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The theme for the University Research Week this year is Communicate, Collaborate, Celebrate– Research that Matters. The

Research Week program reflects this theme in exemplifying the work being undertaken by our leading researchers in new and

strategic areas of strength.

Contents

Welcome from Vice Chancellor and President . . . .2

Welcome from Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) . . . .3

Program . . . .4

Keynote Presentations . . . .10

Public Seminars . . . .12

Workshop: Supervisor Toolkit (for academics) . . . .14

Workshop: Research Career Development for Early Career Researchers . . . .15

Workshop: Managing your Research for Timely Completion (for research students) . . . .15

Workshop: ARC Grants . . . .16

Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering (FoSHEE) Research Day Presentation Abstracts . . . .17

Faculty of Arts and Business Research Day (FAB) Presentation Abstracts . . . .32

Three Minute Thesis Competition (Higher Degree by Research Students) . . . .41

A Minute to Win It – ‘My Research in 60 seconds’ . . . .42

Research Expo . . . .43

Poster Presentations . . . .46

‘Art in Research’ Expo . . . .49

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank members of the University Research Week Academic Advisory Group for their time and involvement in the organisation of the 2014 University Research Week.

University Research Week Academic Advisory Group (AAG): Associate Professor Christian Jones (Chair AGG), Associate Dean (Research),

Faculty of Arts and Business

Professor Roland De Marco, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Brown, Director, Forest Industries Research Centre Ms Beth Crawter, Information and Research Services Coordinator, Library Professor Abigail Elizur, Director, GeneCology Research Centre Professor Marion Gray, Director, Cluster for Health Improvement Dr Florin Oprescu, Recipient of the VC’s Medal for Early Career Researcher

Dr David McMillan, USC Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

Dr Tristan Pearce, Sustainability Research Centre

Professor Paul Salmon, USC Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Arts and Business Dr Colin Solomon, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies)

Ms Jane Shamrock, HDR representative

Professor Helen Wallace, VC’s Recipient of the VC’s Medal for Research Mrs Kelly Murphy, Acting Manager, Office of Research

Ms Anne Steward, Executive Officer to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Ms Kadi Daniels, Administration Officer, Office of Research

We would also like to acknowledge the excellent contributions from Ms Lynette McLaren, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Ms Kelisha Lyndon and Ms Kirsty Neylan, Faculty of Arts and Business and Marketing and Communications.

Published by University of the Sunshine Coast, July 2014 All information contained in this publication is correct at the time of going to press, however the University reserves the right to alter any

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK

14–18 JULY 2014

Communicate

Collaborate

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W

COME

2014 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK

Welcome from the Vice Chancellor and President

At USC, we started our institutional research journey with a particular focus on the Sunshine Coast region. In the early days, this earned USC significant kudos with the local community, and provided an excellent foundation for the development of research at the University.

Within a globally competitive environment in a global village, nothing less than leading edge research by world leading researchers can achieve publication and funding in the national and international arena. Hence, it has been critical for USC to focus on the development of world leading research niches comprising an internationally competitive critical mass of expertise and capability that is competitive in the fiercely competitive academic research sector.

It is very pleasing to see that the University is making huge strides with the advancement of its research agenda, especially in its research focus areas, and that we are rating well in the nation’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) framework.

Research is a very expensive part of the University’s operations, and it is essential to procure significant external funding to support the University’s research program. In this context, it is also very gratifying to see that the University is substantially ramping up its external research revenues, which is swiftly expanding the research capabilities and capacities of the University. Most pleasing of all is the proportion of funding obtained from national competitive grants (viz., 36% of the total University income), which demonstrates that USC staff are capable of competing in the “Big Research” part of town in a fiercely competitive research environment.

We are equally pleased by the growth targets in research student enrolments as these students reside in the engine room of research within the University. Moreover, these students represent a key part of the University’s educational program, as they will be future leaders and ambassadors of the University in years to come.

I am really pleased with the 2014 Research Week agenda, which demonstrates that USC is going from strength to strength in the development of our research capacity. Notably, as a young and nimble institution, there have been tremendous opportunities for research at the intersection of traditional disciplines creating transdisciplinary research of immense significance and value. So, I am sure that you will enjoy hearing stories from our researchers, right across the spectrum of students, to early career researchers and on to our most senior researchers, and about our engagement with a variety of end users, Government organizations and collaborating research providers.

Professor Greg Hill

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WELCOME

Welcome from the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)

As Australia’s youngest and fastest growing Universities, University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) is aspiring to be a great regional University (i.e., Queensland’s equivalent of New South Wales’ University of Wollongong which is embodying niche and world-class research capabilities) in the Australian Higher Education sector.

Research at USC is continuing to “steam ahead” under the impetus of the University’s research capacity building strategies. In recent times, we have witnessed the delivery of significant outcomes such as the establishment of Research Centres, Clusters and Emerging Research Themes, the appointment of additional top-class USC Research Fellows from around the globe, appointment of several leading research capacity building professors from around Australia, the procurement of new and substantial national competitive research grants in USC’s fields of strength. USC is also entering the group of Universities possessing significant research intensity by exceeding the Threshold 2 of the Sustainable Research Excellence (SRE) scheme of the Federal Government, and has a significant increase in higher degree by research enrolments and a substantial boost in the University’s research publications. Accordingly, it is very pleasing to note that the University Research Centres, Clusters and Emerging Research Themes are going from strength to strength, and “kicking huge goals” on behalf of the research community at USC.

With regard to the quality and impact of research at USC, it is very pleasing to report that Professor Bill Carter (SRC researcher) received two Sahak Metrey Medals from the Cambodian Government for outstanding assistance with sustainable tourism development and outstanding achievement in advocating sustainable tourism in Cambodia’s coastal zone. A/Prof Paul Salmon (USCAR researcher) won the national Peter Vulcan Award for Best Research Paper at the 2013 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference for his on-road study of cyclist behaviour and situation awareness. Dr Claudia Baldwin (SRC researcher) and PhD student Caroline Osborne, with Phil Smith of design firm Deicke Richards, won the 2013 Australasian Core Values Award for Participatory Research from the International Association of Public Participation (Australasian Division). Dr Bridie Scott-Parker (USCAR researcher) was recognised by the Australian Academy of Science as a rising research star and became one of 10 ‘Science Stars of Tomorrow’. Dr David Schöeman had three seminal papers published in Nature Climate Change, Nature and Science on studies into the velocity of climate change as a key member of significant international consortia conducting cutting edge research in the field, and Prof Abigail Elizur had a seminal paper on the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon crude oil losses on pelagic fish published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). Furthermore, Profs Abigail Elizur and Roland De Marco each won European Commission International Researcher Exchange Scheme (EU IRSES) grants that will bring world leading European researchers to USC, and Prof Hank Harlow of the University of Wyoming was winner of yet another Australian-American Fulbright Commission Senior Specialist Award for a USA academic to visit USC.

With planning well underway for the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015 research assessment exercise, present indications demonstrate that USC will score at world standard or above in the focus areas of its research Centres, Clusters and Emerging Research Themes, demonstrating that the broad research capacity building initiatives of the University are working exceedingly well.

