In the knowledge-based global economy, in-demand skills include the ability to think and reason critically, develop innovative ideas, analyse data and clearly explain results.
The Summer Research Program provides an opportunity for motivated students at the University of Queensland (UQ) to participate in an educational research experience.
This program is offered over between 6-10 weeks during the summer university vacation period (November to February) and all selected students will receive a scholarship. Participation is open to undergraduate (including honours) and postgraduate coursework students who are currently enrolled and will maintain ongoing enrolment in a program at UQ.
AIBN summer research projects provide an opportunity for high-achieving science and engineering students interested in a career in research to experience the unique environment of one of Australia’s leading research institutes. Your AIBN research experience is an authentic research project that provides:
- An opportunity to develop new academic and professional capabilities to enhance employability;
- Experience in research as a "test-drive" before embarking on future research studies;
- Access to research networks and connections with staff and postgraduate students;
- Supervision by world-class UQ researchers;
- Possibility of obtaining credit towards your degree.
To check your eligibility and find out more about what's included in the program, please visit the central Summer Research Program website.
Available projects
Functional Materials for Redox Flow Batteries
Effective energy storage systems play an important role in renewable energy utilisation and electric vehicles. Redox flow batteries have been recognised as promising candidates for large scale energy storage applications. The electrochemical performance of iron flow batteries is beset by side reactions and sluggish charge-storage properties. This project aims to develop new electrode materials for high-performance iron flow batteries with high efficiency and long cycling life.
Supervisor: Dr Bin Luo
Contact: click here to email
Location: St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland
Simulating cell membrane organisation and biomolecule penetration
Cell membranes contain hundreds of chemically distinct lipid species that form lipid domains that influence local membrane properties, such as its stiffness, thickness and permeability to drugs, polymers, peptides and biocompatible delivery systems. The aim of this project is to quantitatively characterise how changes in lipid composition impacts the permeation of biomolecules, drugs and/or polymers through the cell membrane using computational modelling techniques. The project requires good collaboration skills, a broad understanding of chemistry, biochemistry and/or polymer chemistry, and a willingness to learn skills in computational chemistry, including molecular dynamics simulation techniques and coding in python.
Supervisor: Professor Megan O'Mara
Contact: click here to email
Location: St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland
Functional Materials for Redox Flow Batteries
Hybrid inorganic-organic materials have important applications in semiconductor, energy, environmental and health technologies. Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of polymers is a recently introduced approach to preparing such hybrid structures by reacting polymer films with reactive organometallic SIS precursors. Advancement in the field is however hampered by a lack of fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of interactions of SIS precursors with polymers, and the narrow range of polymers studied so far. This project aims to identify novel polymer SIS precursor pairs. Expected outcomes include new methods for constructing nanostructures using functional polymers and novel fabrication processes exploiting polymer self-assembly.
Supervisor: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
Contact: click here to email
Location: St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland