journal of Nutrition 2011;141: 1062-1069. 4. Poudyal H, Panchal SK, Diwan V, Brown L: Omega-3 fatty acids and metabolic syndrome: effects and emerging mechanisms of action. Progress in Lipid Research, 2011;50: 372-387. 5. Poudyal H, Panchal S, Waanders J, Ward L, -linolenic acid-rich chia seed inhibits stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 and induces cardiac and hepatic protection in dietinduced obese rats. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2012;23: 153-162. 6. Iyer A, Kauter K, Alam MA, Hwang SH, Morisseau C, Hammock BD, Brown L: Pharmacological inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase ameliorates diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Experimental Diabetes Research 2012, Article ID 758614, doi: 10.1155/2012/758614. 7. Iyer A, Fairlie DP, Brown L: Lysine acetylation in obesity, diabetes and metabolic disease. Immunology and Cell Biology 2012;90: 39-46. 8. Panchal SK, Poudyal H, Waanders J, Brown L: Coffee extract attenuates changes in cardiovascular and hepatic structure and function without decreasing obesity in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed male rats. The Journal of Nutrition, 2012;142: 690-697. 9. Poudyal H, Panchal SK, Ward LC, Waanders J, Brown L: Chronic high-carbohydrate, high-fat feeding in rats induces reversible metabolic, cardiovascular, and liver changes. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 302: E1472–E1482, 2012. 10. Panchal SK, Poudyal H, Brown L: Quercetin ameliorates cardiovascular, hepatic, and metabolic changes in diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. The Journal of Nutrition, 2012;142: 10261032. 11. Iyer A, Lim J, Poudyal H, Reid RC, Suen JY, Webster J, Prins JB, Whitehead JP, Fairlie DP, Brown L: An inhibitor of phospholipase A2 group IIa modulates adipocyte signaling and protects against diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Diabetes, 2012; 61:2320-2329.
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Page 19 of 48 12. Panchal SK, Wong WY, Kauter K, Ward LC, Brown L: Caffeine attenuates metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese rats. Nutrition, 2012;28: 1055-1062. 13. Panchal SK, Brown L: Cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects of ellagitannins from European oak bark (Quercus petraea L.) extract in rats. European Journal of Nutrition 2012, doi: 10.1007/s00394-011-0277-1. 14. Diwan V, Poudyal H, Brown L: Traditional Indian medicines for metabolic syndrome. In: Natural products and bioactive compounds in disease prevention; edited by M Mohammed Essa, A Manickavasagan, E Sukumar, Publisher: Nova Science Publishers, NY, USA, 2012. 15. Panchal SK, Ward L, Brown L: Ellagic acid attenuates high-carbohydrate, high-fat dietinduced metabolic syndrome in rats. European Journal of Nutrition, 2012; doi: 10.1007/s00394-012-0358-9. 16. Cameron I, Alam MA, Wang J, Brown L: Endurance exercise in a rat model of the metabolic syndrome. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, October 2012. 17. Wong W-Y, Brown L: Tocotrienols as possible treatments for obesity. In: Tocotrienols: Vitamin E beyond tocopherols; 2nd edition; edited by A Trias, Watson RR, Preedy VR, Tan B, Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group, USA, 2012. 18. Poudyal H, Panchal SK, Ward LC, Brown L: Effects of ALA, EPA and DHA in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.07.014. Web Address/ Contact:
[email protected]
Dr Linda Galligan
[email protected]
Area of Interest: Embedding numeracy in nursing; Internationalisation of curriculum; Language and mathematics; Cross-cultural differences in mathematics education; Staff development for transnational partners; Adult/academic numeracy. Research Topic Title: Tablet Technology and mathematics teaching and learning Area of interest: Tablet technology, Teaching and Learning, Mathematics Education
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Page 20 of 48 Project Description/Direction(s)/Information How can tablet technology assist in the teaching and learning of mathematics? Interest is particularly around issues of engagement and interactivity in both the face-to-face and distance or online mode. Research to date has focussed on engaging first year undergraduate students studying in non-mathematics programs.
Dr Linda Galligan
[email protected]
Area of Interest: Embedding numeracy in nursing; Internationalisation of curriculum; Language and mathematics; Cross-cultural differences in mathematics education; Staff development for transnational partners; Adult/academic numeracy. Research Topic Title: Language and Mathematics Area of Interest: Mathematics Education, Language and Linguistics, Second Language learning Project Description/Direction(s)/Information Issues around Language and mathematics include:
the understanding of mathematics?
and mathematics understanding for students learning mathematics in another language? Research to date has concentrated on Chinese and English mathematics word problems and Chinese bilingual student studying mathematics in English. For more information see e-prints: http://eprints.usq.edu.au/view/people/Galligan=3 ALinda=3A=3A.html or https://eportfolio.usq.edu.au/view/view.php?id=4 340 Dr Jillian Brammer
[email protected]
Area of Interest: Clinical Education; Pain management in cognitively impaired elderly people; nursing/health professional development; Qualitative research methodology, specific expertise – Phenomenography
Dr Andrea LamonMills
[email protected]
Title: Examining Real-Life Psychological Consultations: A Discursive Approach
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Page 21 of 48 Area of Interest: Discursive Psychology, Psychological Consultations, Health Communication, Conversation Analysis Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The aim of most psychological therapies is to assist the client in understanding how their psychological and/or behavioural experiences impact upon their lives and then to use this understanding as a way to change and/or improve client functioning. The primary way in which this aim is achieved is through talk. Thus it is through client-psychologist interactions that this aim is realized. Evidencebased research typically focuses on the efficacy of particular therapy techniques. Research has identified that particular therapy techniques account for approximately 15% of treatment variance, in comparison therapeutic relationship variables account for approximately 30% of this treatment variance. The therapeutic relationship is established and maintained through client and psychologist interactions. Thus this interaction appears to be more critical to successful treatment outcomes than the particular therapeutic approach adopted by the psychologist. The APA the Evidence Base Practice Task Force argues that “psychotherapy is a collaborative enterprise, in which patients and clinicians negotiate ways of working together that are mutually agreeable and likely to lead to positive outcomes” (p.17). However we know little about how this collaborative enterprise and the therapeutic relationship is achieved in real-life consultations. Indeed the Task Forces acknowledges the limited research on the therapeutic relationship and recommends that clinical observation research using qualitative approaches is needed to further advance the evidence-based practice area. This project area explores the therapeutic relationship by examining how psychologists and clients interact in real-life consultations.
Dr Andrea LamonMills
[email protected]
Title: Athlete Burnout in Adolescent Athletes Area of Interest: Sport Psychology, Adolescents, Elite and Pre-elite Athletes Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project area focuses on athlete burnout in pre-
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Page 22 of 48 elite and elite adolescent athletes. Adolescents who regularly participate in sport typically display high levels of self-esteem, low levels of drug usage, depression and anxiety, and few behavioral problems. Therefore identifying factors that detract from these benefits is critical. One factor may be athlete burnout as burnt-out athletes typically demonstrate increased levels of depression, anxiety, anger, and drug use thus making them more likely to seek clinical assistance for these issues. Athlete burnout is the feeling of extreme physical and mental exhaustion that results from insufficient recovery time or the inability to adapt to training loads. Athletes who burn out feel physically and emotionally exhausted, they no longer care about sport or their performance, and have an overly negative view of themselves. The increasing professionalization of youth sport and the physical and psychological changes, increases in school work, social activities, and part-time work that often accompany adolescence may place adolescent athletes at risk of burnout. Web Address/ Contact: Phone – (07) 4631 1703
Dr Jan Du Preez
[email protected]
Research Interests: Narrative approaches to counselling and research; cross-cultural psychology; positive psychology. Research Topic Title: Older persons in our society Area of Interest: General psychology; developmental psychology; social psychology; positive psychology Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project area has a focus on the elderly in society, a cohort that is said to constitute an increasingly significant proportion of the total population in the future. Changing social practices (e.g., families and child-rearing, employment patterns, migration, technology) and competition for resources (e.g., employment, health and welfare services, finances, and accommodation) may impact more significantly on older persons than other sectors of the population. It is important to investigate these issues both to understand the perspective of the older person
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Page 23 of 48 and to develop solutions that meet individual and societal needs (e.g., appropriate services, inclusive social practices). There are many psychological variables of possible interest, including depression, social isolation, alienation, resilience and optimism.
Professor Lorelle Burton
[email protected]
Title: Identifying the key factors that influence academic success: An individual differences approach. Area of Interest: Psychology; Higher Education; Learning and Teaching; Individual Differences Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: (a) Key variables: personality (big five), learning approaches (deep, shallow, strategic), age (matureage versus school leaver), career decidedness/efficacy, study mode (on campus, distance, online), Faculty (five USQ Faculties) and academic performance (e.g., GPA, 2006 - 2008). (b) The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between personality, learning approaches, career decidedness/efficacy and academic performance. (c) Particular theories that the student would expected to draw upon or theories that have been used to develop the proposed project: Learning theories, individual differences (personality), career literature, predictors of academic success. (d) This research will extend work previously covered on this topic (i.e., predictors of academic success, personality, and learning approaches) by the Supervisor, by tracking a cohort over time.
Associate Professor Brad Carter
[email protected]
Title: The Faint Young Sun Problem Areas of Interest : Astrophysics; Space Science; Remote Sensing; Instrumentation; Physics; Renewable Energy; Solar Energy; Solar UV Measurements. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The “faint young Sun” problem refers to a longstanding contradiction between evidence for above freezing conditions early in the earth's climate history, and an astrophysical expectation that the sun's luminosity was much lower compared to today (down by 25% at 1 Gyr) during the early history of the Sun and Earth. The project will examine published evidence for and proposed
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Page 24 of 48 solutions to the faint young Sun problem, before focusing on a study of early solar history using young stars as proxies. The project will test the hypothesis that the standard model of early solar evolution is supported by observations of young Sun-like stars.
Professor Grant Daggard
[email protected]
Title: Improving frost tolerance in cereals Areas of Interest : Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Frost damage is a potential major problem in cereals, particularly in spring wheat. Conventional breeding for improved frost tolerance over many years has generally not proved successful, suggesting little natural variation in the existing germplasm. We have recently developed genetically modified wheat which contains a synthetic anti-freeze protein (AFP) gene and are currently evaluating this material for both its the invitro and invivo (whole plant) performance. This involves studying gene expression, gene stability and overall performance of the construct in whole plants and the initial results have been promising. However, given the issues surround the deployment of genetically modified (GM) crops a critical question has arisen as to whether natural proteins exist in cereals have the potential to perform a similar function to the synthetic APF we have developed. The proposed study would involve bio-informatics based investigation of a wide range of plant genes with a view to identifying potential candidates that may possess “AFP like activity” which could subsequently form the basis for a search for natural gene variation that could be incorporated in traditional breeding programs to improve cereal frost tolerance. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Dr John Dearnaley
[email protected]
Research Interests: Ecology; taxonomy and economic uses of Australian mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi. Title: The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve drought tolerance of Australian crops
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Page 25 of 48 Areas of Interest : Molecular Ecology and economic uses of Australian fungi Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Details can be provided on request. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters (prepared to take on one of each)
Professor Don Gorman
[email protected]
Research Interests: Indigenous health; Mental health; Rural health.