What is most pleasing about the aforesaid research successes is how they demonstrate a maturation in the University’s research agenda, and how USC is competing wonderfully well on the world stage, which is absolutely critical for success in a fiercely and globally competitive research environment.

The USC Research Week provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about and share information about our exciting research programs. Furthermore, it provides an excellent vehicle for showcasing and celebrating the research of the University. I very much look forward to hearing about the great research stories at the University, and I encourage all of you to join the celebrations at Research Week.

Professor Roland De Marco

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PROGRAM

Monday, 14 July 2014

Innovation Centre Auditorium, USC Campus

Time Session

9.00 – 10.30am Opening Remarks: Associate Professor Christian Jones, Chair, University Research Week Academic Advisory Group

Official Welcome: Professor Roland De Marco, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)

Welcome to Country: Lyndon Davis, Traditional Custodian

Keynote Presentation: Associate Professor Tamara Davis, Future Fellow, University of Queensland Presentation: Illuminating the Darkness

10.30 –11.15am Morning Tea

11.15 – 12.15pm Plenary Address: Dr David Barnes, Senior Research Fellow, CAVS2 Platform Manager, Monash University Presentation: Beyond the Data Cliff: Visualisation Strategies for Understanding Large Data

12.15 – 4.00pm Networking Lunch and Research Expo including ‘Art in Research” exhibition

2.00 – 3.30pm Conversations about Higher Education in Research – Professor Karen Nelson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering (FoSHEE) Research Day

Time Session

9.00 am Opening Remarks: Professor John Bartlett, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

9.05 am – 10.20 am Presentations Chaired by: Professor Helen Wallace, Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

Welcome to GeneCology presentations: Professor Abigail Elizur (Director – GeneCology Research Centre)

Presentation: Molecular analysis of stress in Sydney Rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) – Ms Nicole Ertl (HDR Candidate, GeneCology)

Presentation: Revealing the love dart pheromone – Dr Michael James Stewart (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, GeneCology)

Presentation: Monosex aquaculture promotes sustainability – Dr Tomer Ventura (Discovery Early Research Fellow, GeneCology)

Presentation: Towards a therapeutic vaccine for Chlamydia in the koala: an important conversation tool for an iconic species – Dr Courtney Alice Waugh (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, GeneCology)

Presentation: EBC-46, a novel cancer therapy from Queensland’s tropical rainforest – Dr Steven Ogbourne (Senior Research Fellow - GeneCology)

Presentation: Design the ‘Super-lock’: development of interleukin 10 inhibiting peptides by a structure-based molecular dynamics simulation approach – Dr Tianfang Wang (Research Fellow, GeneCology)

Presentation: Metabolomics in chemical ecology: help to save Australia’s natural biodiversity – Dr Utpal Bose (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow)

Presentation: Phylogeny of eriphyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) inferred from morphological, mtDNA and nDNA evidence – Dr Xiaofeng Xue (Visiting Staff Academic)

Presentation: Do large-scale genome changes affect mitochondrial proteomes? (Gemma Jeremy, Simon Song, Tianfang Wang, Scott Cummins, Renfu Shao (presenting author) – Dr Renfu Shao (USC Research Fellow, GeneCology)

Presentation: Development of molecular resources for the Australian aquaculture industry to assist the provision of tools to strengthen sustainable aquaculture practices and quality into the future. – Mr Daniel Powell (HDR Candidate; Scientific Officer, Genecology)

10.20 am – 10.45 am Morning Tea

10.45 am – 12.55 pm Welcome to Inflame presentations: Associate Professor Shelley Walton (Leader – Inflame Research Cluster)

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2014 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK

PROGRAM

Presentation: Authentication of honey origins by chromatography; and their wound healing, bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties – Mr Daniel Meloncelli (HDR Candidate, Inflame)

Presentation: A recombinase polymerase amplification assay for detection of the heterogeneous sequences encompassing Japanese Encephalitis virus - Dr Joanne Macdonald (Senior Lecturer, Molecular Engineering - Inflame)

Presentation: Crusted scabies is associated with increased IL-17 secretion by skin T cells – Dr Xiaosong Liu (Post-Doctoral Research Officer, Inflame)

School of Nursing and Midwifery (SNM) Presentations

Presentation: Safe Sleep Advice to Safe Sleep Action: Trial of a safe sleep enabler with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families of increased risk for sudden infant death – Professor Jeanine Young (Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery)

Presentation: Randomised controlled trials in nursing and midwifery research - establishing the evidence for healthcare practice - a case study of current trials – Professor Marianne Wallis (Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery)

Welcome to Cluster for Health Improvement (CHI) Presentations – Professor Marion Gray (Leader – CHI)

CHI Keynote Presentation: Exercise: What is the evidence for its use as a therapy for age- and chronic-disease related adverse effects? Dr Justin Keogh (Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine - Bond University)

Presentation: Managing diabetes - what helps and what makes it difficult in homes and communities – Dr Kieran Broome (Lecturer, Occupational Therapy; CHI)

Presentation: Extended roles for allied health professionals in clinical practice: A systematic review of published evidence – Ms Robyn Saxon (Professional Lead Speech Pathology, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service; HDR Candidate)

Presentation: The power of pictures: Lived experience of disability in Timor Leste – Mrs Heather Jane Shamrock (HDR Candidate, CHI)

Presentation: To explore the self-perceived preparedness of Community Health Worker Graduates of Papua New Guinea using mixed method approach – Ms Cathy Lepi Pilang (HDR Candidate, CHI)

Presentation: Body shape satisfaction, and diet and exercise practices of nutrition and dietetics and occupational therapy students: initial cross-sectional results of a longitudinal study – Ms Tetyana Rocks (HDR Candidate, CHI)

Presentation: The Health Star Rating: How accurate is the new nutrition label? – Ms Sheri Cooper (HDR Candidate, CHI)

12.55 pm – 1.30 pm Networking Lunch, Research Expo and Poster Display

1.30 pm – 2.45 pm School of Health and Sport Sciences (SHSS) Presentations

Presentation: The paramedic of the future: Is there a role for health promotion? – Dr Florin Oprescu, Mr Nigel Barr and Associate Professor Bill Lord, Senior Lecturer, Health Promotion; Lecturer, Paramedic Science & Discipline Leader, Paramedic Science – School of Health and Sport Sciences; CHI; Inflame and Engage

Presentation: Train and Sustain: A model for quality supervision in work integrated learning (WIL) – Associate Professor Fiona Pelly (Discipline Leader, Nutrition and Dietetics – SHSS)

Presentation: Down the rabbit hole – Dr Rebecca Mellifont (Senior Lecturer in Sport Sciences, Anatomy – SHSS)

Presentation: The cost and time effectiveness of osseointegration compared to the traditional socket prosthesis – Dr Danielle Formosa (Research Assistant , SHSS)

Presentation: The Nutrition Knowledge of student enrolled in Nutrition and Dietetic programs: Implications for tertiary education – Ms Kristin Lawrence (Undergraduate Honours Student, SHSS)

Presentation: Mental Health and poverty in East Nusa Tenggara-Indonesia: an indigenous psychology perspective – Mr Yulius Yusak Ranimpi (HDR Candidate, SHSS)

School of Science and Engineering (SSE) Presentations

Presentation: X-ray and neutron studies to do materials characterisation and investing proton conduction mechanisms – Miss Krystina Lamb (HDR Candidate, SSE)

Presentation: Raptors are highly efficient and functionally important scavengers of marine carrion on ocean beaches – Ms Marion Brown (Honours Student, SSE)

Presentation: Assessment of the potential for roof-top rain water harvesting in the hotel sector in Nosy Be, Madagascar – Mr Graham Ashford (Environmental Economist, SSE)

Presentation: Towards a fourth generation of Pavement Management – Mr Abdelrazek A. Abdelrazek (HDR Candidate, SSE)

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PROGRAM

3.15 pm – 4.20 pm School of Education (SOE) Presentations

Presentation: Engaging educators in collaborative research: exploring the impact of school-wide pedagogy - Associate Professor Deborah Heck, Associate Professor Michael Christie, Dr Sue Simon, Ms Katrina Higgins (School of Education)

Presentation: Teachers’ perspectives of ICT integration in the primary classroom – Ms Jillian Stansfield (HDR Candidate)

Presentation: Authoring educational lives through research: Privileging story and self-study – Dr Ali Black (Program Coordinator - Early Childhood Education; Lecturer School of Education)

Presentation: Horses for courses: Sessional staff participation in moderation processes at SOE – Dr Peter Grainger (Lecturer in Education)

Presentation: Access to schooling for young people in Australia’s immigration detention network – Mr Shawn Fracchia (HDR Candidate)

Presentation: Making mathematics meaningful: An investigation into Middle Years Student’s engagement with problem based learning – Dr Margaret Marshman (Senior Lecturer, Maths and Physics Education)

Presentation: Softly, Softly: Using an holistic approach t first year student transition in pre service teacher education – Dr Sharn Donnison and Ms Lisa Albion, Lecturers in Education - School of Education

Presentation: Making a difference with emerging leaders of learning and teaching – Ms Kylie Readman (Director, Centre for Support and Advancement of Learning and Teaching; HDR Candidate)

4.20 pm – 4.30 pm Conclusion and presentations of Faculty awards – Professor Helen Wallace

5.30 – 7.30pm Public Seminar – Health Research at USC

Developing new vaccines for untamed Infectious Diseases - Dr David McMillan DNA computing and technology of the future - Dr Joanne Macdonald

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Faculty of Arts and Business Research Day

Time Session

9.00 – 10.45am Opening Remarks: Professor Mike Clements, Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Business

Presentations chaired by: Associate Professor Christian Jones, Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Arts and Business

Presentation: Sustainability Research: Past, Present and Future - Professor Tim Smith (Director, Sustainability Research Centre); Professor RW (Bill) Carter (Associate Director, Sustainability Research Centre); Professor Patrick Nunn (Professor Geography, Sustainability Research Centre); Associate Professor Jen Carter (Co-leader, Indigenous Research Theme); and Dr Dana Thomsen (Senior Lecturer in Sustainability Advocacy, Sustainability Research Centre)

10.45 – 11.00am Morning Tea

11.00 – 12.30pm Presentation: The spatial determinants of food pricing in Queensland, Australia - Dr Scott Lieske (CRN Research Fellow, Sustainability Research Centre)

Presentation: The art of not being governed – Ms Mandie Miller (Sessional Academic and PhD Candidate, School of Social Sciences and Sustainability Research Centre)

Presentation: Exploration of aspects of perfectionism: Perseveration and persistence and their association with

metacognition, body image, and health behaviours - Dr Lee Kannis-Dymand (Lecturer, Clinical Psychology, School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: Theory of Mind in adults: Deception detection and reading facial expressions in the normal and autistic population - Ms Holly Warland (Sessional Academic and PhD Candidate, School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: Finding alternative ways of presenting energy content of food at the point-of-purchase – Mr Marc Gehrmann (Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) (Honours), School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: The shoe fits – now wear it – retrospective exploration of young adult’s experience of home, school, sport and friendships following parental separation - Ms Leanne Francia (Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) (Honours), School of Social Sciences)

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2014 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK

PROGRAM

Presentation: Pulling the plug: How Australia’s superannuation tax concessions are not a public good and are draining tax revenue - Dr Gabrielle Parle (Associate Lecturer, Accounting and Finance, School of Business)

Presentation: Journalism Students Across the Globe – USC - Dr Peter English (Lecturer, Journalism, School of Communication)

12.30 – 1.00pm Networking Lunch

1.00 – 2.30pm Presentation: A verbatim drama based on the lived experience of women casual academics – Ms Gail Crimmins (PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering and Sessional Academic, School of Communications)

Presentation: Voicing the dead: Applying emergent ficto-critical wordscapes to historical fiction for youth – Associate Professor Gary Crew (Associate Professor, Creative Writing, School of Communications)

Presentation: Writing the polyphonic novel - Dr Paul Williams (Lecturer, Creative Writing, School of Communications)

Presentation: Jane Austen Downunder - scabies and all - an exploration of Austen’s ‘Australian’ letter - Ms Janet Lee (DCA Candidate, School of Communications)

Presentation: Knowledge, imagination and the self-help industry - Mr Bruce Williams (DCA Candidate, School of Communications)

Presentation: Electric shocks: Lessons learnt while converting an educational boardgame from the physical to the virtual – Mr Ben Rolfe (Lecturer in Serious Games, School of Communication and DCA Candidate, Engage Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: MyTED matters- Dr Ruth Greenaway (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Engage Research and School of Social Sciences); and Ms Sandra Elsom (MyTed Project Officer, Engage and School of Social Sciences)

2.30 – 2.45pm Coffee Break

2.45 – 4.05pm Presentation: Safety in our badly designed and immoral world: Why USCAR research is saving lives and stopping the blame game - Professor Paul Salmon (USC Research Fellow, School of Social Sciences and Leader, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research)

Presentation: Preventing injuries in the outdoors: the development of a national approach to incident reporting and analysis – Dr Natassia Goode (USCAR Research Fellow, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: Why we need to understand the role of technology in rapid decision making? - Mr Timothy Neville (PhD Candidate, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: “My Dad freaks out!” What Learner drivers want their parents to know - Dr Bridie Scott-Parker (USC Research Fellow, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: Close encounters: Factors involved in cyclists’ near collisions with other road users - Ms Eryn Grant (Research Assistant, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: User - coloured glasses and making sense of your world- Hints as to why affect needs to be considered in situational awareness - Mr Reuben Delamore (PhD Candidate, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: You complete me: Integrating human factors and urban design in active transport – Ms Natalie Taylor (Research Assistant, University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research and School of Social Sciences)

Presentation: Staff and Student Perceptions of Using ePortfolios as a Pedagogical and Professional Practice Tool - Dr Christine Slade (Academic Developer (ePortfolios) C-SALT, School of Social Science), Ms Priscilla Morton (Learning Designer (ePortfolios) C-SALT, School of Communications)

4.05 – 4.15pm Close by Associate Professor Christian Jones

PUBLIC SEMINAR

5.00pm – 6.00pm Public Seminar – Writers Speak

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PROGRAM

Thursday, 17 July 2014

9.30am – 12 noon Workshop – Supervisor Toolkit (for academics)

