QUT offers a diverse range of student topics for Honours, Masters and PhD study. Search to find a topic that interests you or propose your own research topic to a prospective QUT supervisor. You may also ask a prospective supervisor to help you identify or refine a research topic.
Found 468 matching student topics
Displaying 409–420 of 468 results
Production of hard carbon for sodium-ion batteries
The transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind necessitates efficient and large-scale energy storage solutions. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage due to the abundance and low cost of sodium. Hard carbon anodes, derived from biomass, offer a sustainable and effective solution for SIBs, providing a pathway to enhance energy storage capabilities and support renewable energy integration.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
Understanding user behaviours of kinetic energy harvesting
Kinetic energy harvesters are used in devices such as wearable fitness trackers and smartwatches to capture energy from human movement to prolong battery life. They are emerging as both an energy source and a means to provide context information for recognizing human physical activities like exercising or walking (Sandhu et al, 2023).Kinetic energy harvesters provide several benefits, including cost reduction associated with battery replacement and maintenance, minimizing electronic waste, and decreasing the carbon footprint related to energy production and disposal. …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- School
- School of Information Systems
SafeAge product safety
Older persons as a cohort are at high risk of consumer product-related injury and death. The most recent Australian research into product safety issues for older persons was conducted over 25 years ago, yet the marketplace and product technology have changed dramatically and the population at risk has grown.This Australian Research Council funded Discovery Project aims to generate contemporary knowledge of the role of consumer products in injuries and deaths for older persons. It is a 3-year collaborative academic research …
- Study level
- PhD
- School
- School of Public Health and Social Work
- Research centre(s)
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation
Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation
Implementation of the Global Minimum Tax by Australia-based MNEs
Global Minimum Tax (GMT) is an emerging framework in the international tax landscape, anticipated to play a vital role in curbing tax base erosion and profit shifting by multinational corporations. Australia's implementation of the GMT aligns with the OECD/G20 Two-Pillar Solution, specifically addressing the tax challenges of digital economy globalization. Starting January 2024, a 15% global minimum tax will apply to large multinational enterprises (MNEs), alongside a domestic minimum tax to safeguard Australia's tax base against profit shifting and erosion. …
- Study level
- Master of Philosophy, Honours
- School
- School of Accountancy
Physics-informed reinforcement learning for complex environments, using graph neural networks
Neglecting to incorporate physics information into world models for reinforcement learning leads to reduced adaptability to dynamic and complex environments and overall learning outcomes.In this project, we endeavour to develop and implement learnable models in reinforcement learning (RL) based on graph neural networks (GNNs). These models will integrate object and relation-centric representations to enable accurate predictions, strong generalization, and system identification in complex, dynamical systems. Additionally, we will focus on leveraging extensive world knowledge or physics information to refine representations …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- School
- School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics
Empowering communities with DataCare: ethical data practices for smart cities
Smart cities hold immense potential for progress, but their success hinges on citizen empowerment and ethical data practices. Our research initiative, DataCare, aims at reshaping the landscape of smart cities by prioritising citizens, communities, and small businesses. This project, developed in collaboration with Brisbane Residents United (BRU), focuses on transforming smart cities from profit-driven entities to community-led developments.BRU is a community association serving as a vital grassroots advocacy and peer support network for suburban and local resident groups across Greater …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- School
- School of Design
- Research centre(s)
- Digital Media Research Centre
Design Lab
Investigating community advocacy in response to aircraft noise pollution in Brisbane: an ethnographic study
The flight path design and community engagement practices associated with Brisbane Airport have long been criticised for prioritising profit over community wellbeing, leading to excessive aircraft noise pollution. These issues have now amounted to a federal Senate Inquiry and an investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.This PhD research project aims to explore the dynamics between Brisbane Airport and the affected residential communities across more than 220 suburbs, drawing inspiration from a similar study conducted into the social engineering practices of Schiphol …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- School
- School of Design
- Research centre(s)
- Digital Media Research Centre
Design Lab
Immersive audio data visualisation for better engagement of residential communities exposed to aircraft noise pollution
This PhD project addresses the significant issue of misleading noise data in the context of residential communities exposed to aircraft noise pollution. Despite efforts by authorities to provide noise exposure forecasts and information based on the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) approach, many communities feel misled by the noise contours presented to them. Experiences from previous major development projects at Australian airports have shown a range of problems with relying solely on the ANEF as a noise information tool as …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- School
- School of Design
- Research centre(s)
-
Design Lab
Supercapacitor with 2D vertical heterostructure electrodes
Supercapacitor is a promising energy storage device with advantages of high power density, fast charging/discharging rate and long cycling life. However, the energy density of supercapacitor is relatively low as compared to that of other devices such as lithium-ion battery. To improve the energy density, new electrode materials including graphene and metal oxides have been explored for supercapacitor electrodes.Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures recently offered a compelling solution to enhance the performance of supercapacitors by combining more than one components into a …
- Study level
- PhD
- School
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering
The Daigou phenomenon: exploring the heterodox behaviours of entrepreneurial Chinese shoppers
As demand for Australian-made products increases, a new type of entrepreneur has emerged. Daigous, or purchasing agents, serve as important ‘middlemen’ – connecting Chinese customers with Western brands. Daigou have become a paradox. They have been associated with ‘unorthodox’ behaviours such as stockpiling highly sought after products, for example, they have previously created market-wide shortages of infant formula. On the other hand, Daigou are increasingly enacting opportunistic behaviours, boosting demand for premium Australian products such as, cosmetics, skincare and vitamins.Recently, …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- School
- School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
Investigating integration of climate change adaptation policies across government levels
Climate change poses an unprecedented global challenge, and its impact is profoundly felt at the local level. The pressing need for effective adaptation strategies requires a nuanced understanding of how local governments navigate and integrate policies at various administrative tiers. Our research project delves into the pivotal question of how local governments align with regional, state, and national climate change adaptation policies, offering a crucial lens into the challenges and opportunities that emerge at the intersection of policy and planning.This …
- Study level
- Honours
- School
- School of Architecture and Built Environment
Better bus stops for climate, context, and community
Bus stops are crucial touch points for a public transport system, and have the potential to impact human health and wellbeing, as well as rider experience. As a ubiquitous aspect of the urban fabric within a city, bus stops impact the character and function of the streetscape and their design can impact people’s experiences within the public realm. Yet their role in shaping everyday places is usually neglected and is under researched. In addition, with increased temperatures and extreme weather …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- School
- School of Architecture and Built Environment
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