Ursula Kennedy
[email protected]
Title: Evaluation of grapevine rootstocks best suited to the Queensland viticultural environments Areas of Interest : Plant Science and Agriculture (Viticulture and Wine Production) Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Queensland is a relatively new player in the Australian wine industry and as such research into best viticultural practice for the state is limited. This combined with the threat of future climate change and the risk of soil borne pests becoming resident in Queensland vineyards means that research is necessary to determine which grapevine rootstocks are best suited to the growing conditions and soil types in wine growing regions of Queensland. This project is intended to be out in collaboration with the Queensland Vine Improvement Association, the timeline of set up projected to be in 2010. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): Masters
Ursula Kennedy
[email protected]
Title: Characterising the ultra violet light environment of grapevine canopies Areas of Interest : Plant Science and Agriculture (Viticulture and Wine Production) Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Ultra violet light exposure has implications for grape chemical composition and therefore fruit and wine colour and aromatic compounds. This project uses new simple technologies for measuring ultra violet light exposure to assess the ultra violet light penetration into a number of different common grapevine canopies, the findings being important for manipulating the vine to
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Page 26 of 48 maximise fruit and wine quality. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): Masters
Prof Shahjahan Khan
[email protected]
Research Interests: Statistical inference; decision theory; predictive inference; preliminary test and shrinkage estimation; student- t distribution; multivariate statistics; testing after pretest; metaanalysis; biostatistics; econometrics Research Topic Title: Improved Estimation Area of Interest: Improved estimation, testing after pretest, predictive inference, multivariate Student-t and elliptical models, medical statistics and meta-analysis. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Traditionally the unknown population mean is estimated by the sample mean. Improved estimators, in the sense of admissibility, accuracy and efficiency are recent phenomenon in statistical inference. Improved estimators such as the preliminary test, shrinkage and positive-rule shrinkage estimators, perform better than the traditional estimators based on normal models. When a number of alternative estimators are available to estimate an unknown parameter (scalar or vector) a natural question is, which one should be used and why? The choice obviously depends on the objective of the study and some appropriate criteria to judge the relative performance of the estimators. Generally, in the classical theory of statistics several criteria are employed to judge the characteristics of good estimators. Most common/popular of these criteria include unbiasedness, mean squared error (mse), and quadratic risk. Although the level of emphasis on these criteria varies from application to application, it is desirable that a good estimator will meet the most important/appropriate criterion determined by the researcher, and over perform the rest.
Prof Shahjahan Khan
[email protected]
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
Research Interests: Statistical inference; decision theory; predictive inference; preliminary test and shrinkage estimation; student- t distribution; multivariate statistics; testing after pretest; metaanalysis; biostatistics; econometrics
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Page 27 of 48 Research Topic Title: Testing after pretest Area of Interest: Improved estimation, testing after pretest, predictive inference, multivariate Student-t and elliptical models, medical statistics and meta-analysis. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The idea of using non-sample prior information in the form of pre-testing for improving properties of estimators is applied in the testing regime to achieve better power of the ultimate test in this paper. For example, to test the intercept of a simple regression model, prior information from previous investigations or expert knowledge on the suspected value of the slope is potentially beneficial. Any uncertainty on the value of the slope is removed by performing a pre-test before testing the significance of the intercept. The impact of the pre-test on the performance (power and size) of the ultimate test is studied. Defining unrestricted test (UT), restricted test (RT) and pretest test (PTT) corresponding to the unrestricted (UE), restricted (RE), and preliminary test estimators (PTE) in the estimation case, the critical region and power functions are derived. Analytical and graphical comparisons of the three tests are obtained by studying the power functions with respect to size and power of the tests. It is shown that PTT achieves a reasonable dominance over the others asymptotically. The problem can be addressed for both parametric and non-parametric set ups. Robust procedure based on M-estimator can also be used to formulate a test and deriving its power function. In comparison to the other non-pre-test based test, the PTT based on pre-test performs better and its power function behaves similar to the quadratic risk function of the preliminary test estimator (PTE). Guidelines in choosing appropriate value of nominal sizes of pre-test for appropriate value of size of the PTT subject to the values of the slope can also be investigated.
Prof Shahjahan Khan
[email protected]
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
Research Interests: Statistical inference; decision theory; predictive inference; preliminary test and shrinkage estimation; studnet t distribution; multivariate statistics; testing after pretest; metaanalysis; biostatistics; econometrics
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Page 28 of 48 Research Topic Title: The Multivariate Student-t and Elliptical Distributions Area of Interest: Improved estimation, testing after pretest, predictive inference, multivariate Student-t and elliptical models, medical statistics and meta-analysis. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The customary use of the normal model is under serious question when the population distribution is symmetric but have heavier tails that the normal distribution. Also, the normal model fails to incorporate dependent but uncorrelated responses. In such cases the multivariate Student-t distribution provides an appropriate model for the population. Such a model can be viewed as a mixture of normal and inverted gamma distributions. Using this result we obtained the maximum likelihood estimators of the mean and scale parameters of multivariate Student-t distribution. The model has been used to find appropriate test statistic to test the mean vector. The non-null distribution of the test statistic has been derived. The distribution of the sum of squares and product matrix for the multivariate Student-t model as well as the predictive distribution of future model have been proposed. Similar results for the matrix T and elliptically contoured model are also obtained.
Prof Shahjahan Khan
[email protected]
Research Interests: Statistical inference; decision theory; predictive inference; preliminary test and shrinkage estimation; studnet t distribution; multivariate statistics; testing after pretest; metaanalysis; biostatistics; econometrics Research Topic Title: Predictive Inference Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Prediction distribution is the basis for many predictive inferences. Unlike the common practice of estimating parameters of a model or performing tests of hypotheses regarding the parameters involved, often the aim of a researcher/practitioner is to predict the value of a (or a set of) future response(s) from a given model.