Room E.2.24 and E.2.25, Building E, USC Campus

9.30am – 12 noon Workshop – Research Career Development for Early Career Researchers

1 – 3.30pm Workshop – Managing your Research for Timely Completion (for research students)

Room E.2.24 and E.2.25, Building E, USC Campus

1 – 3.30pm Workshop – ARC Grants

PUBLIC SEMINAR

Innovation Centre Auditorium, USC Campus 6.00 – 7.30pm Public Seminar: Professor Tim Flannery

Climate Change – Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Communities

Friday, 18 July 2014

9.15 – 10.00am Presentation: - Simulation: Researching the gap between learning and practice Associate Professor Patrea Anderson, Associate Professor in Nursing

10.00 – 10.45am Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition Final

Presentations Chaired by: Associate Professor Christian Jones, Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Arts and Business

3MT Presentation: Protective and risk factors to concussion for the developing brain in contact sport (Rugby Union) - Amanda Clacy, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Business

3MT Presentation: A contemporary knowledge about the uptake and implementation of the BFHI in Australia - Anahita Esbati, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

3MT Presentation: Game change(h)er: Exploring the video game design elements that may impact the agency and identity of adolescent girls - Katryna Starks, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Business

3MT Presentation: Exploring the phenomena of moral distress in Registered Nurses in the context of end of life nursing care – Mrs Janice Layh, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

3MT Presentation: Science, stories and self-help seminars – Bruce Williams, School of Communication, Faculty of Arts and Business

3MT Presentation: The molecular biology of communication in the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish: Pheromones and chemoreceptors – Rebecca Roberts, School of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

3MT Presentation: The genetic consequences of urbanisation: the Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) as a model species – Bethan Littleford-Colquhoun, School of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

3MT Presentation: Understanding masculinity in the Spiny Lobster – Jennifer Chandler, School of Science and Engineering Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

3MT Presentation: Differences in gene expression in ordinary and crusted Scabies – Sajad Bhat, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

10.45 – 11.15am Morning Tea

11.15am – 12.15pm A Minute to Win It – ‘My Research in 60 Seconds’

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2014 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK

PROGRAM

1MT Presentation: Does gravity suck the oxygen out of your head? - Associate Professor Chris Askew

1MT Presentation: Infectious disease and the decline of the Koala - Ms Courtney Waugh

1MT Presentation: Simple sponge science - Dr Scott Cummins

1MT Presentation: Myths for effective adaptation and disaster response - Professor Patrick Nunn

1MT Presentation: Management of scabies outbreaks in aged care facilities – perspectives from the Sunshine Coast - Dr Kate Mounsey

1MT Presentation: USC warm water pool heated with biomass fuel - Dr Mohammad Ghaffariyan

1MT Presentation: You complete me: Integrating human factors and urban design in active transport - Miss Natalia Taylor

1MT Presentation: Rooting hormones - Associate Professor Stephen Trueman

1MT Presentation: Could urbanisation lead to contemporary evolution - Dr Celine Frere

1MT Presentation: Forestry – Professor Mark Brown

1MT Presentation: Oxygen: Atmosphere to cell - Dr Colin Solomon

1MT Presentation: Fatigue reduction technologies for a safe Australian transport sector - Dr Luke Mirowski

1MT Presentation: Building a pensieve for Alzheimers - Associate Professor Christian Jones

1MT Presentation: Stand up straight! - Dr Mark Sayers

1MT Presentation: The effect of chocolate on happiness - Mr Greg Kiorgaad

12.15 – 12.25pm Presentation of Awards: Professor Roland De Marco, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Associate Professor Christian Jones, Chair, University Research Conference Academic Advisory Group

Award Categories:

Best overall research presentation Faculty of Arts and Business

Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering Best Early career research presentation

Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering Best HDR research presentation

Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering Best Presentation at Research Expo

Best Presentation at ‘Art in Research’ Exhibition (1st, 2nd and 3rd) Best Poster Presentation

Three Minutes Thesis (3MT) competition A Minute to Win It competition

12.25 – 12.30pm Closing Remarks – Associate Professor Christian Jones

12.30 – 1.30pm Celebration Lunch

USC RESEARCH BANK

Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast make their leading research papers and conference proceedings available to the public through a searchable repository known as the USC Research Bank (previously Coast Research Database).

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PRESENTATIONS

Keynote Presentation by

Dr David Barnes

2014 University Research Week Monday 14 July

Keynote Presentation:

Beyond the Data Cliff:

Visualisation Strategies for Understanding

Large Data

Abstract

As scientific instrumentation is advanced, total data volumes increase in size, acquisition rate and complexity. Spectacular examples include the Large Hadron Collider projects, the Allen Human Brain Atlas, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope projects and closer to home, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope surveys. Contemporary informatics approaches are solving the challenges of storing, finding and retrieving large data extracts and collections, and instantiating sophisticated post-processing workflows.

But what of traditional analysis and visualisation, and understanding and comprehending the data at hand? Drawing examples from neuroscience, astrophysics, geoscience and anatomy, I will describe the data that is collected and how it is analysed, and especially visualised, to enable discovery and insight. I will place this work in the context of the impending data cliff that many science and engineering disciplines face, and motivate the need for advanced, immersive visualisation facilities that are closely-coupled to the large data sources and computing systems.

With the scene set, I will introduce Monash University’s newest advanced visualisation platform, the CAVE2 (TM), built in collaboration with our partners at the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago. CAVE2 is a large-scale, immersive, head-tracked virtual reality environment backed by a high-performance supercomputer. It boasts 84 million pixels at ultra-high clarity and contrast, and exploits Monash’s research-grade network fabric to connect to local and remote data sources and supercomputing centres.

Monash foresees the CAVE2 becoming a critical piece of research infrastructure, fulfilling the role of the world’s finest viewfinder in the 21st century microscope, but also serving a unique role as a collaborative display environment for comprehending large data, accelerating and transforming the research process to enable the most important discoveries now and in the future. I will describe and highlight our early successes in the CAVE2 and finally, briefly speculate on the future of immersive visualisation.

Biography

David completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 1998 before working for the CSIRO, Swinburne University of Technology, and The University of Melbourne. David has published in the fields of radio astronomy, signal processing, scientific visualisation, visualisation for communication, education and outreach, and biomedical image management, analysis and visualisation. He has particular expertise in parallel supercomputing using graphical processing units for image computation and visualisation, and has

PRESENTATIONS

Associate Professor Tamara Davis

Illuminating the Darkness

Abstract

Astrophysicist Tamara Davis uses the natural experiments the universe performs on enormous energy scales to learn about the fundamental physics that affects life here on Earth. After growing-up as a surf-club girl on Coogee beach she’s gone on to work with Nobel Prize winners and help design a space telescope for NASA. Today we’ll hear about how her research truly matches the theme of this research week — “Communicate, Collaborate, and Celebrate”. She’s led analyses for large international collaborations trying to explain dark energy — whatever is causing the universe’s expansion to speed up — by testing new theories of gravity and quantum physics. Her ultimate aim is to use dark energy to make those hoverboards everybody’s being demanding (because she strongly believes that science shouldn’t let anyone down). Today she’ll regale us with stories of the discovery of dark energy, why we’re so sure it exists, why sport is important to a career in research, and what it’s like to celebrate at a Nobel Prize after-party.

