2020 winners and finalists
Chancellor’s Medal for Research Excellence
Honouring sustained research excellence at the highest level.
Congratulations to award winner, Associate Professor Shoudong Huang, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Yeah, my research is mainly about mobile robot navigation, in particular mobile robot navigation in a known environment. It can be applied in many different areas. For example, search and rescue and the water navigation and the ground mining. We want to see robots working collaboratively with humans and helping people around in our daily life.
Finalists:
Associate Professor Diane McDougald, Faculty of Science
We are interested in how this pathogens like Vibrio cholera, pseudomonas, aeruginosa Legionella, pneumophila evolve virulence and traditionally scientists have looked at the interaction of pathogens with the human host. Their interaction with humans is very recent. So we need to consider that in a holistic view rather than just a human centric view.
Dr Joshua Chou, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
So my research is actually leveraging the unique properties. So microgravity in space by recreating simulated microgravity environment. So we've used this to really understand, for example, cancer, how do they become aggressive? How do they communicate with each other? And while I'm really delighted to say that we've made a breakthrough and identify how they sense each other and how to disrupt their mechanism and function using simulate the final gravity, which is really exciting.
UTS Medal for Research Impact
Awarded for research that has achieved considerable impact outside the academic community.
Congratulations to winner Professor David Suggett, Faculty of Science
So I research how corals grow and how the environment regulates that. Many people will know that climate change has impacted reefs. And actually, we've lost 50% of all corals in the past 20 years through climate change. And so what we've been doing is really understanding on a reef how do corals grow and how we may actually equip stakeholders with the capacity to regrow coral and rehabilitate the reef sites. This will safeguard the $6 billion industry value that tourism brings to Australia every year.
Finalists:
Professor Longbing Cao, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
My research has been inspired by complex data behavior and system. Why do they seem small to large enterprise and solve the future problems that cannot be handled by off the shelf solutions to help them discover actionable knowledge and actionable intelligence to inform their decision-making and transform their business.
Distinguished Professor Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
We are working along the Red River Delta where 17 million people in some form or other are affected by arsenic problem, the grant, the purpose is to build about 42 householder systems and enter the Fiverr community level systems as a result everyone will live happily. And with good health.
Associate Professor Laurie Berg, Faculty of Law
Temporary visa holders in Australia, including international students and backpackers make up as much as eight to 10% of the national labor market. And for years, there's been reports of exploitation of overseas workers, for instance, in farms or notoriously in 7-Eleven stores around the country. And like the rest of us, they are entitled to lawful wages and to be able to have access to a safe and effective mechanism when they're underpaid.
UTS Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Research
Recognises an academic for their outstanding research and teaching at UTS.
Congratulations to award winner, Associate Professor Christina Ho, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
I research cultural diversity, equity and education. I think it's really important to understand how the changes in migration to Australia as well as changes in our education system are having these really profound consequences on our young people. There is increasing pressure and competition and anxiety. We really need to understand those consequences and what we can do to make things better.
Finalists:
Associate Professor Helen Spiropoulos, UTS Business School
Professor Tracey Booth, Faculty of Law
My research is about investigating public confidence in legal processes. I've just recently completed a research project that was funded by Anne Rose. And what we looked at was the intersection of self-represented litigants and family violence in family law proceedings. We can't reflect and consider what further consultation or reform we might need, unless we have this sort of data.
Early Career Research Excellence Award
Awarded for outstanding research conducted by an individual early career researcher.
Congratulations to award winner, Dr Simon Knight, Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation
Highly commended:
- Dr Jen Matthews, Faculty of Science
- Dr Peter Su, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Finalists:
- Dr Lana McClements, Faculty of Science
- Olga Oleinikova, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Research Leadership and Development Award
Recognises an individual researcher who is on the path to becoming a research leader and champion of research development.
Congratulations to award winner, Associate Professor Qilin Wang, Faculty of Engineering & IT
Finalists:
- Professor Majid Ebrahami Warkiani, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
- Associate Professor Iain Duggin, Faculty of Science
Research Excellence through Collaboration or Partnership Award
Recognises a UTS researcher, or team of UTS researchers, who have developed and sustained a research partnership and delivered significant outcomes.
Congratulations to the award winning team from the Faculty of Science, Dr Catherine Burke, Professor Aaron Darling and Dr Leigh Monahan
Finalists:
- Melita Grant, Institute for Sustainable Futures
- Professor David Suggett and Dr Emma Camp, Faculty of Science
Research Management and Development Award (Professional Staff)
For outstanding contribution or initiative in support services that has boosted research capabilities.
Congratulations to award winner, Colm Halbert, Liesel Senn, Wade Tozer, James Walsh, Thorsten Kostulski and Daren Sirbough, Research Office
Finalists:
- Karen Gomez, Priya Nair, Rebekah Tatian, Julia McConnochie and Eddy Dharmadji, Faculty of Health
Supervisor of the Year Award
Awarded for quality supervision of a research candidature.
Congratulations to award winner, Associate Professor Bhuva Narayan, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Finalists:
- Dr Cindy Gunawan, Faculty of Science
- Dr Mathieu Pernice, Faculty of Science