The Centre for Bioinnovation takes an integrative approach to leveraging its multidisciplinary team of researchers, graduate research candidates, adjunct appointees, and partners to tackle challenges in human and animal health, food production and security, and conservation and biodiversity.
Leadership
Director
Professor Scott Cummins
Professor, Molecular Biology | Director, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Deputy Director
Associate Professor Joanne Macdonald
Lead, International and Engagement | Associate Professor, Molecular Engineering | Deputy Director, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Members
Professor Abigail Elizur
Professor in Aquaculture Biotechnology
Professor Alison Shapcott
Professor, Vegetation and Plant Ecology | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Professor Peter Timms
Deputy Director, Centre for Bioinnovation; Professor of Microbiology
Professor Catherine Yule
Professor of Ecology | School of Science, Technology and Engineering | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Associate Professor Romane Cristescu
Senior Research Fellow | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Associate Professor Volker Herzig
Associate Professor, Toxinology | Core Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering (Discipline of Animal Ecology)
Associate Professor Nicole Masters
Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching | Associate Professor in Bioscience | School of Health | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Associate Professor David McMillan
Discipline Lead, Science | Associate Professor in Microbiology | Core Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Associate Professor Erin Price
Associate Professor, Microbiology | School of Science, Technology and Engineering | Core Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Associate Professor Tomer Ventura
Associate Professor, Science | School of Science, Technology and Engineering | Core Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Associate Professor Mohammad Katouli
Associate Professor, Microbial Ecology | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Associate Professor Dominique Potvin
Associate Professor, Animal Ecology | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Derek Sarovich
Senior Research Fellow, Advance Queensland | Centre for Bioinnovation
Associate Professor Tianfang Wang
Associate Professor, Chemical Sciences | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Asmaa Boufridi
Research Fellow | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Christofer Clemente
Associate Professor in Animal Ecophysiology | Group leader, Biomechanics and Biorobotics lab | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Gabriel Conroy
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Ecology | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Melinda Dean
Senior Lecturer, Biomedical Science | HDR Coordinator, Biomedical Science | School of Health
Dr Andrew Eamens
Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences | School of Health
Dr Lochlan Fennell
Senior Lecturer | School of Health | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Shaodong Guo
Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Science, Technology and Engineering | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Martina Jelocnik
Senior Lecturer in Microbiology | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Anna Kuballa
Senior Lecturer, Biomedical Science | Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Accelerated) | School of Health | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Jude Maher
Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics | School of Health | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Nguyen Hong Nguyen
Senior Lecturer, Genetics | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | Deputy Honours Coordinator | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Samuel Phillips
Research Fellow, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Nina Pollak
Research Fellow, Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Vishal Ratanpaul
Lecturer, Food Science and Technology | School of Science, Technology & Engineering
Dr Derek Sarovich
Senior Research Fellow, Advance Queensland | Centre for Bioinnovation
Dr Renfu Shao
Senior Lecturer, Science | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Sankar Subramanian
Senior Lecturer, Genetics | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | Honours Coordinator | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Mitchell Sullivan
Senior Lecturer, Biomedical Science | School of Health
Dr Trong Tran
Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry | School of Science, Technology and Engineering | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
| Graduate Research Candidate | Principal Supervisor | Program Name | Thesis Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wright | Abigail Elizur | Doctor of Philosophy | Molecular investigation of reproductive processes in the sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota. |