Biography

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PRESENTATIONS

Professor Karen Nelson

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Conversations about Higher

Education in Research

Abstract

The creation of new knowledge and the effective dissemination of that knowledge through teaching and publication is the fundamental role of a university. Higher education research focuses on investigating problems and issues related to the activities that contribute to this role. Typically investigations includes discipline specific pedagogy and curricula, curricular and co-curricular initiatives designed to enhance student learning outcomes, development of new frameworks and approaches that enhance the student experience and matters related to the social, political and cultural context of our institutions and students. This conversation provides an opportunity for staff to share and discuss current higher education research activities that are designed to enhance student engagement and ideas for future research.

Biography

Karen Nelson is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Prior to joining USC in April 2014 she was Director, Student Success and Retention at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and prior to that from 2008, she was the QUT Director, First Year Experience. Karen’s PhD is in organisational information and knowledge management and she has held a number of traditional academic roles in her discipline including the designing, coordinating and teaching subjects and programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has supervised twelve higher degree research students to completion. Karen’s research focuses on student engagement in higher education, the first year experience and institutional

information and knowledge management practices of relevance to these topics. She has led a series of national learning and teaching research projects and presents and consults nationally and internationally in these areas. Her current research focuses on developing a Maturity Model for Student Engagement, Success, and Retention (http:// studentengagementmaturitymodel.net/), and disseminating the outcomes of her recently completed project Safeguarding Student Learning (https://safeguardingstudentlearning.net/). Karen was also a partner in a third project Effective Teaching and Support of Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds (http://www.lowses.edu.au/) and is involved in disseminating that work with project team members.

Karen chaired the International First Year in Higher Education Conference organising committee from 2009-2013 and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education and the Co-convenor of the FYHE virtual centre (all accessible from http://fyhe.com.au). She is a member of the Editorial Board of Active Learning in Higher Education Journal. Her contributions to higher education have been recognised by more than ten national and institutional awards, including a Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence and three Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Presentation by

Associate Professor Patrea Anderson

Associate Professor, Nursing

2014 University Research Week Friday 18 July

Presentation:

Simulation: Researching the gap

between learning and practice

Abstract

Advances in technology have had a significant influence on the development of teaching practice. This includes the extension of traditional teaching and learning strategies to include new simulation modalities. While there is evidence that simulation has a positive impact on student psychomotor skills, knowledge acquisition, satisfaction and self-confidence, there is little evidence that simulation positively affects work readiness and practice outcomes. USC has made a significant investment in simulation resources to enhance learning for students. Decisions related to the use of simulation should be informed by research and aligned with best practice principles. This presentation showcases USC’s capability for enhancing learning using simulation and visualization. It is designed to open the dialog about the opportunities that USC has to lead development in education research and address the gap between learning and practice.

Biography

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PRESENTATIONS

PUBLIC SEMINARS

Innovation Centre Auditorium, USC Campus

Tuesday 15 July 5.30 – 6.30pm

Presentation by

Dr David McMillan

Developing new vaccines for untamed

Infectious Diseases

Vaccines are the difference between life and death for millions of children. However there are still major human pathogens, for which no vaccine is available. In this seminar Dr McMillan will explain what vaccines are and how they protect you. He will also describe his own group’s progress into the development of a vaccine to prevent infection with Streptococcus pyogenes, a bacterium responsible for half a million deaths each year.

Biography

Dr McMillan is a USC Senior Research Fellow. He completed his undergraduate and PhD at the University of Wollongong. Before moving to USC he conducted post-doctoral studies at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, and Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH (GBF), Braunschweig, Germany. His research interests are in the area of the molecular pathogenesis of infectious disease, and development of novel strategies for the prevention or cure of such diseases. His current work focuses on Streptococcus pyogenes, a bacterium that can cause something as minor as sore throat, but can kill a person in less than a day, and is also a significant cause of heart disease.

6.30 – 7.30pm

Presentation by

Dr Joanne Macdonald

DNA computing and technology of the

future

Come and explore recent advances in molecular computing and their futuristic possibilities, from intelligent sensors, nano-bots and human cyborgs. . Dr Macdonald, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Engineering, holds a joint appointment with USC and Columbia University, New York. Previously she co-developed a DNA automaton able to play tic-tac-toe interactively against a human opponent, and has recently introduced DNA-based visual displays, including a molecular calculator able to add and multiply small numbers.

Biography

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PRESENTATIONS

Wednesday 16 July 5.00 – 6.00pm

Presentation by

Associate Professor Gary Crew

Writers Speak

Internationally published and awarded authors Gary Crew, Paul Williams, and Ross Watkins will respond to questions on their creative works over a wide range of genres from youth to adult audiences.

Abstract

Associate Professor Gary Crew, Dr Paul Williams, Dr Ross Watkins and completing Higher Degree by Research candidate Ginna Brock form the prestigious USC Creative Writing Team. USC prides itself on the fact that all four staff members are published authors in their own right. In this authorial night of nights featuring USC’s very own internationally awarded authors, Ginna Brock will put Gary, Paul and Ross through their paces, asking each author cutting edge questions on the nature and extent of their ‘Writing as Research’. Given that all three publish with major international journals and publishers over a range of genres from illustrated children’s books, young adult Fantasy to adult novels, the audience is in for a treat.

Biographies

Dr Gary Crew is Associate Professor, Creative Writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland. First published internationally in 1985, Gary has continued to write over a broad range of genre from illustrated books to creative non-fiction, addressing audiences from primary to adult. His multi-award winning work is published though out the world. Gary lives in Maleny, a village in the Blackall Ranges, part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. He admits to an obsession with dogs of all species (except maybe fluffy white ones that yap).

Dr Paul Williams has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin, and lectures in Creative Writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. He has published fiction, young adult novels, a memoir, educational readers, short stories and articles, and his books have been set in schools across Africa. The Secret of Old Mukiwa won the Zimbabwe International Book Fair award for Young Adults in 2001 and Soldier Blue won Book of the Year in South Africa, 2008. Cokcraco is his latest novel and he has a speculative fiction young adult coming out this year (Parallax, Zharmae Publishers).

Dr Ross Watkins is an author, illustrator, editor and academic. His first major publication was The Boy Who Grew Into a Tree (Penguin 2012), and his picture book One Photo (Penguin) will be published early 2015. His short fiction and non-fiction works have been published in Australian and international anthologies, and he was shortlisted for the 2013 Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction and the 2011 Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for Emerging Author. Ross is short story editor for various journals and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Ginna Brock is an Associate Lecturer and a PhD candidate at the University of the Sunshine Coast. After completing a Master of Communication degree which investigated the familial trope in Shakespearean tragedies, Ginna’s focus turned to Attic Greece. Her current research attempts to trace the significance attached to the pervasive portrayal of the centrality of home within the Ancient Greek tragedies. For the past nineteen years, Ginna has been a teacher of Creative Writing and English Literature, leading students from grade seven up through advanced level university scholars to both craft innovative, creative stories and to analyse textual representation.

Thursday 17 July 6.00 – 7.30pm

Presentation by

Professor Tim Flannery

Climate Change–

Challenges and

Opportunities for

Regional Communities

Tim Flannery has published over 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has named 25 living and 50 fossil mammal species. His 32 books include the award winning The Future Eaters, The Weather Makers, which has been translated into over 20 languages and most recently Here on Earth: An Argument for Hope and Among the Islands, an account of his adventures in Papua New Guinea.

He received a Centenary of Federation Medal and in 2002, delivered the Australia Day address. In 2005 he was named Australian Humanist of the Year, and in 2007 Australian of the Year. In 2011 he was made a Chevalier of the Order of St Charles.

In 1998-9 he was a visiting professor at Harvard, and is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and has served on the International Board of WWF.

In 2007 he co-founded and was appointed Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council. In 2011 he became Australia’s Chief Climate Commissioner, and in 2013 he founded and heads the Australian Climate Council. He serves on the Sustainability Advisory Boards of Siemens and Tata Power (India).

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WORKSHOPS

Develop your skills through participation in hands-on

workshops

The University Research Week provides opportunities for USC researchers, particularly early career researchers and students to engage in hands-on workshops that will bring the experience of knowledgeable researchers and facilitators to those wanting to benefit from a collaborative learning experience. Research Week also provides opportunities for networking across the university’s disciplines with enhanced access to research mentors and resources.

Workshop topics in 2014 include:

Supervisor Toolkit for academics Thursday 17 July, 9.30 – 12 noon

Research Career Development for Early Career Researchers Thursday 17 July, 9.30 – 12 noon

Managing your Research Project for Timely Completion for research students

Thursday 17 July, 1 – 3.30pm

ARC Grants

Thursday 17 July, 1 – 3.30pm

Workshop:

Supervisors Toolkit for academics

Facilitated by

Professor Joe Luca

Dean of Graduate Research School, Edith Cowan University

Thursday 17 July, 9.30am – 12 noon Innovation Centre

Supervising research candidates is a complex business, and requires a diverse range of skills and information at different stages of candidature. This workshop outlines a 10 phase supervisor model, with a range of “tools” in each phase to help both new and experienced supervisors develop solutions to supervisory issues, problems and relationships. Participants are encouraged to bring supervision dilemmas to help generate discussion. Objectives include:

Knowledge of approximately 100 new tools that can help develop and support your supervision practice

Identifying the 10 phases of supervision within the context of the given supervisor model

Providing strategies for exploring and using the tools through discussion of common supervisor dilemmas

Biography

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WORKSHOPS

Workshop:

Research Career Development for Early

Career Researchers

Facilitated by

Professor Paul Burnett

Dean of Research and Research Training, QUT

Thursday 17 July 9.30am – 12noon E2.24-E2.25

Professor Paul Burnett from the Division of Research and

Commercialisation at QUT will facilitate an interactive workshop about how to create a research career that will contribute to the creation of new knowledge for the advancement of your discipline and the society in general. He will invite participants to consider how their research passions and interests align with the University’s areas of strength, what formal University structures exist for acknowledging, resourcing and supporting your research and how your contribution fits with the overall University research plan. Expectations for promotion to various academic levels will be outlined and participants will position themselves on a continuum based on Professor Burnett’s experiences on promotions panels for four universities.

Biography

Professor Paul C. Burnett is Dean of Research and Research Training at QUT. He joined QUT in May 2009 from Charles Sturt University where he was Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (Research) for eight years. During that time he was responsible for the strategic direction, policy formulation, planning activities, and the effective management of research, research training, commercialisation, intellectual property and outside professional activity. He was the Presiding Officer of the University’s Research Management Committee, the Board of Graduate Studies, and the Intellectual Property and Outside Professional Activities Committee and served on the University’s Senior Executive, University Budget Committee, Academic Senate, Vice-Chancellor’s Forum, University Course Planning Committee, and Promotions Committee. He served on the Executive of the National DVC/PVC (Research) Group, served as an AUQA Auditor for four years and chaired the audit of Notre Dame University, and in 2007 was nominated by the Federal Minister to Chair the RQF Assessment Panel for Psychology and Psychiatry.

Workshop:

Managing your Research Project for Timely

Completion

Facilitated by

Professor Joe Luca

Dean of Graduate Research School, Edith Cowan University

Thursday 17 July, 1 – 3.30pm Innovation Centre

Completing a research degree could be one of the largest projects you have managed. It is essential to develop strong project management skills to help you set realistic goals and achievable milestones for your research project. This workshop will offer practical strategies to help you develop a robust project management plan for your research project. Objectives include:

Recognise the importance of developing a detailed project management plan for your research

Define SMART (specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, timely) goals for your research project

Identify key stakeholders in your project and develop a communication plan

Develop a risk management plan

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WORKSHOPS

Workshop:

ARC Grants

Facilitated by

Professor Barbara Nowak and Professor

David Lambert

Thursday 17 July, 1 – 3.30pm E2.24-E2.25

The workshop will provide you with information on how to position your application for competitiveness within the ARC schemes, with overarching commentary and advice on other ARC National Competitive Grants Programs. Given the impending ARC Linkage Project round, there will be a particular emphasis on this scheme.

Biography

Professor Nowak is a Professor at the Centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability at the University of Tasmania, where she leads Aquatic Animal Health research group. She has been AMC Associate Dean Research and member of UTAS Research College Board since 2013. Professor Nowak has her PhD from Sydney University and has been working at UTAS since 1991. Her research interest focus on various aspects of fish health, such as fish parasitology, fish immunology and fish pathology, including both wild and farmed fish. Professor Nowak has published over 200 papers and supervised more than 30 PhD students. She has received numerous awards for her research and supervision of PhD students. Professor Nowak has been ARC reviewer for over 16 years. She has been a member of ERA REC Biological and Biotechnological Sciences (BB) Committee in 2012 and a member of ARC College of Experts Biological Sciences and Biotechnology since 2014.

Biography

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PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

RESEARCH DAY

2014 University Research Week Tuesday 15 July

Welcome:

Professor John Bartlett

Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering It is a pleasure to welcome you to the second 2014 Faculty Research Day for the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering. The characteristics that define Universities as institutions where “Knowledge Generation” and “Knowledge Dissemination” share primacy are exemplified in days such as this, and we look forward, once again, to building on the outstanding successes of our previous FoSHEE Research Days in 2012, 2013 and February 2014, where innovative ideas and new approaches are once again exchanged in an engaged environment.

The research being undertaken within FoSHEE is diverse and inter/ multi/trans-disciplinary, reflecting both our Faculty’s breadth and the truism that many of the most interesting problems – and those with the greatest potential impact or most pressing need – are often found at the boundaries of “traditional” disciplines. Our diversity and evolving research capacity is evident from the number of presentations that will showcase the research being undertaken across our four Schools and research focus areas (the GeneCology Research Centre, the Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster and the Cluster for Health Improvement). These presentations are a direct reflection of the tremendous growth in our research momentum and capacity over the past two years, with several new Research Clusters currently being considered for funding. This success, and the continuing investment in our basic research infrastructure and capacity, will further enhance the growing research culture within FoSHEE and I look forward to exploring ways to continue building our research momentum into the future.