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Page 29 of 48 The technique of prediction is used in many real world situations as it has a common sense appeal and simple interpretation. The prediction distribution is the probability distribution of one or more future (unobserved) responses, conditional on a set of observed responses from the same model. The method is useful in both univariate and multivariate problems. Predictive inference is possible for models with independent as well as dependent and correlated responses. Bayesian and other approaches are adopted for the purpose of predictive inference. Available methods can handle the conventional normal model and non-normal robust models. Application of predictive inference includes problems in areas such as tolerance regions, model selection, process control, optimisation, perturbation and many others.
Prof Shahjahan Khan
[email protected]
Research Interests: Statistical inference; decision theory; predictive inference; preliminary test and shrinkage estimation; studnet t distribution; multivariate statistics; testing after pretest; metaanalysis; biostatistics; econometrics Research Topic Title: Medial statistic and Meta-analysis Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This is a statistical method to combine data from several independent studies conducted using randomised control trails for making inferences on outcome variables. Analyses are done for relative risks and odd ratios for binary data, and weighted mean difference, using precision as weight, for continuous variables. Both classical and Bayesian approached can be used. Forest plots and funnel plots are used to study the outcome variables. Issues such as study bias and heterogeneity of outcome measures are required to be handled properly. Although initially used in the clinical studies involving randomised control trials, the methods are now being used in many areas of education, criminology, psychology, pharmacy and business. The combination of data from independent studies is likely to provide better quality of inference due to increased sample size. The results of studies involving binary outcomes are generalised for ordinal categorical data. Methods for ordinal categorical data are also investigated. Analyses of data under various
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Page 30 of 48 popular statistical models such as the fixed effect, random effect and quality effect models are explored. There is a good opportunity to mix theoretical developments with real life applications using various medical and epidemiological data. http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/khans/
Professor Michael Kotiw
[email protected]
Title: Construction and evaluation of a virus like particle expressing Streptococcus pneumoniae epitopes for human vaccine purposes Areas of Interest : Infectious diseases, inflammation, sepsis, recombinant DNA technology, vaccinology Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: We have previously expressed bacterial epitopes on HBsAg virus like particles (VLPS) and tested them in animal challenge models. We have been able to demonstrate that this novel mode of vaccine delivery does confer a degree of protection against wild type challenge with the bacterial pathogen. This project will use recombinant DNA technology to construct an HBsAg VLP which expresses putative protective epitopes of the human respiratory pathogen S. pneumonia and test the efficacy of the vaccine in protecting against wild type challenge in a mouse model. The candidate will use recombinant DNA technology, as well as conventional examinations and assays such as histopathology, immunochemistry and serology. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD
Professor Michael Kotiw
[email protected]
Title: The use of novel antagonists in a mouse lung model of inflammation Areas of Interest : Infectious diseases, inflammation, sepsis, recombinant DNA technology, vaccinology Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: We have experience in the molecular characterisation and quantification of antagonists against pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα. We have explored the efficacy of these antagonists in a rat pouch model of inflammation and are currently using a mouse model of lung inflammation to determine the effect of the antagonists on inflammatory and pathological
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Page 31 of 48 markers in a mouse model of lung inflammation. In this project the candidate will undertake a study in examining the efficacy of inflammatory antagonists in the mouse model. Procedures to be used may include molecular techniques, microsurgery, histopathology (including immunochemistry) and conventional serological techniques. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD
Associate Professor Yan Li
[email protected]
Title: Development of Depth of Anaesthesia Monitoring Techniques Areas of Interest : Artificial Intelligence, Signal and Image Processing, EEG Research and Network Communications Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The aims of this project are to extract anaesthetic related data from frontal electroencephalograph (EEG) signals, to establish higher level-ofconsciousness model from induced physiological changes, to develop model based novel algorithms to assess the DoA precisely and reliably, and in long term to improve the current clinical practices in depth of anaesthesia assessment.
Associate Professor Yan Li
[email protected]
Title: Analysing EEG Signals using Wavelet based Independent Component Analysis Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project aims to develop a software tool to automatic detect and predict problematic signals and patterns from specific brain disorder diseases (such as epilepsy and dementia etc) from EEG recordings and help neurologists to diagnose the diseases using wavelet based independent component analysis (ICA). The approach merges the advantages of wavelet decomposition and ICA. Wavelet decomposition projects EEG signals into a high-dimensional orthogonal basis where the ICA performance is significantly improved. This project will improve the quality of life of brain disorder patients through accurate diagnoses and early intervention.
Associate Professor Yan Li
[email protected]
Title: The Auto-Reconstruction of Realistic Head Modelling of EEG Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The objective of this project is to reconstruct a
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Page 32 of 48 geometry model (3D) of the human head from Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI). This work is a part of a large research program that aims to develop better diagnostic tools for predicting the electroencephalograph (EEG) signal at any point on the scalp as a function of the source locations and blood flow within the cortex. It is envisaged that this will help achieve a better understanding of the structure and functions of the brain.
Associate Professor Yan Li
[email protected]
Title: Adaptive Speech Separation Using Hybrid Techniques Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Hearing aids, video conferencing etc should disentangle one sound from other sounds as human beings do. However, current techniques simply amplify the desired signal and the competing noise without discrimination. The problem involves multiple signals and multiple sensors, and each sensor receives a mixture of the source signals. Blind signal separation is a technique to retrieve these source signals from observed mixed data when the transmission channels and original sources are unknown. This project is to develop an adaptive algorithm using hybrid techniques for applications in hearing aids, video conferencing, noise cancellation, and speech enhancement.
Associate Professor Yan Li
[email protected]
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
Title: An Intelligent Technique for Intrusion Detection in Computer Networks Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Computer security is now becoming a major concern of modern society as a large fraction of information flows through computer networks. Standard protection mechanisms, such as user authentication, service control, and traffic filtering cannot guarantee from the risk of computer attacks. The main reason of the weakness of computer networks lies in the large variability of network traffic, and in the so-called "bugs" always contained in systems and application softwares, and complex unforeseen interactions between software components and/or network protocols. The objective of computer attacks is to obtain unauthorized access to the information stored in computer systems and/or to cause a temporary unavailability of its services. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) are a fine grain filter placed inside
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Page 33 of 48 the protected networks that look for known or potential threats in network traffic and/or in audit data recorded by hosts. Neural networks have been used for the improvement of network intrusion detection systems based on searching for attack-specific keywords in network traffic. Neural networks provide a solution to the problems of modelling the users’ behaviours in anomaly detection because they do not require any explicit user models. In addition they can automatically learn attack signatures from attack samples. In this project, we will develop a neural approach for intrusion detection in computer networks. http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/liyan/
Dr Guang Liu
[email protected]
Research Interests: Bioinformatics: Protein kinase genes and tumorigenesis; Genetic disorder in immune system; Cross-species comparison for the functional elements in the mammalian introns; Software engineering. Research Topic Title: Visual perceptual rivalry: influencing factors, mechanisms and clinical applications. Area of Interest: Human brain function: attention, perception and psychology Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: When dissimilar images such as horizontal and vertical gratings are presented simultaneously, one to each eye, the result is alternations between each unitary image. This phenomenon is termed as binocular rivalry (BR). The BR is a feasible and noninvasive way of studying neuronal cause and resolution of perceptual ambiguities, and is thought to reflect the multiple processes occurring at different levels of the visual hierarchy. It has been reported that the major psychoses are associated with striking alterations of the timing of these rivalry rate. This project aims to learn more about the audiovisual perception interaction, in order to understand the mechanisms and influencing factors underlying the inter-hemispheric rhythms and their relationship with certain psychiatric disorders. In the long term, this research will provide experimental evidence for selection of potential drugs, which might be used for
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Page 34 of 48 psychiatric subjects, and help inform clinical investigations (currently underway) into rivalry rate differences as a potential diagnostic tool in psychiatry.
Professor Tony Machin
[email protected]
Title: Factors that contribute to employee engagement in professional development, emotional self-regulation, and organizational citizenship behaviours Area of Interest: Organisational psychology with a focus on maximising employee engagement through positive psychological approaches Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This area of research focuses on the factors that encourage employees to actively participate in their own professional development, to manage their psychological well-being and to go above and beyond their prescribed role requirements. The theoretical base for much of this research is a positive psychological approach known as selldetermination theory. The project would involve working in an organization and collecting staff survey data. There is the potential to compare the contributing factors between cultures or organisations if a sufficient sample is obtained from multiple organisations. Core web site http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/psychology/core/ default.htm Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD
Professor Alfio Parisi
[email protected]
Research Interests: Solar UV; Dosimetry; Specroradiometry Research Topic Title: Development of techniques to determine the damaging and beneficial solar UV exposures in different environments Areas of Interest : Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Physics, Spectroradiometery, Dosimetry Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The incidence rates of skin cancer and sun-related eye diseases can be reduced by the minimization
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Page 35 of 48 of UV exposures. Reduction in UV exposures during outdoor activities can substantially reduce the risk of developing skin cancers and sun related eye disorders. On the beneficial side, sub-erythemal exposure to UVB is necessary to initiate the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-vitamin D3 that plays an important role in calcium metabolism and is essential for good bone development, prevention of rickets in children and osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and fractures in the elderly. Consequently, it is essential to optimise solar UV exposures. This project will develop a technique to measure both the damaging and beneficial solar UV exposures on anatomical sites of the human body during normal daily activities in different environments. http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/studyareas/astro nomy/solar/research/default.htm http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/studyareas/astro nomy/solar/research/default.htm
Nola Passmore
[email protected]
Area of Interest: 1. Adoption (especially search, reunion, and issues facing adult adoptees, though other topics would be considered). 2. Interpersonal relationship issues (especially friendship, loneliness, attachment, parental bonding, marital satisfaction, online relationships and social networking). 3. Positive psychology (especially hope, forgiveness, and gratitude). 4. Integration of psychology and Christian issues. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Associate Professor Joachin Ribbe
[email protected]
Research Interests: Climate processes and modelling; climate variability; ocean modelling; ocean’s roll within the climate system; climate impact on coastal systems. Research Topic Title: Impact of Climate Processes on Future Rainfall and Agricultural Production Systems in Southeast Asia and Australia
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Page 36 of 48 Areas of Interest: Global environmental changes; Ocean and climate dynamics; Australian rainfall variability; physical modeling of ocean and climate processes; interannual and decadal variability; the circulation and variability of the South Pacific Ocean and water mass formation processes in the Southern Ocean; physical oceanography, ocean modelling, and climate processes. The ocean's role in climate and climate change. Mid-latitude convection and the formation mechanisms of subAntarctic Mode and Antarctic intermediate water; modelling pollution dispersion in the upper and deep oceans; radiocarbon dating of oceanic ventilation; sediment transport processes and internal waves. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project explores the impact of climate drivers such as the El Nino Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, Southern Annular Mode, Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation on future rainfall. The project involves the dynamic downscaling of data from coarse resolution climate models. It contributes to the assessment of the next generation of climate models. It investigates the role of local processes and orographic features in the context of large scale climatic change. Climatic changes and variability are also impacting on the large scale monsoon circulations of southeast Asia and Australia and future changes are likely to lead to impacts on agricultural productivity. The project is suitable for students with a solid background in the physical sciences (physics, maths), climatology, meteorology, and computing. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters References: Shi, G., Ribbe, J., Cai, W., Cowan, T. 2008. Interpretation of Australian summer and winter rainfall projections. Geophysical Research Letters. 35, L02702, doi:10.1029/2007GL032436. Shi, G., Cai, W., Cowan, T., Ribbe, J., Rotstayn, L., Dix, M. 2008. Variability and trend of the northwest Western Australia Rainfall: observations and coupled climate modelling. Journal of Climate. 21, 2938-2959. Cai, W., Cown, T., Dix, M., Rotstayn, L., Ribbe, J., Shi, G., Wijffels, S. 2007. Anthropogenic aerosol
