Summer/Winter Research Program

Supervisor: Dr Rubbiya Ali
Email: r.ali1@uq.edu.au

This project focuses on designing and implementing a web-based interface for managing and displaying sample metadata using data management platforms such as Clowder, SEEK, or an alternative system. The interface must efficiently handle large tabular datasets, enabling seamless visualization and interaction with extensive mineral characterization data. A key challenge is ensuring efficient data ingestion, allowing users to append multiple data formats while maintaining data integrity and accessibility.

Supervisor: A/Prof Idriss Blakey
Email: i.blakey@uq.edu.au

The surface chemistry of materials, e.g. whether a surface is hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or somewhere in between plays a crucial role in a large number of applications, such as photolithography, microfluidics and microarray based diagnostic devices. The project will involve modifying the chemistry of surfaces using a grafting-to method to attach polymer chains to surfaces. Due to the nature of the chemical functionalities involved in the grafting reaction, the methodology can be applied to a wide range of polymer types and hence a diverse range of chemical surfaces can be achieved.

Supervisor: A/Prof Idriss Blakey
Email: i.blakey@uq.edu.au

Gold nanoparticles have interesting optical properties. An example of this is their remarkable ability to convert light energy into heat. In this project you will be encapsulating biomolecules such as enzymes with polymer microcapsules that are embedded with gold nanoparticles. When these microcapsules are irradiated with specific wavelengths of light, this causes the capsules to rupture and release the biomolecule payload. For enzymes this allows time and site-specific release so that the biological enzymatic function can be controlled both spatially and temporally at will.

Supervisor: A/Prof Brett Paterson
Email: brett.paterson@uq.edu.au

Metals play many important roles in medicine as metal-based materials, metallodrugs and agents for detecting and treating diseases. The biological applications can be influenced by the general properties and structure of the molecules or materials. We are a synthetic chemistry and radiochemistry group developing targeted radioactive agents called radiopharmaceuticals, for imaging and treating diseases such as cancer. This project will investigate the synthesis of new radioactive metal complexes, their attachment to antibodies and their potential to become metal-based radiopharmaceuticals. This project will involve synthetic chemistry and radiochemistry and the use of analytical techniques such as NMR, mass spectrometry and HPLC to characterise new molecules. Hours of engagement is 24-30 h per week

Supervisor: Dr Mostafa Kamal Masud 
Email: m.masud@uq.edu.au 

With advancements in nanotechnology, nanostructured materials are increasingly integrated into biosensor platforms to enable the rapid and sensitive detection of disease-specific biomarkers such as proteins, DNA, mRNA, miRNA, and extracellular vesicles. This project focuses on developing nanostructured materials, including mesoporous nanoparticles as nanocarriers and nanofilms as electrode surfaces, to enhance biomarker isolation and detection efficiency.

Supervisor: Dr Nicholas Westra Van Holthe
Email: n.westravanholthe@uq.edu.au

Studying mammalian cells in conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems has been an imperative methodology for studying cellular function, behaviour, and response to external stimuli. However, 2D cell culture methods position cells within an artificial environment that is incomparable to the native three-dimensional (3D) heterogenous and dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) that tissue cells inhabit within whole living organisms. Natural matrices in the ECM comprised of an array of macromolecules and polymers that self-assemble into complex and dynamic networks with specific nano- and micro-scale architectures.

Here we seek to recreate nature’s complexity and uncover the collective complex influence of ligand density, strain stiffening responsiveness, viscoelasticity, stiffness and matrix architecture on cellular behaviours within 3D microenvironments by generating complex yet controlled crosslinked biomimetic matrices. 36 hours per week.

Supervisor: Dr Huadong Peng
Email: huadong.peng@uq.edu.au

Yeast is an essential microbial platform for sustainable biomanufacturing, providing a promising alternative to traditional chemical synthesis and plant-based extraction. This project focuses on engineering yeast metabolism to enhance the biosynthesis of high-value compounds, such as natural products, bioactive molecules, and specialty chemicals with applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial biotechnology.

By leveraging synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies, we aim to optimise precursor supply, improve pathway flux, and enhance cellular robustness to maximise production efficiency. Advanced genome editing, dynamic pathway regulation, and omics-driven strain optimisation will be employed to achieve high yields and scalable production.

This research contributes to sustainable bioproduction while accelerating the commercialisation of yeast-based biofactories for high-value compounds. By reducing reliance on finite natural resources, this work supports the transition to a bio-based economy and strengthens Australia’s position in the global biotechnology sector. 35 hours per week

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Supervisor: Dr Zhengni Liu
Email: Zhengni.liu@uq.edu.au

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key mediators of intercellular communication, with cancer-derived EVs play a critical role in metastatic progression and immuneevasion. Understanding the biomolecular mechanisms of by which EVs suppress immune responses to promote metastasis is essential for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Leveraging our expertise in EV research, we have successfully isolated EVs from osteosarcoma cells through tangential flow filtration and comprehensively characterized their properties. Recent findings suggested that these EVs showed immunosuppressive effects on natural killer (NK) cells, with their impacts vary depending on the plasma composition in culture microenvironment. Building on this discovery, this project aims to identify the key plasma constituents responsible for modulating EV-induced NK cell suppression. Through compositional analyses of the plasma proteome, lipidome, and potential macromolecular complexes (e.g., fibrin, immunoglobulins and complement proteins), we seek to determine the molecular niche that drive the immunomodulatory capacity of osteosarcoma-derived EVs. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms through which EVs interact with specific biomolecules to suppress NK cells, this project will address a fundamental knowledge gap in EV biology and its role in osteosarcoma progression. The outcomes will provide insights into novel therapeutic approaches by leveraging or blocking these interactions and lay the groundwork for further EV-engineered immunotherapy

Supervisor: Dr Stephen Sanderson
Email: stephen.sanderson@uq.edu.au

Improving and developing materials for battery technologies is important to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The diffusion of ions through an electrolyte material is essential to allow current flow to and from the battery. This project will aim to use molecular simulations to study the molecular mechanisms and behaviour of ion transport in two-phase electrolyte materials. 20-36 hours per week

Supervisor: Dr Axayacatl Gonzalez
Email: r.gonzalezgarcia@uq.edu.au

IDEA bio has been established as a fermentation biofoundry for the characterisation of bioprocesses. This project is targeted for students eager to learn about the use of bioreactors and the analysis of microbial fermentation implementing a systems biology and multimers approach. At IDEA bio, we have developed microbial cell factories that will be tested in parallel bioreactor so we can develop novel strategies for the development of bioprocesses. This internship is ideal for students interested in hand on experience in bioprocesses and for students interested in the analysis of multiomics data using novel approaches including AI and machine learning.

Supervisor: Dr Miaoqiang Lyu
Email: m.lyu@uq.edu.au

Lead-free perovskite materials for solar cells and beyond. The students will learn solar cell fabrication and testing techniques. They are expected to undertake semiconducting materials preparation and optimisation, device assembly and testings. An oral presentation and summary of the experimental results are required by the end of the program.