Please accept our invitation to participate in what will be another exciting and diverse smorgasbord of research, and “dream big” as we explore opportunities for new collaborations and new research initiatives to further build our Faculty and University. We particularly look forward to the involvement, once again, of our HDR, Honours and future Honours students as we conceive, communicate, connect and collaborate.

Faculty of

Science, Health,

Education

and

Engineering

Introduction:

Professor Helen Wallace

Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

Welcome to Research Day for the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering. Our research profile has continued to grow rapidly and we have many new researchers in the Faculty. Thanks to all for your support of the day: due to your overwhelming response and support we are now running 2 Faculty research events a year. Once again we have an action packed program, even bigger than last year with 40 speakers, including 13 HDR students, and 38 posters.

This year we would like to pay tribute to some of our research achievers with our first ever FoSHEE Academy Awards. Some of our best researchers are quiet achievers who have been happy to publish, supervise and bring in the research funding without any fanfare. This year we want to celebrate and award our quiet achievers with a bit of glamour and bling on the red carpet. We have nominees for both research intensive and research and teaching positions- who will win best paper? So frock up (or suit up- your choice) and enjoy our inaugural FoSHEE Academy Awards ceremony.

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PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

PRESENTATION

ABSTRACTS

GENECOLOGY RESEARCH CENTRE

Professor Abigail Elizur

Director, GeneCology Research Centre

Welcome to a glimpse of the research currently taking place at the GeneCology Research Centre.

You will have an opportunity to hear about diverse projects and a range of experimental approaches used to address them. While these talks do not cover all of the projects our Centre undertakes, I trust you will enjoy this venture into a brave new world.

Ms Nicole Ertl

HDR Candidate, GeneCology

Presentation:

Molecular analysis of stress in Sydney

Rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata)

Oysters are an ecologically and economically important marine species that have contributed over AU$107 million (edible oysters only) to the Australian economy in 2011-2012. However, as other marine organisms, cultivated and wild oysters are challenged by a variety of environmental stressors that are quite likely to be exacerbated by anthropogenic and climate influences (e.g. CO2, extreme weather events). These stressors in general have the potential to weaken oysters, lowering their ability to cope with additional stress, such as disease or pollution. In an aquaculture environment, this could impact on the productivity and profitability of the industry. To maintain and potentially improve the health and resilience of oysters, knowledge needs to be gained regarding not only the physiological but also molecular responses to stress. This study aims to determine which genes are actively expressed in stressed and non-stressed Sydney Rock oysters and to highlight genes potentially involved in the molecular stress response of these oysters. Adult Sydney Rock oysters (economic value of nearly AU$ 30 million in 2012-13) were exposed to a range of environmental stressors (CO2, temperature, salinity, copper and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH]) in a laboratory environment and pools of six tissues (haemolymph, gill, mantle, adductor muscle, digestive system and gonad) of all experimental animals examined with RNA-seq. Furthermore, 48 individuals exposed to CO2 and temperature, salinity and temperature or PAH were closely examined for differential gene expression in response to the stressors. Genes actively expressed in stressed and non-stressed Sydney Rock oysters are involved in a variety of biological processes, including immune responses and known responses to stress.

Dr Michael James Stewart

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, GeneCology

Presentation: Revealing the love dart pheromone Helicid snails undergo a unique sexual ritual that involves the shooting

darts is a key mechanism needed to increase paternity success as the dart itself acts as a needle, passing on a cocktail of semiochemicals embedded in a mucus matrix. Once in the bloodstream, it this cocktail induces a series of contractile responses, acting directly on specific female reproductive organs, particularly the copulatory canal and bursa tract. These contractions are important in closing off the entrance to the bursa tract, and open the way to the region where the completed spermatophore is deposited leading to a higher rate of fertilization. This study investigated the unknown active substance present in dart mucus cocktail of the garden snail Cantareus aspersa. Mucous gland extracts isolated from 14 individual snails were purified by RP-HPLC and fractions tested for contractile activity on the copulatory canal in vitro. An active contractile inducing fraction was identified and further analysed by MALDI-TOF/TOF, revealing an active peptide (hereby named LoDA). Other proteins and peptides within the mucous gland included HSP70, pedal peptide, insulin-related peptide, dart gland peptide and FFamide. A synthetic LoDA was active in in vitro assay at 10-3-10-12 pM. The full LoDA gene was then identified by transcriptome analysis of the mucus gland; consisting of a mature prepropeptide harboring a signal peptide that is subsequently cleaved to release the active peptide LoDA. A single precursor for LoDA was also identified in the mucous glands of the Mediterranean snail Theba pisana and identified through BLASTp analysis in other species of hermaphrodite gastropods. This is the first identification of a pheromone in terrestrial molluscs which has important consequences to understanding the evolution of reproductive competition. It may also lead to the development of novel contraceptives.

Dr Tomer Ventura

Discovery Early Career Research Fellow, GeneCology

Presentation:

Monosex aquaculture promotes

sustainability

In the past decade, the gene encoding the androgenic gland hormone, an insulin-like hormone that governs masculinity in crustaceans, was identified in many commercially important crustacean species. Silencing of this gene led to a complete sex change in the giant freshwater prawn and a sex shift was shown in the redclaw crayfish. This has led to the commercial production of all-male monosex populations of prawns using a novel biotechnology that has the potential to completely transform the crustacean aquaculture industry. We aim at producing all-male monosex populations of the redclaw crayfish, using the know-how gained from the rapid commercial progress in the prawn.

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2014 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK

PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

Dr Courtney Alice Waugh

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, GeneCology

Presentation:

Towards a therapeutic vaccine

for Chlamydia in the koala: an important

conversation tool for an iconic species

The koala, the last remaining member of the Phascolarctidae family, is iconic on an international scale and listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. Key persistent threats that attack the long-term survivability of the koala include habitat loss and fragmentation, trauma, and disease. Modelling has indicated that if populations in decline due to disease do not undergo intervention then localised extinction events will occur. The most prevalent and devastating disease in the koala is chlamydial disease. Yet despite the severity of this disease on koala morbidity and mortality an effective treatment eludes us. Antibiotics have had some success, yet not for severe disease, and can have an adverse effect on the koala gut microflora, while asymptomatic cases go untreated.

Our aim is thus to address the issue of Chlamydia in the koala by the development of a protective and therapeutic vaccine, as an effective management and conservation tool for the species. Indeed initial efforts to develop a Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) based vaccine for the koala have been successful in inducing a protective immune response under captive conditions following subcutaneous (s.c.) vaccination. Our current study, the largest koala vaccine study to date, assesses the therapeutic, as well as protective, value a MOMP-based vaccine provides to a population of free-ranging koalas in south-east Queensland.

We have thus far recruited 60 free-ranging koalas (30 vaccinated; 30 control/unvaccinated) from the Moreton Bay Region (QLD) into our current vaccine study. Each koala was captured, vaccinated (Day, 0, 30 and 60), and radio-collared and is currently undergoing comprehensive health assessments, to assess the vaccines effectiveness, at regular intervals for up to 12 months post vaccination. The koalas in the trial represent a variety of infection and disease states to assess the protective and therapeutic value of the vaccine.

