Research strengths

We've invested in areas of research identified as priorities for the world, the nation and the state. In each of these areas we're continuing to build on the strength and experience of our experts.

Research by study area

Architecture and built environment

We bring together government, industry and community to create real-world solutions to built environment problems.

Business and law

Our research brings together world-leading academics with industry leaders, and we help current and future leaders to navigate a fast-emerging new world.

Creative industries, education and social justice

We are a world leader in creativity, teaching, and justice research.

Engineering

Ranked the leading research institution in Australia for the fifth year in a row.

Health

Our research improves patient treatment options and increases the world's knowledge of human health.

Science

Be part of scientific research that has real impact and discover the projects establishing our staff as international research leaders.

Real-world research

Research projects

Filter by research discipline:

Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

We are the leading hub in Australia for research-based knowledge in entrepreneurship.

Max Planck Queensland Centre

Research from the Max Planck Queensland Centre for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices.

STEM for Schools

STEM for Schools is led by Professor Lyn English, internationally recognised for her extensive research and publications in mathematics education and in STEM more broadly, spanning preschool through to year 10.

Faculties

Collaborate with government and industry to find innovative solutions that benefit business and community at a local, national and global level.

Explore areas like:

  • accountability, regulation and governance
  • consumers, markets and stakeholders
  • economics and finance
  • entrepreneurship, innovation and strategy
  • non-profit and social enterprise
  • organisation and work.

Learn more about research in the QUT Business School

Join our progressive and collaborative postgraduate community and make an original contribution to media, design or creative arts research. We believe in fostering a supportive intellectual environment that encourages our researchers to address real world problems in areas like:

  • digital media, communication and culture
  • innovation in the performing and digital arts
  • sustainability and innovation in design.

Learn more about research in our Faculty of Creative Industries

Recognised internationally as a leader in education research with a global outlook, we provide the right environment for our researchers and research students to make real progress and generate real world impact. Our research is leading the way in areas like:

  • childhood in changing contexts
  • teacher education and professional learning
  • literacies, language, texts and technologies
  • STEM education
  • student engagement, learning and behaviour.

Learn more about research in our Faculty of Education

Get hands-on experience with patients and students, and collaborate with government, community groups, hospitals and institutions from around the world. Your work has the potential to advance healthcare in areas including:

  • behavioural neuroscience and mental health
  • chronic conditions, including cancer
  • healthy lifestyles, ageing and environments
  • emergency care and health services
  • infection and injury prevention.

Learn more about research in our Faculty of Health

As our commercial, social and digital worlds continue to evolve, our laws and justice system must progress with them. Our research is helping to shape the law and guide policy reform in areas like:

  • justice
  • health law
  • technology
  • environment.

Learn more about research in our Faculty of Law

From robotics to biomedical engineering, we are leading the way with research that will contribute significantly to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of people across the globe. It’s exciting, world-changing work happening in areas like:

  • biology and environmental science
  • built environment
  • chemistry and physics
  • civil and environmental engineering
  • computer science
  • earth and atmospheric sciences
  • electrical engineering and robotics
  • information systems
  • mathematical sciences
  • mechanical, medical and process engineering.

Learn more about research in our Science and Engineering Faculty

Indigenous research

QUT is helping develop and grow Indigenous Australian research excellence and innovation, by supporting Indigenous Australian researchers and building a world-class Indigenous Australian research environment.

Learn more about our Indigenous research

Want to get involved?

Take part in QUT research for real rewards

We're always looking for members of the public to participate in our research. Our researchers can use your opinion, perspective, statistics or data to build exciting real-world research developments.

Donate your time to join a research project and contribute to new knowledge. Take a survey, join a conversation, or get hands-on with our research projects.

Discover available projects

We're making real progress

We're delivering solutions to the challenges of today and the future. Be part of research that has real impact, locally and on a global scale. See just some of the current projects that are establishing our researchers as international research leaders.

11 Apr 2025

Australian Cancer Atlas 2.0 wins prestigious national awards

QUT and the Cancer Council Queensland have been recognised with two Oceania Geospatial Excellence Awards for the Australian Cancer Atlas 2.0.

8 Apr 2025

Housing as a human right the focus of new QUT research group

QUT has established a new cross-disciplinary research group to tackle the housing crisis with more than 50 experts analysing the challenges and current policies in a quest to provide solutions.

8 Apr 2025

Hidden impact of COVID-19: testing and isolation played key role in pandemic's spread

‘Silent’ COVID-19 infections – cases in which individuals carried the virus without symptoms and avoided testing or isolation – likely exacerbated the pandemic’s early spread and distorted containment strategies, a novel QUT behavioural economics study has found.

7 Apr 2025

Significant boost for rare, aggressive ovarian cancer research

Dr Emma Bolderson, from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences, has received a $460,552 grant from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF).