Our HDR candidates

Cities Research Instititute proudly hosts over 130 higher degree by research [HDR] students across disciplines including planning, engineering, architecture, environmental science, and public health. We are committed to developing and enhancing the skills and capabilities of the next generation of researchers and professionals.

We foster a vibrant research culture through peer-to-peer learning and one-to-one mentoring for HDR students. We promote multidisciplinary collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Partnering with industry collaborators, we explore in-kind contributions such as equipment, technologies, or data access, to further enhance our HDRs research skills and capabilities and their research projects.

Want to join us in shaping a sustainable and innovative future through excellence in research? Explore available PhD projects.

HDR activity spotlight

a young man standing at a podium in front of a presentation screen

Biomimicry HDR Nick at World Biodiversity Forum24

June, Davos Switzerland

Nick Heier, PhD candidate, is researching how biomimicry can help implement the nature-positive agenda for Brisbane 2032 Olympics legacy infrastructure projects. In June, he was invited to present at the World Biodiversity Forum 2024, where the theme was translating science into action.

His presentation, Biomimicry as an Interdisciplinary Framework for Biodiversity Conservation, highlighted biomimicry as a driver for nature-positive innovations in sustainable built environments through interdisciplinary collaboration and reconnection with nature. Key takeaways included the value of biodiversity as a source of biological strategies and a resource for identifying deep patterns across taxa. Nick also emphasised the crucial role of biologists, ecologists, and conservation workers in designing sustainable built environment projects.

a young man standing at a podium in front of a presentation screen

HDR Chris at Brisbane Biodiversity Seminar

June, Brisbane

Roads create highly intricate environments with significant adverse impacts on wildlife, necessitating equally complex solutions and specialist guidance to mitigate these effects. Alongside Brisbane City Council’s in-house ecologist Martha Rees who discussed the council Wildlife Movement Solutions program, PhD candidate Chris Johnson shared research on road impacts on birds (flying over them is easier said than done) and strategies aimed at minimising long-term impacts to wildlife, such as roadkill and habitat fragmentation. This was a hugely popular and informative event, with over 200 attendees in person and virtually, including interstate and international participants.

A middle aged man from sholders up with short dark hair and closely cropped beard wearing glasses and a black polo shirt standing in front of a glass wall

Dr. Mark Bailey: New Executive Role

We are delighted that Dr Mark Bailey has joined the CRI Executive Committee as the HDR Co-Ordinator. Mark is the go-to person for our HDR candidates, assisting with matters related to candidature, including onboarding new candidates, managing candidature milestones, accessing grants and funding opportunities (including scholarships), and addressing any general inquiries about their time at Griffith.

Having been with CRI since 2014 and Griffith since 2011, Mark completed his PhD with Cities/Griffith in 2021. He brings a wealth of knowledge on contemporary issues in higher degree research and is well-versed in Griffith's administration systems. His close collaboration with many CRI members over the years ensures a deep understanding of our institute.

Current  research candidates, topics, and supervisors

Candidate

Research Topic

Supervisors

 

Mohammad Abbasi

Indigenous Australian Cultural Land Asset Information Management (CLAIM) using remote sensing

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Sherif Mostafa

Abdulaziz Abdulmalik

Assessing the efficacy of an innovative hybrid mass solid timber-steel composite (MSTSC) system in mitigating progressive collapse

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Prof Hong Guan

Stephen Akosah

Experimental and numerical study of the geotechnical behaviour of waste glass-gravel-granular rubber

A/Prof Ivan Gratchev

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

Dima Jamal Al Atawneh

Impact of climate change on groundwater resources: Dead Sea Basin (DSD) and southeast of South Australia (Penola)

Dr Edoardo Bertone

Dr Nick Cartwright

Mohammed Al-ogaili

Predicting the recession and overtopping of two-class armour berm breakwater

Dr Amir Etemad-Shahidi

Dr Nick Cartwright

Fida Ali

Spatial MCDM tool for offshore wind and solar energy systems

Dr Amir Etemad-Shahidi

Prof Rodney Stewart

Muhammad Altaf

Integration of BIM and virtual and augmented reality for periodic inspection of a building

Dr Sherif Mostafa

Prof Rodney Stewart

Isuri Amarasinghe

Digital Twin for sustainable and affordable multi-family housing construction

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Oz Sahin

Nikshan Amatya

Parametric study of mass timber connection with dowel-type

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Prof Hong Guan

Syed Ammad

A BIM-CPS based digital twin integration for effective construction site monitoring: The CSMDTS approach

Dr Sherif Mostafa

Prof Rodney Stewart

Suhyun An

Analysing coastal city resilience: A comparative study of coastal hazard adaptation strategies

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

A/Prof Michael Howes

Sadia Anam

The impact of thermal comfort on the occupants’ productivity in office buildings in Bangladesh

Dr Fan Zhang

Dr Henry Skates

Jenelle Bartlett

Responding to the challenges of climate change with nature-based solutions (NBS) in SEQ catchments

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

Dr Ed Morgan

Sebastian Bernal

Public health authorities’ decision-making in climate forced vector-borne diseases

Dr Oz Sahin

Prof Rodney Stewart

Kishan Bhadiyadra

Investigation of MICP in conjunction with nitrifying bacteria for mitigation of coastal erosion

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Madison Bland

Planning for active transport: Assessment and funding of walking and cycling infrastructure and services

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Heather Shearer

Nick Boey

Developing a general analysis methodology for timber concrete composite floors

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Prof Hong Guan

sarath Chandra

Towards climate justice: Developing heat action plans in the Global South

A/Prof Shannon Rutherford

Dr Ed Morgan

Shusen Chen

Numerical study for contaminant transport in marine sediment

Prof Dong Jeng

Prof Hong Zhang

Vishal Rajendraprasad Chulliparambil

Phytocapping and ecological rehabilitation of landfills in Queensland: Current practices, barriers, and opportunities

Dr Ruby Michael

Dr Tony Matthews

Cynthia Coyne

Developing community management strategies to support renewable energy in Indigenous communities

Prof Cara Beal

Emeritus Prof Ciaran O'Faircheallaigh

Ayon Das

Dynamic collapse response of dowel-connected mass timber structure in the case of an earthquake

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Prof Hong Guan

Abhijeet Dashwant

Application of artificial intelligence for advanced urban water services

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Abel Silva Vieira

Niloofar Dehghani Samani

Maximising outcomes for cycling in an Olympic and Paralympic Games City: The case of Brisbane

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Kelly Bertolaccini

Naoneet Deo

Digital Twin and simulation-based multi-objective optimisation for energy efficient and sustainable

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Fan Zhang

Hong Lich Dinh

Glass waste revolution: Enhancing geopolymer concrete with sustainable fine aggregate and binder systems

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Phuoc Tho Dinh

Advanced study on the two-way flexural behaviour of post-tensioned composite concrete structures with Profiled steel sheeting

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Dr Sanaul Chowdhury

Manori Dissanayaka

Evaluation of GHG emissions from operational delays of flights at ground operations

Prof Tim Ryley

Dr Bojana Spasojevic Sijacki

Mark Donaldson

Investigating trace metal dynamics in coastal wetland sediments

A/Prof Will Bennett

Dr Nic Doriean

Fang Dong

Stability analysis of bridge abutment and approach using finite element modelling

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Afifah Eleksiani

Assessing the impacts of renewable energy intervention to climate-resilient isolated communities

Prof Cara Beal

Prof Brendan Mackey

Johanna Engels

Evaluating potential microbial health risks associated with urine derived fertilisers using QMRA

A/Prof Anne Roiko

Prof Cara Beal

Md. Esraz-Ul-Zannat

Making water resilient city to climate change through sustainable urban planning and innovative tech

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

Dr Ed Morgan

Anais Fabre

Innovation tools in public transport systems to mitigate climate change

A/Prof Michael Howes

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

Adam Faircloth

Assessment of vibration and acoustic performance of hybrid timber buildings

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Consuelo Fariello

response of humpback whales to climate drivers in Australia

Dr Olaf Meynecke

Dr Jasper De Bie

Elisa Fernandez Ramos

ASSUU: Aquatic Self-Sufficient Urban Unit - Urban Sustainable Infrastructure in Sea Cities

Prof Joerg Baumeister

Prof Paul Burton

Annes Elsa Francis

Recommendations for building environmentally sustainable stadiums for large sporting events

Prof Sharyn Rundle-Thiele

Dr Cheryl Desha

Sophie Gadaloff

Movement & Place: The new intersection between vibrant urban spaces & sustainable transport planning

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Natalie Osborne

Nasim Ghasemi

Dowel-type connection in timber structure: Dynamic response predictions based on finite element model