The study is currently ongoing, however, results up to the 6 month timepoint are thus far promising, and elucidate to not only a protective effect, but also indicate that our current MOMP-based vaccine has significant therapeutic value.

Dr Steven Ogbourne

Senior Research Fellow

Presentation: EBC-46, a novel cancer therapy from

Queensland’s tropical rainforest

Cancer has a greater impact on the health of Australians than any other disease. In 2011, more than 40,000 Australians died of cancer (accounting for 30% of all deaths) and it is estimated that 120,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2014. On average, one in two Australians will develop cancer and one in five will die from it before the age of 85. The result is significant morbidity and reduction in quality of life for individuals affected but also a direct health system cost of $3.8 billion per year.

Surgery, chemotherapy and ionising radiation are the mainstays for treatment of cancer but can be limited in efficacy and can cause significant side effects to patients. New treatment options are desperately required.

EBC-46 is a terpenoid, small molecule natural product that was identified from the Australian tropical rainforest tree, Fontainea picrosperma (blushwood), by the Australian biotechnology company EcoBiotocs. EBC-46 has shown significant anti-cancer activity in mouse xenograft models, spontaneous tumours in cats, horses and dogs, and in Tasmanian devils with facial tumour disease. EBC-46 is administered by direct injection into the tumour and tumour destruction usually occurs within days, with rapid healing of the site and minimal side effects when the drug is used at therapeutic doses.

EBC-46 cannot be synthesised at commercial scale and will therefore be manufactured for clinical use by extraction and purification from blushwood fruit. As a result, blushwood plantations will be required to enable ongoing drug supply. This presentation summarises the current progress in the formal drug development of EBC-46, as well as the research undertaken at USC that aims to ensure a sustainable supply of blushwood fruit for the manufacture of this exciting potential new treatment for solid tumours.

Dr Tianfang Wang

Research Fellow

Presentation:

Design the ‘Super-lock’: development of

interleukin 10 inhibiting peptides by a

structure-based molecular dynamics simulation approach

Interleukin 10 (IL10) is a cytokine with pleiotropic effects in immune-regulation and inflammation. Remarkable over-expression of IL10 has been found in the plasma of patients with chronic viral infections and cancers, which can diminish immune responses and result in serious consequences. Blockage of IL10 receptor from binding IL10 by particular molecule(s) has recently been considered as a feasible way to solve this problem. However, very few clinically useful molecules have been found suitable for this aim, and clinical grade monoclonal antibodies are difficult to produce due to high production cost and complex regulatory approval process.

This project used high-level computational simulations to design macromolecules that can act as IL10 inhibitors in vitro, and in addition possess the advantages of ease of production and regulatory approval. The aims of this project are:- (i) design macromolecules that have the ability to block the signalling process between IL10 and its receptor in silico (Aim 1); (ii) test designed macromolecules for inhibiting IL10’s biological function (Aim 2); (iii) based on bioassay results obtained from Aim 2, we will revisit computational design (modelling stage-II) of macromolecules, whereby macromolecule structure will be modified and improved, to obtain more active, less cytotoxic and low production cost macromolecules (Aim 3).

This research was carried out by Dr Tianfang Wang and Dr Xiaosong Liu, under the support of a USC/SCC grant.

Dr Utpal Bose

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Presentation: Metabolomics in chemical ecology: help

to save Australia’s natural biodiversity

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PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

different physiological processes such as growth and maturation, aging, diurnal variation, chemical communication and the effect of external factors. With emerging technologies in mass spectrometry, thousands of metabolites can now be qualitatively and quantitatively measured from minimal amounts of biological material, which has thereby enabled systems-level analyses. In our on-going research on chemical ecology, we have applied a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based metabolomics approach in our two on-going projects: (i) to investigate metabolite profiles of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) during their aggregation and spawning period, and (ii) to identify changes of metabolites during dormancy (aestivation) in a pest land snail Theba pisana. Results from the first study shows that COTS release sex-specific small molecules during their spawning and aggregation, which are specific to male and female. The main objective of our second study was to identify metabolites that are up-regulated and down-regulated during the aestivation period. Haemolymph collected from active snails, at two weeks and four weeks aestivation, shows that long-term aestivation leads to the production of mainly adenosine and other metabolites such as arginyl-hydroxyproline, cyanidin 3-galactoside, L-arginine, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine, which helps them to survive stress. These studies demonstrate the utility of global metabolite profiling to implicate new discoveries linking cellular pathways to biological mechanism to understand chemical ecology and with the ultimate goal to use this information to control Australia’s pest species populations.

Dr Xiaofeng Xue

Visiting Academic Staff

Presentation:

Phylogeny of eriphyoid mites (Acari:

Eriophyoidea) inferred from morphological,

mtDNA and nDNA evidence

Eriophyoid mites are the smallest arthropods in Acari, with an average body length of 200 mm. Eriophyoid mites also have highly reduced setae and have only two pairs of legs. There are more than 4,000 reported species of eriophyoid mites worldwide, classified in the superfamily Eriophyoidea. We collected 44 species of eriophyoid mites that represent all of the representative families, major subfamilies and tribes of Eriophyoidea and inferred the high-level phylogeny of eriophyoid mites with sequences of two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16S), two nuclear genes (18S and 28S rRNA) and 22 morphological characters. We reconstructed phylogenetic trees with concatenated datasets using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods. ML and Bayesian trees have similar topologies. We try to use phylogeny to investigate the key sensu Amrine et al. The new phylogeny derived from such evidences departs from the current classification system. Monophylies of two subfamilies and one tribe of eriophyoid mites, Diptilomiopinae, Rhyncaphytoptinae and Anthocoptini, were recovered in our phylogenetic analysis with strong support. The monophylies of the three families, Phytoptidae, Eriophyidae and Diptilomiopidae, however, were not recovered. We traced some morphological characters at family, subfamily, tribe or genus level on BI-tree. Our phylogenetic analysis indicate that anterior seta is a plesiomorphy to the family Phytoptidae, and gnathosoma that abruptly curves and bends down near base is an apomorphy to the Diptilomiopdae. From the ML and BI analysis, both homomorphism

Dr Renfu Shao

USC Research Fellow, GeneCology

Presentation:

Do large-scale genome changes affect

mitochondrial proteomes? (Gemma Jeremy,

Simon Song, Tianfang Wang, Scott Cummins,

Renfu Shao (presenting author)

Mitochondria are organelles in eukaryotic cells and are well known for their role as the “powerhouse”, where cellular energy is produced. The function of mitochondria, however, extends beyond energy production to metabolism, cell signalling, cell growth, and apoptosis. The efficient function of mitochondria requires coordinated expression of genes from both the nuclear genome and the mitochondrial genome in a cell. It is becoming increasingly clear in recent years that both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes can undergo drastic changes in genome structure, genome size, chromosome number, and gene content, even among closely related eukaryotes. We investigate whether or not large-scale genome changes can impact the function of mitochondria by comparing the mitochondrial proteomes of the human lice and the fruit flies, which differ substantially in both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Our preliminary results showed that human lice and fruit flies also differ in their mitochondrial proteomes, indicating genome changes