| Matthew Mooney | Alison Shapcott | Doctor of Philosophy | Rainforest resilience at the frontiers of fire: Post-fire response of Australia’s subtropical rainforests |
| Nathan Wellington | Anna Kuballa | Doctor of Philosophy | Genetic Biomarkers of Ketamine on PTSD |
| Dianne Seels | Anna Kuballa | Master of Science | Slow Food, not fast food: Children, parents and teachers' perceptions and experiences with the Slow Food Snail Kids Program. |
| Jasmin Annett | Christofer Clemente | Doctor of Philosophy | Combining biomechanics and movement ecology to investigate habitat use and optimisation in free-ranging macropod species using accelerometry and machine learning algorithms. |
| Oakleigh Wilson | Christofer Clemente | Doctor of Philosophy | Standardised Machine Learning Methods for Animal Accelerometer Behaviour Recognition |
| Robin Maag | Christofer Clemente | Doctor of Philosophy | Developing a bioinspired robotic platform to understand the performance of hopping locomotion in kangaroos |
| Elysia Toh | Catherine Yule | Doctor of Philosophy | Conservation biology of peat swamps across the tropics and subtropics |
| Jessica Gibbs | David McMillan | Doctor of Philosophy | Identification and Characterisation of Antimicrobial Molecules in Sydney Rock Oysters |
| Tara Nielsen | David McMillan | Doctor of Philosophy | Molecular characterisation and the effects of sea foam born nocardia on sandy beach macrofaunal communities. |
| Kellie Strickland | Derek Sarovich | Doctor of Philosophy | Mitigating antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Miriana Littlejohn | Derek Sarovich | Doctor of Philosophy | Using meta-omics to better understand chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations |
| Lana Prior | Dominique Potvin | Doctor of Philosophy | Ecology and Behaviour of Eastern Ground Parrots (Pezoporus wallicus) |
| Romney Edwards-Francis | Dominique Potvin | Doctor of Philosophy | Unravelling the ecology of the red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda): movement, taxonomy, and breeding behaviour |
| Alice Skehel | Dominique Potvin | Doctor of Philosophy | Investigating pollution impacts and population health patterns for at-risk endemic avian species in the Galápagos Archipelagos. |
| Rebecca Bennett | Dominique Potvin | Doctor of Philosophy | The relevance of a model species for understanding a threatened relative: the comparative behavioural effects of noise on two Australian estrildid finch species |
| Tiana Davey | Erin Price | Doctor of Philosophy | Unveiling the lung cancer microbiome using high-throughput sequencing |
| Timothy Baird | Erin Price | Doctor of Philosophy | Exploring Microbial 'Meta-Omics' in Respiratory Disease |
| Lisa Randall | Fraser Russell | Doctor of Philosophy | Defining signalling pathways to characterise a novel anti-fibrotic agent. |
| Katie Roberts | Gabriel Conroy | Doctor of Philosophy | Risk, recreation, and respect: the sustainability of summit climbing behaviours in the culturally significant Glass House Mountains National Park |
| Paul Sprecher | Gabriel Conroy | Master of Science | Reproduction biology and ecology of Fontainea venosa |
| Amanda Lamont | Judith Maher | Doctor of Philosophy | Improving Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy among Adolescent Mothers: A Mixed Methods Study in the School Context |
| Tracy Hardy | Judith Maher | Doctor of Philosophy | Exploring the trauma trails of past and ongoing colonisation and First Peoples of Australia’s nutrition-related health outcomes. |
| Tyson Castello | Judith Maher | Doctor of Philosophy | Exploring the Traditional Diets and Foodways of the Kabi Kabi Aboriginal Peoples |
| Liam Skinner | Lochlan Fennell | Doctor of Philosophy | Preventing Colorectal Cancer by Targeting Aging Biology |
| Huong Duong | Martina Jelocnik | Doctor of Philosophy | From faster detection to molecular dissection of the enigmatic koala Chlamydia infections. |
| Courtney Slegers | Melinda Dean | Doctor of Philosophy | Maternal nutrition, breastmilk immune components and the development of infant inflammatory conditions. |
| Jamie Bryant | Melinda Dean | Doctor of Philosophy | Improving Transfusion Safety: Development of Universal MMA Controls and Molecular Determinants of Allonantibody Pathogenicity |
| Thi Mai Huong Tran | Nguyen Nguyen Hong | Doctor of Philosophy | Impact of nutrition on reproductive performance of Macquarie perch (Macquaria australacica) |
| Fiachra O Deasmhunaigh | Nicole Masters | Doctor of Philosophy | Clinical and Radiographic Outcome Score Study (CROSS) in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (RSA) |
| Skye Deans | Nicole Masters | Doctor of Philosophy | Fluoroscopy Guided Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of the Knee – Considerations of Ablation zone morphology, genicular nerve anatomy and the accuracy of probe placement and treatment zone in relation to genicular nerve location. |
| Chioma Ojiako | Peter Timms | Doctor of Philosophy | The Development And Evaluation Of A Koala Chlamydia Vaccine Under Field Conditions |
| Scott Wilson | Romane Cristescu | Master of Science | Understanding the impact of chlamydial threat management in koalas |
| Imogen Dumville | Romane Cristescu | Doctor of Philosophy | The contribution of the host, the environment, and the Chlamydia pathogen on a diseased icon: The koala. |
| Ashmeeta Shalvina | Scott Cummins | Doctor of Philosophy | Elucidating the Genetic Mechanisms for Adaptation of Red Seaweed under Environmental Stress |
| Inaliguyau Lutschini | Scott Cummins | Doctor of Philosophy | Reproductive molecular biology of invasive pest land snails |
| Jean Reichow | Scott Cummins | Doctor of Philosophy | Molecular investigation of the jellyfish chemosensory system |
| MD Abu Zafar | Scott Cummins | Doctor of Philosophy | Molecular analysis of oyster reproduction |
| Phong Phan | Scott Cummins | Doctor of Philosophy | Molecular Investigation of Host-Parasite Interactions |
| Matthew Freeman | Sankar Subashchandran | Doctor of Philosophy | Development of genomic resources for sustainable recreational fishing |
| Kerry Aitken | Tianfang Wang | Doctor of Philosophy | Biodegradation of polyethylene agricultural plastic mulching by termite-gut associated actinomycetes |
| Peter Spencer | Tianfang Wang | Doctor of Philosophy | A potential new construction material synthesized from particulates and binding minerals found in common natural rock. |
| Tehleel Zahra | Tianfang Wang | Doctor of Philosophy | Immunomodulatory Effects of Magnesium Alloy Surface Properties: Mechanistic Insights and Biocompatibility in Degradable Orthopaedic Implants |
| Avani Bhojwani | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Using transcriptomics for cultivated seafood research on crustaceans |
| Gourab Chowdhury | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Molecular investigation into the regulation of ovarian development in the black tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon |
| Grace Smith | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Decoding the genetic landscape of Australian peatlands |
| Lisa Musgrove | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Developing Cellular and Molecular Tools for Cultivated Crustacean Meat Production |
| Nguyen Ai Hang Tran | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Comparative analysis of sexual development pathways in decapod crustaceans of commercial significance |
| Nickolis Black | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Unlocking Innovative Transgenerational Biotechnologies for Enhancement of Aquaculture Productivity in Decapod Crustaceans |
| Oshra Yosef | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Developing aquaculture biotechnology tools for reproduction capacity enhancement in the giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon |
| Subeda Newase | Tomer Ventura | Doctor of Philosophy | Gene Silencing of Cannibalism-Related Genes in Spiny Lobster (Panulirus ornatus): Towards Sustainable and High-Density Aquaculture |
| Taslima Akter | Trong Tran | Doctor of Philosophy | Development of a nutritional approach for the reproduction and larvae robustness of giant tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) as an alternative tactic to eye stalk ablation: an approach to prawn welfare |
| Damon Woods | Trong Tran | Doctor of Philosophy | Antimicrobial activity of Australian bee derived products against human pathogens. |
| Dylan Ebner | Trong Tran | Doctor of Philosophy | Decoding the chemistry of Australian propolis |
| Ngoc Anh Dao Nguyen | Trong Tran | Doctor of Philosophy | Chemical composition, in vitro digestive stability, and bioactivities of Australian bee pollens |
| Andrew Ahabh | Volker Herzig | Doctor of Philosophy | ArachnoServer 4.0: User-centred redesign and functional enhancement of the spider toxin web database for the toxinology community |
| Katie Jee | Volker Herzig | Doctor of Philosophy | Discovery of novel arachnid venom peptides targeting locust pests and examination of their molecular mechanisms. |
- Adjunct Professor Peter Davies, The University of Queensland
- Adjunct Professor Wayne O’Connor, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Port Stephens
- Adjunct Professor Peer Schenk, Research Director, Sustainable Solutions Hub
- Adjunct Professor Jung Tae Sung, Gyeongsang National University
- Adjunct Associate Professor David Midgley, CSIRO
- Adjunct Associate Professor Steven Ogbourne, QBiotics
- Adjunct Associate Professor Nicolas Smoll, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
- Adjunct Fellow Dr Tomer Abramov, Provectus Algae
- Adjunct Fellow Dr Tim Baird, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
- Adjunct Fellow Dr Peter Karmen
- Adjunct Fellow Dr Daniel Powell, The University of Queensland
- Adjunct Fellow Dr Alex Ward, ARTA Bioanalytics