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Prof Hong Guan

Marzieh Ghasemieshkaftaki

Built environments and subjective wellbeing of immigrant students in Australia (Iranian students)

Prof Karine Dupré

Dr Ruwan Fernando

Xuechen Gu

The improvement of precast double-layer shear walls based on experiments and numerical simulations

Dr Sanaul Chowdhury

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Sam Guy

Strengthening the resilience of water and energy management in discrete Indigenous communities

Prof Cara Beal

Dr Melissa Jackson

Lazarus Gyang

Development of a novel floating structure for fish farming from lightweight materials

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Prof Joerg Baumeister

Muhammad Usman Haider

Evaluation and improvement of the Southeast Queensland travel demand model for the Olympics

Prof Matthew Burke

A/Prof Nagesh Shukla

Hanieh Hashemi

Micro-mobility transport for major events

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Abraham Leung

Nick Heier

Biomimicry and resilience engineering for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games

Dr Cheryl Desha

Dr Caroline Riot

Mia Hikuwai

Investigating machine learning to better understand complex environmental management issues

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Abel Silva Vieira

Mohammad Hossain

Transport modelling for sporting mega-events at the conurbation scale

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Abraham Leung

Shabnam Hosseinzadeh Shahmarbiglou

Site selection of offshore renewable energy using multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches

Dr Amir Etemad-Shahidi

Prof Rodney Stewart

Iqrar Hussain

The structural performance and design of aluminium cladding systems

Dr Sanam Aghdamy

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

Jayden Hyman

Integrated ecosystem assessment and adaptive management framework for deep-sea mining

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Oz Sahin

S. M. Tariqul Islam

Developing an economically viable and environmentally friendly technology for plastic waste management

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Tingting Liu

Ella Jackman

Communication for heat resilience: Exploring the role of heatwave communication for behaviour change in older people

A/Prof Shannon Rutherford

Dr Monique Lewis

Ziyang Jiao

Numerical and theoretical studies of progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete

Prof Hong Guan

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Christopher Johnson

Fauna sensitive road design: Implications for academic research, practitioners, and policy

Dr Tony Matthews

Prof Matthew Burke

Sadaf Karkoodi

Hybrid timber and steel structural system

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Pranavi Kasula

Rethinking social inclusivity: The case of Delhi's urban villages

Prof Scott Baum

Dr Heather Shearer

Sheriden Keegan

Building regional capacity in developing sustainable and resilient food systems

Dr Cheryl Desha

Dr Kimberley Reis

Greg Kitson

Being On Country Off Country

Emeritus Prof Darryl Low Choy

A/Prof Silvia Serrao-Neumann

Aileen Koh

Investigating modern slavery risks for the Australian construction industry

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Tingting Liu

Heera Lee

The impact of seagrass on trace metal dynamics in coastal sediments

A/Prof Will Bennett

Dr Clare Morrison

Yasmim Leiros Meira

Assessing past and future droughts to ensure water supply security in the face of climate change

Dr Oz Sahin

Dr Edoardo Bertone

Lin Li

Experimental investigation on the performance of bladed pile

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Evelyn Liew

Life cycle assessment of construction and demolition waste in tunnel engineering projects through BIM

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Dr Cheryl Desha

Jie Lin

An integrated coupling model for wave-seabed-pile interactions

Prof Dong Jeng

Prof Hong Zhang

Peiqing Lu

Solutions to prevent glue bond failure in Australian hardwood Glulam

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Lynn Lue-Kopman

The path to the plate: Urban food security building resilience - a case study of Logan City

Dr Cheryl Desha

Dr Kimberley Reis

Martin Luna Juncal

Application of high-frequency, real-time data for a fertiliser management decision-support system

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Edoardo Bertone

Jingyao Ma

Numerical study for the stability of suction anchor under cyclic loading

Prof Dong Jeng

Prof Hong Zhang

Ali Mahmoudian

Multi-objective optimal power sharing in hybrid AC/DC microgrids

Prof Junwei Lu

Dr Sascha Stegen

Manpreet Manpreet

A spatial-temporal assessment of droughts over the Brisbane River catchment (Australia)

Dr Fernanda Helfer

Dr Amir Etemad-Shahidi

Sarah McCulloch

Supplementary feeding patterns of east Australian humpback whales on their southern migration

Dr Olaf Meynecke

Dr Jasper De Bie

Gerard Mcnamara

Quantification of wave transformation using electromagnetic sensing and machine learning

Dr Nick Cartwright

Dr Darrell Strauss

Rebecca McNaught

The role of collaborative local governance in transitioning to climate and disaster resilient development in the Pacific region

A/Prof Robert Hales

A/Prof Johanna Nalau

John Miller

The tracking, power trends, and wave climate of tropical cyclones in the Coral Sea

Dr Darrell Strauss

Dr Guilherme Vieira da Silva

Rezvane Mirsane

Site selection of co-located onshore wind and solar energy farms using MCDM approach.