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Page 37 of 48 forcing and the structure of temperature trends in the southern Indian Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters. 34, L14611, doi:10.1029/2007GL030380. Shi, G., Ribbe, J., Cai, W., and Cowan, T. 2007. Multidecadal variability in the transmission of ENSO signals to the Indian Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters. 34, L09706. doi: 10.1029/2007GL029528. Donald, A., Meinke, H., Power, B., Wheeler, M. C., Maia, A. De H. N., Stone, R. C., Ribbe, J., White, N. 2006. Near-global impact of the Madden-Julian Oscillation on rainfall. Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L09704, doi:10.1029/2005/GL025155. Cai, W., Shi, G., Cowan, T., Bi. D., Ribbe, J. 2005. The response of the southern annual mode, the East Australian Current, and the southern midlatitude ocean circulation
Associate Professor Joachin Ribbe
[email protected]
Title: Impact of Climate Processes On Coastal Ocean Circulation in Southeast Asia and Australia. Areas of Interest: Global environmental changes; Ocean and climate dynamics; Australian rainfall variability; physical modeling of ocean and climate processes; interannual and decadal variability; the circulation and variability of the South Pacific Ocean and water mass formation processes in the Southern Ocean; physical oceanography, ocean modelling, and climate processes. The ocean's role in climate and climate change. Mid-latitude convection and the formation mechanisms of subAntarctic Mode and Antarctic intermediate water; modelling pollution dispersion in the upper and deep oceans; radiocarbon dating of oceanic ventilation; sediment transport processes and internal waves. Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project explores the impact of climatic changes on coastal ocean circulation. Some recent work indicates that drying trends lead to increased coastal ocean salinity impacting on marine environmental conditions and productivity of local fisheries. A combination of field measurements using conductivity depth temperature probes and acoustic Doppler current profiles as well as coastal ocean circulation models and climatological data bases (e.g. from remote sensing) is used to investigate coastal ocean processes in a variable and changing climate. This project is suitable for students with an
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Page 38 of 48 engineering and/or physical sciences background with interest in computational modelling and application to climate/ocean processes. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters References: Ribbe, J., 2009. Observing Climate Trends and Hypersalinity in an Australian Coastal Bay. In: Climate Alert: Climate Change Monitoring and Strategy (Ed. You & Henderson-Sellers). Sydney University Press. Accepted June 15. Gräwe, U., Wolff, J.-O., Ribbe, J., 2009: Mixing, Gradients and Hypersalinity in Hervey Bay, Australia. Ocean Dynamics. 10.1007/s10236-0090195-4. Ribbe, J. 2006. A study into the export of saline water from Hervey Bay, Australia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 66, 550-558. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2005.10.012. Ribbe, J., Wolff, J.-O., Staneva, J., Gräwe, U. (2008). Assessing Water Renewal Time Scales for Marine Environments from Three Dimensional Modelling: A Case Study For Hervey Bay, Australia. Environmental Modelling and Software. 23(10), 1217-1228, 10.1016/j.envsoft.2008.02.007.
Dr Graeme Senior
[email protected]
Title: Issues in Cross-Cultural Assessment: Examining the Validity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) in Different Countries Area of Interest: Psychological Assessment; Neuropsychology; Forensic Psychology; Psychometrics Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The MMPI-2 is the most widely used personality inventory in the world today and has been translated into more than 20 different languages. The emphasis in the development of these versions of the test has focused on the accuracy of item translation with relatively little work done on verifying the applicability of the item content to the measurement of psychopathology. In our earlier research in Singapore we found that one in three normal Singaporeans would generate elevated scales suggestive of psychopathology when scored using US norms. Similarly, evaluating
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Page 39 of 48 the MMPI-2 protocols of psychiatric patients in Singapore revealed base rates of elevations which were approximately 30% higher than a comparative US sample. These findings suggest that while the translations may be accurate, that cultural differences impact upon the base rates of inferred psychopathology when the US normative data is used to score protocols. This project seeks to examine the base rates of the MMPI-2 and the newly developed MMPI-2-RF in both normal and clinical cases with the ultimate goal of developing local and culturally-appropriate normative data for scoring and interpreting these tests. This project can be run in parallel in different countries (i.e. can accommodate multiple PhD students) and is best suited for countries where the MMPI-2 is already being employed as a measure of psychopathology. Core web site at: http://www.usq.edu.au/users/senior/Theses.html
Dr Graeme Senior
[email protected]
Title: Developing More Robust Statistical Procedures for Analysing Psychological Test Data Area of Interest: Psychological Assessment; Neuropsychology; Forensic Psychology; Psychometrics Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Clinicians are constantly challenged with the difficult task of administering psychological tests to clients in an effort to better understand their cognitive and psychosocial strengths and weaknesses. In making clinical inferences, the practitioner must be ever mindful of the influences that the psychometric properties and testoperating characteristics of the tests have upon their decisions. All psychologists are taught about the importance of reliability and validity in interpreting psychological tests and are admonished to incorporate measurement error in their interpretations. Few, however, have the explicit training or knowledge to actually achieve this goal. The current project is part of an ongoing series of studies designed to develop a systematic approach to directly incorporating measurement error into the statistical analysis and interpretation of psychological test data. A number of approaches are used in combination including classical test theory in incorporating reliability and validity into the decision-making process as well as discriminant
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Page 40 of 48 function analysis and cluster analysis to explore hypotheses customarily beyond the reach of most clinicians. The challenge in this research is not to create new statistical procedures but rather to adapt existing multivariate methods in integrated software to provide the power of these statistical procedures for clinical use in a seamless fashion. This project is statistically intensive. Familiarity with computer programming is not required but would be beneficial. Core web site at: http://www.usq.edu.au/users/senior/Theses.html
Associate Professor Dmitry Strunin
[email protected]
Title: Zonal dispersion of contaminants in turbulent boundary layer: theory and applications Areas of Interest : Mathematical or Environmental Modelling Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The project is focused on the dispersion of contaminants in turbulent boundary layer using centre manifold technique. The method describes long-term asymptotical dynamics of the contaminant concentration as it becomes spread across the entire layer and is weakly distorted by the velocity shear. The project aims to deduce a partial differential equation for the depth-average concentration for a two-zone power-like velocity profile according to a recent theory of turbulent boundary layer. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Associate Professor Dmitry Strunin
[email protected]
Title: Phase dynamics in nonlinearly excited active systems Areas of Interest : Physical Modelling Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Phase equation describing oscillators weakly coupled by diffusion successfully models various physical and biological systems. The equation generally contains infinite number of terms but allows a variety of dynamic balances between only a few of them. Of particular interest for this project is the balance based on nonlinear excitation as opposed to linear excitation, which has been well studied before. The project is focused on possible truncations of the phase equation and the resulting regular and irregular dynamics.
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Page 41 of 48 Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Associate Professor Dmitry Strunin
[email protected]
Title: Dispersion of contaminants in turbulent boundary layer: theory and applications Areas of Interest : Mathematical or Environmental Modelling Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The project is focused on the dispersion of contaminants in turbulent boundary layer using centre manifold technique. The method describes long-term asymptotical dynamics of the contaminant concentration as it becomes spread across the entire layer and is weakly distorted by the velocity shear. The project aims to deduce a partial differential equation for the depth-average concentration for different velocity profiles. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Associate Professor Dmitry Strunin
[email protected]
Title: Regular and chaotic dynamics in nonlinearly excited active systems Areas of Interest : Physical Modelling Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Generalized nonlinear phase equation describes oscillators weakly coupled by diffusion. Such system of oscillators successfully models various bio-physical systems. The equation generally contains infinite number of terms and allows a variety of dynamic balances between them. The project is focused on a truncated version of the equation and the resulting dynamics produced by the nonlinear excitation mechanism. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Associate Professor Dmitry Strunin
[email protected]
Title: Zonal dispersion of contaminants in turbulent boundary layer: theory and applications Areas of Interest : Mathematical or Environmental Modelling
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 42 of 48 Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The project is focused on the dispersion of contaminants in turbulent boundary layer using centre manifold technique. The method describes long-term asymptotical dynamics of the contaminant concentration as it becomes spread across the entire layer and is weakly distorted by the velocity shear. The project aims to deduce a partial differential equation for the depth-average concentration for a two-zone power-like velocity profile according to a recent theory of turbulent boundary layer. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Professor Mark Sutherland, Dr Noel Knight
[email protected],
Title: Biology of root diseases in wheat and barley Areas of Interest : Crop Science Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Our research group is actively engaged in research into host-pathogen interactions in cereal root diseases, particularly crown rot and common root rot. Potential PhD projects exist based on molecular and microscopic analyses of infected tissues which would involve both laboratory and field-based activities. In addition we have developed molecular markers for genes conferring partial resistance to this disease and are keen to engage PhD students to assist us to identify the function of these genes using both fine mapping and bioinformatics approaches. Core web site at: http://www.usq.edu.au/csbi/research programs/cropbiotech
Professor Mark Sutherland, Dr Anke Martin
[email protected],
Title: Biology of root diseases in wheat and barley
[email protected]
Areas of Interest : Crop Science Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Our research group is actively engaged in research into host-pathogen interactions in cereal root diseases, particularly crown rot and common root rot. Potential PhD projects exist based on molecular and microscopic analyses of infected tissues which would involve both laboratory and field-based activities. In addition we have
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Page 43 of 48 developed molecular markers for genes conferring partial resistance to this disease and are keen to engage PhD students to assist us to identify the function of these genes using both fine mapping and bioinformatics approaches. Core web site at: http://www.usq.edu.au/csbi/researchdivisions/cro pimprovement/default.htm Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Dr Anke Martin
[email protected]
Research Interests: Identifying DNA markers for disease resistance; Map curation; QTL mapping; Plant pathology; Genetic diversity. Research Topic Title: Occurrence of net blotch hybrids in barley Areas of Interest : Crop Science Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: We are investigating crosses of net form of net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. teres) and spot form of net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata) in barley. PhD students are being sought to conduct population studies on Pyrenophora teres isolates using molecular techniques to assess the occurrence of these hybrids in a natural environment. Core web site at: http://www.usq.edu.au/csbi/researchdivisions/cro pimprovement/default.htm Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD or Masters
Professor Mark Sutherland, Dr Anke Martin
[email protected],
Title: Foliar diseases of barley
[email protected]
Areas of Interest : Crop Science Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The Crop Improvement program within the Centre for Systems Biology is currently researching barley diseases which are high priorities in the Northern Region of the Australian grain belt, including spot
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 44 of 48 blotch and common root rot (caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana) and net and spot form of net blotch (caused by Pyrenophora teres). Our goal is to identify reliable DNA-based markers for chromosomal regions which contribute to disease resistance, which can be used to screen large numbers of breeding lines in the field. We are also conducting genetic diversity analyses of these pathogens using isolates collected across Australia and developing improved pathogenicity and resistance screening methodologies. Core web site at: http://www.usq.edu.au/csbi/research programs/cropbiotech
Professor Hua Wang
[email protected]
Title: Limiting disclosure of private information in relational database systems Areas of Interest : Data management; Access Control; Security, Data Mining, Data Engineering Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Enterprises are deeply concerned about customers' privacy issues and try to build solid trust to attract customers. This project continues development of new purpose-based frameworks and private information assurance requirements in relational database systems. The frameworks will identify and address issues of protecting private information; and to specify and enforce privacy rules to support identified issues. It aims to develop techniques for purpose-based usage control and detecting possible conflicts between obligations. The approach leads to a great understanding of advocating limited disclosure in usage control systems. The project develops fundamental enabling methodologies for the information and communication industry. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD
Professor Hua Wang
[email protected]
