UniSQ celebrates record national funding round success

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has achieved its strongest-ever result in the National Industry PhD Program, securing funding for five new industry-based research projects.

The projects, funded through Round 7 of the Australian Government initiative, will tackle challenges in environmental sustainability, advanced materials and manufacturing, artificial intelligence, energy and digital technologies.

UniSQ National Industry PhD Program coordinator Rebecca Boddington said the result was a significant achievement for the University.

“We achieved a 100 per cent success rate across all applications, securing outcomes comparable with leading Australian universities,” she said.

“Delivered by Campus Plus, the National Industry PhD Program supports researchers to undertake industry-focused projects that address real-world problems in partnership with industry.”

Dr Alice Melland will partner with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance Coal Operations to develop nutrient targets for topsoil alternatives used in mine site rehabilitation.

Professor Lei Ge will work with Norton Gold Fields to improve mine water sustainability through the selective removal of minerals and salts.

Professor Ravinesh Deo will collaborate with PE Simulation Software to develop artificial intelligence-driven load forecasting for distributed electricity networks.

Professor Pingan Song and Dr Taotao Cai will each partner with YJ Building Evolution on separate projects. Professor Song will focus on the AI-enabled discovery of high-performance fire-retardant materials, while Dr Cai will develop large language model applications to improve construction safety compliance and risk mitigation.

Round 8 of the National Industry PhD Program opens on 13 July.

To learn more about partnering with UniSQ on a National Industry PhD Program application, contact program coordinator Rebecca Boddington.

Find out more about Research at UniSQ.