Dr Amir Etemad-Shahidi

Prof Rodney Stewart

Rafaella Mogiz Silva Leite Carvalho

Participatory design and management of apartment building projects in BIM and immersive environments

Dr Tingting Liu

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Shuraik Mohamed Abdul Kader

Viability of recycled materials as sustainable growing medium for green roofs in Australia

Dr Ruby Michael

A/Prof Ivan Gratchev

Marli Moller

Seeking Elsewhere: Retention of women in the Australian architectural Profession post-registration

Prof Karine Dupré

Dr Ruwan Fernando

Sepideh Motamedpooya

Adapting to climate change by improving the hydrological performance of a green roof

Dr Fan Zhang

Prof Rodney Stewart

Hamza Mubarak

Reactive power management for LV distribution networks with high solar PV penetration

Dr Mohammad Sanjari

Dr Feifei Bai

Vasantha Pragash Nadarajah

Bending behaviour and design of double corrugated cold-formed steel roof system

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Sarah Naseri

An integrated optima-real-time monitoring of water quality framework in water distribution systems

Prof Rodney Stewart

Prof Hong Zhang

Vinay Kumar Nataraj

AI-driven logistics and trade management to enhance the competitiveness of Australian businesses

A/Prof Nagesh Shukla

Dr Harsha Sarvaiya

Gam Thi Nguyen

Developing a business case to support a circular economy approach in wastewater management

A/ Prof MD Sayed Iftekhar

Prof Cara Beal

Katharina Nieberler-Walker

Investigating the role of purposefully designed therapeutic landscapes

Dr Cheryl Desha

A/Prof Caryl Bosman

Mochamad Nurhestitunggal

The impact of Village Law on development planning system in Indonesia

Professor Paul Burton

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

Grace O'Connor

Investigating local food systems, small-scale market gardening and alternative food charity models

Dr Kimberley Reis

Dr Cheryl Desha

Kane Lee Offenbaume

Monitoring of health based targets E.coli and Enterococci in recreational waters, using fluorescence sensors

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Edoardo Bertone

Sule Ozkal

Water quality management via high-frequency monitoring for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef

Dr Edoardo Bertone

Prof Rodney Stewart

Andres Pazmino Jaramillo

The role of strategic values-led planning in the conservation of ecologically significant landscapes

A/Prof Michael Howes

Dr Ed Morgan

Leo Peach

Evaluating machine learning for operational coastal wave condition forecasting

Dr Nick Cartwright

Dr Darrell Strauss

Philomina Peter

The combined effects of microplastics and PFAS on the microbes, aquatic fauna, and human health

Dr Edoardo Bertone

Prof Rodney Stewart

Anna Petrova

The effects of urban stresses on soil organisms and what it means for trees in cities

Dr Chris Pratt

Dr Ruby Michael

Huu Duc Pham

Mechanical properties of aluminium alloys and stainless steel at elevated temperatures

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Thi Phuong Trang Pham

Intelligent pattern recognition for water demand and supply management

Prof Rodney Stewart

Prof Hong Zhang

Farid Piran

Footfall-Induced Vibration (FIV) of composite timber floors

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Prof Hong Guan

Kava Piran

The legacy of Mega Events in promoting sustainability

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

Prof Paul Burton

Nasrin Pourshab

Multi-objective optimisation of facades in office buildings

Dr Fan Zhang

Prof Rodney Stewart

Jayakrishna Puthi

implementing optimisation approaches to enhance the operation of virtual power plants

Dr Sascha Stegen

Dr Mohammad Sanjari

Ahmed Qasim

An investigation into enabling local community led food supply systems

Dr Cheryl Desha

Dr Kimberley Reis

Huiyue Qiao

Low-cost Internet of Things platform for bridge structural health monitoring

Prof Hong Guan

A/Prof Yong Zhu

Maryam Rajabi Ghotromi

Spatial analysis of pedestrian networks: Understanding pedestrian behaviours and spatial networks

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Abraham Leung

Dilakshan Rajaratnam

Development of an E-commerce circular economic trading platform for built environment: A solution integrated with Digital Twin (nD BIM) and block chain

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Tingting Liu

Behzad Ranjbarnia

Transforming tourist travel behaviour using Mobility-as-a Service (Case study - Townsville)

Prof Matthew Burke

Dr Abraham Leung

Robert Reis

Comparison of wind load drag coefficients for industrial structures

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Zhongyuan Ren

Effect of ground granulated blast furnace slag replacement offly ash as an aluminosilicate precurs

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Tayyaba Riaz

Assessment of GnPR in urban planning parameters and its implications: A cross-country analysis

Prof Scott Baum

Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes

Krishnaveny Risheharan

Floating mangrove wave breakers for coastal protection and production (Case study - Queensland)

Prof Joerg Baumeister

A/Prof Fernanda Adame Vivanco

Ruwan Samarakoon Arachchige

The impact of board gender diversity on cash holdings, stock liquidity, and green financing in international markets

Dr Benjamin Liu

Prof Shireenjit Johl

Neebajan Sathiyaseelan

Post-fire behaviour and design of aluminium lipped channel beams

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

Prof Hong Guan

Mohammad Sheykhi Eilanlou

Architecture and construction of Modernism in the Global South case study: Pluralities of modernisation

Dr Peyman Akhgar

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Sahman Soleimani

Investigations into structural robustness of mass timber buildings

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Guowei Sui

Evaluating the lateral resistance of hollow shaft helical piles

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Tianyu Sun

Application of 3D printing technology and geopolymer in the large-scale building

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Dr Sam Canning

Elakiya Thavarajah

The structural behaviour and design of roll-formed aluminium beam

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

James Thompson

Effects of wave farms on coastal dynamics

Dr Nick Cartwright

Dr Amir Etemad-Shahidi

Nathalie Tomson

Air pollution mitigation through the design and evaluation of living green barriers

Prof Ivan E Agranovski

Dr Ruby Michael

Jane Toner

Coevolution of biomimicry and regenerative design for place-based projects

Dr Cheryl Desha

Dr Kimberley Reis

Thong Tri Tran

Structural behaviour and design of light gauge steel frame walls in modular buildings

Dr Shanmuganathan Gunalan

A/Prof Hassan Karampour

Yunjin Wang

Rebuilding children’s nature: Exploring nature-based place-based attachment in metropolitan areas

Dr Cheryl Desha

Dr Tanja Beer

Cassidy Winter

Assessing the leaf litter invertebrate diversity of constructed green spaces in urban environments

Dr Ruby Michael

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Patrick Woletz

Assessment of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) abundance in the Gold Coast

Dr Olaf Meynecke

Prof Brendan Mackey

Paul Wright

Techno-economic-environmental life cycle assessment of green hydrogen heavy road transport options

Prof Rodney Stewart

Dr Ali El Hanandeh

Chengcai Yan

Assessing compressive and uplift capacity of enlarged precast pile foundation

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Zeping Yang

Back analysis of airport pavement strength rating with stochastic approach

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Jingwei Yao

Water quality research with MODFLOW and SD-MUSIC Model

Prof Hong Zhang

Prof Bofu Yu

Farzana Yeasmin

Managing heat stress among Bangladesh ready-made clothing industry workers.

A/Prof Shannon Rutherford

Dr Aaron Bach

Yupeng Zhang

Evaluating rigid pavement performance using integrated pavement condition analysis

A/Prof Erwin Oh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Hongchuan Zhang

Model with sediment transport near seabed in coastal regions

Prof Hong Zhang

Prof Dong Jeng

Xinyu Zhang

Hydrodynamic analysis of offshore fish pen design

Prof Hong Zhang

Prof Dong Jeng

Yue Zhao

Long-term durability assessment of GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) bars: An experimental study

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Dr Dominic E.L Ong

Fei Zhao

Optimise the application of coffee ground as filler in concrete

Dr Jeung-Hwan Doh

Dr Sanaul Chowdhury

Ziqi Zhao

Prefabricated post-tensioned flat plate system against progressive collapse

Prof Hong Guan

A/Prof Benoit Gilbert

Xuna Zhu

The road less taken: Understanding the barriers, and prospects for cycle-tourism in Queensland

A/Prof Gui Lohmann

Dr Abraham Leung