Title: Privacy preserving data sharing in data mining environments Areas of Interest : Data management; Access Control; Security, Data Mining, Data Engineering Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Preserving privacy in data mining among various
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Page 45 of 48 enterprises and organisations is essential for many real world applications in areas like health surveillance, business analysis, fraud detection and terror protection. Efficient and effective techniques are badly needed to protect privacy in data sharing and data mining. The developed cutting-edge techniques in this project will be implemented in freely available open source software tools, empowering Australian organisations to utilise the techniques to develop intelligent systems in data sharing environments. These techniques will ultimately lead to better utilisation of the information available in many enterprises and organisations. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD
Professor Hua Wang
[email protected]
Title: Protect information sharing within distributed collaborative environment Areas of Interest : Data management; Access Control; Security, Data Mining, Data Engineering Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Information sharing on distributed collaboration usually occurs in broad, highly dynamic networkbased environments, and formally accessing the resources in a secure manner poses a difficult and vital challenge. This project develops a systematic methodology for information sharing in distributed collaborative environments. It will ensure sensitive information and information assurance requirements, and incorporate new security constrains and policies raised by emerging technologies. We will create a new rule-based framework to identify and address issues of sharing in collaborative environments; and to specify and enforce security rules to support identified issues while minimizing the risks of information sharing through the framework. Research program(s) in which able to take on additional students (PhD and/or Masters): PhD
Dr Ji Zhang
[email protected]
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
Research Interests: Knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD); Databases; Bioinformatics; Information Privacy and Security
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Page 46 of 48 Research Topic Title: Outlier Detection from Large Databases Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: In this project, we will develop and implement new algorithms for outlier detection, a key research problem in data mining for identifying inconsistent and abnormal observations and instances from large databases. We are also going to develop interactive interfaces to assist outlier detection.
Dr Ji Zhang
[email protected]
Research Interests: Knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD); Databases; Bioinformatics; Information Privacy and Security Research Topic Title: Knowledge Discovery from Social Networks Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: This project aims to investigate knowledge discovery from social networks by utilizing different techniques such as graph mining and dominant set discovery.
Dr Ji Zhang
[email protected]
Research Interests: Knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD); Databases; Bioinformatics; Information Privacy and Security Research Topic Title: Data Mining from Moving Object Databases Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: In this project, we will investigate mining useful patterns from databases of moving objects and trajectory data including the built-up of moving portfolios of people and detection of abnormal moving patterns.
Dr Zhongwei Zhang
[email protected]
Title: Data Safety and Privacy Study on Wireless Sensor Networks Deployed in Medicine and Healthcare Domains. Area of Interest: Computer Networking and Security Research; Performance Analysis and Modelling of Wireless/Mobile Networks; ECommerce System; Application of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Bioinformatics
http://www.usq.edu.au/sciences/research/postgrad
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 47 of 48 Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: The security and energy constraints are regarded as the key challenges for Wireless Sensor Networks to offer economically viable solutions for a variety of applications, protecting the data safety and preserving privacy have been identified as two major hurdles in advocating the wide use of WSNs in medicine and healthcare. To address these challenges, this project aims to develop new efficient protocols and techniques to streamline the large quantity data gathered by sensor nodes. The approach is to utilise data aggregation technology and collaborative data management strategy in combining with wireless network clustering technique. This research differs from the traditional ones as the data aggregation will be executed prior to data storage and communications over the WSNs.
Dr Zhongwei Zhang
[email protected]
Title: Modelling IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Layer Protocols with Retransmission Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: Many industrial standards such as ZigBee adopt the data link and medium access control protocols of the IEEE 802.15.4. IEEE 802.15.4 is a default specification for low-power and low-rate embedded networks which can often be seen in hospitals or health care environment. The behaviour of the slotted CSMA with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) in an IEEE 802.15.4 network is the key to the successful system deployment. This research focus on the performance of the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol, investigating the networking metrics of IEEE 802.15.4 nodes under typical operating conditions, with possible packets retransmissions. The approach of this project is to use MATLAB to simulate the workflow of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol as a Markov Chain Process. The model of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol can be verified by implementing on NS2.
Dr Zhongwei Zhang
[email protected]
Title: Information Fusion Algorithms on TinyOSBased Wireless Sensor Networks Project Description/ Direction(s)/ Information: TinyOS-based wireless sensor networks are one of the primary Mobile Ad Hoc NETworks. The research on the multihop routing protocols and the lifetime of WSN has been dominating ever since
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Topics for Prospective Postgraduate Research Students
Page 48 of 48 the advent of WSNs ; one approach is to incorporate the information fusion mechanism in the router nodes and base station among the underlying WSN. In this project, we first scrutinize a selection of information fusion strategies and elaborate the features of the TinyOS based WSNs. The objectives of the project include implementing the information fusion algorithms into a WSN making up of medium number of Motes, and then the analysis of the overall performance of WSNs in terms of routing and security, lifetime, and Quality of Services.
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