Take part in important research projects
Griffith is one of Australia's leading research universities. Our staff and students undertake research projects to better understand the world, improve people's lives and make a societal impact.
Each month, we publish a list of open research projects or surveys and ask our staff, student and alumni community to participate.
If you want to invite Griffith staff, students, alumni or HDR candidates to take part in your research, please submit an application to conduct research.
Current research projects
The Volunteer for Important Research Projects broadcast is released monthly from January to December.
If you are interested in participating is one of the following studies, please read through the eligibility requirements and apply using the relevant link in the study.
Filter research projects
Research |
Read It, Set, Play! Co-Creating Social Stories of Brisbane Playgrounds with Parents and Caregivers of Autistic Children |
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Types of volunteers |
The selection process requires participants to be parents or caregivers over 18 years old with one or more children aged 2 to 17 years who have an autism spectrum diagnosis. |
Description |
Your experiences with playtime alongside your children can provide invaluable insights for this research. The project aims to explore the current play experiences of families with autistic children in community playgrounds and to develop a model for Playground Social Stories (children’s digital books) that can be replicated and adapted worldwide. The goal of this study is to provide a useful tool—a tailored social story of an existing playground—to help enhance the play experiences of families of autistic children in public spaces. We would like to invite parents and caregivers over 18 years old with one or more children aged 2 to 17 years with an autism spectrum diagnosis to participate in two one-on-one online co-creation workshops. These workshops will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and will take 90-120 minutes at a mutually convenient time. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
You are invited to participate in two sessions of one-on-one online co-creation workshops. These individual workshops will be conducted via Microsoft Teams at a mutually agreed date and time, involving only you and the Student Researcher. Each session will last between 90 and 120 minutes and will utilise a Miro Template to document your responses. Additionally, with your consent, a transcript of the meeting will be retained for future data analysis. You will contribute your ideas and lived experiences related to your child’s challenges and strengths in a playground context and your decision-making process when planning play activities. Your input will provide valuable insights for the Student Researcher to design a digital story called Playground Social Stories. Other participants will have separate sessions with the Student Researcher to share their own experiences. After gathering information from all participants, the Student Researcher will analyse and synthesise the data to create a model for Playground Social Stories. |
Incentive |
In recognition of your contribution, the final versions of the Playground Social Stories for each case study (Baldwin and Hercules St playgrounds) will be sent to you by email at the conclusion of the study, along with open access to the dissertation. |
Apply |
For more information, contact Krizia Sanchez Mendoza (krizia.sanchezmendoza@griffithuni.edu.au). |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/109 |
Research |
Exploring experiences of nutrition care within the relationship between personal trainers and their clients |
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Types of volunteers |
We are exploring nutrition care within the personal-trainer- client relationship, focusing on personal trainers’ experiences, nutrition education and role in advising clients, as well as clients’ satisfaction, trust and experiences with the nutrition advice they receive. Your participation would be greatly appreciated. |
Description |
We are exploring the experiences, preferences and needs of nutrition care within the personal trainer-client relationship. We would greatly appreciate your participation. This research aims to explore: Personal Trainer's: Experiences, education, and scope of practice in addressing clients' nutritional needs. Client's: Satisfaction, trust, and experiences with nutritional advice received from personal trainers. Nutrition care within the personal trainer-client relationship. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
You will be required to participate in a short demographic survey and a 30 minute online interview. |
Incentive |
For your time, you will receive a $20 Woolworths voucher. |
Apply |
For more information, contact Hannah Van Rooyen (hannah.vanrooyen@griffithuni.edu.au). |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/086 |
Research |
Food choices in fast food restaurants |
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Types of volunteers |
Aged over 18 who has eaten at least once at Hungry Jacks in the last six month. |
Description |
The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding how consumers make food choices in fast food restaurants. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Attend the Griffith Institute for Tourism laboratory on the Gold Coast campus, watch a video, select a burger form a restaurant menu and answer some survey questions. The session will take approximately 20 minutes. |
Incentive |
For your time, you will receive a $50 gift voucher. |
Apply |
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HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2024/848 |
Research |
Influenza and Respiratory illness Vaccine Trial |
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Types of volunteers |
Aged 18 to 49 years and in good general health. |
Description |
This study will evaluate the safety and immune response of multiple investigational vaccines aimed at protecting against influenza and other respiratory illnesses. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
The study will last about 6 months. During the study, you will be required to attend at least 5 study centre visits over a period of approximately 4 weeks and have at least 1 phone call 6 months later. |
Incentive |
You will be reimbursed for your time and travel associated with each study visit. |
Apply |
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HREC approval |
This trial has been approved by Bellberry HREC (#2024-12-2096) and GUHREC (#2025/112). |
Research |
Probiotic Supplement Trial |
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Types of volunteers |
Adults aged 18 - 60 years old, in good health, vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and are able to attend all scheduled study visits. |
Description |
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a probiotic supplement on the immune system and in reducing symptoms of upper respiratory infectious diseases in healthy adults. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
The study will last up to 8 weeks. During the study, you will be required to attend 3 study centre visits and have weekly phone calls. |
Incentive |
You will be reimbursed up to $400 for your time, travel and compliance associated with each study visit. |
Apply |
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HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/073 |
Research |
Effect of FLEXible catheter materials on catheter angle, dwell time, thrombosIs and intersTitial oedema. (FLEXIT trial) |
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Types of volunteers |
Non-pregnant, healthy participants aged 18-75 years; BMI 18.5-35; Australian citizen with a current Medicare card; No history of chronic/infectious disease or clotting disorders; No recreational drug use or alcohol abuse within the past 2 years (as defined by the Australian guidelines of illicit drug use or 10 standard drinks per week or more than 4 in one day). |
Description |
This research aims to improve the experience of hospital patients who undergo cannulation (i.e. have a small tube placed in the vein in their arm for easy drug administration and blood collection) by understanding what makes cannulas fail/stop working. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants will come in for one screening appointment where they will go through a medical history questionnaire, have blood and urine collected and undergo ultrasound (~2 hours). If eligible, they will be booked in for bilateral cannulation and stay in the clinic for 8 hours/day for up to 3 consecutive days and 4 hours on a fourth consecutive day (if both cannulas fail, this study period will end prematurely). During this period of up to 4 days, they will have the cannulas flushed with saline and undergo nurse assessment and ultrasound observation twice per day. Finally, they will come in for a follow-up appointment 24-96 hours after cannula removal which will involve an assessment of the site and any symptoms participants experience (~1 hour). |
Incentive |
Each participant will receive up to $800 in Coles/Woolworths gift cards, meals provided during clinic visits and the opportunity to participate in important research. |
Apply |
For more information, contact XLabS on (07) 5552 9564 or xlabsconsult@griffith.edu.au. |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/150 |
Research ethics
Griffith is committed to the conduct of ethical research. Research is conducted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025). The research ethics and integrity service is managed by the Office for Research in conjunction with the Human Research Ethics Committee.
If you have any ethical questions or concerns about a project listed here, contact the Griffith University Research Ethics and Integrity team on 3735 5585 or research-ethics@griffith.edu.au. There is more information available on the Research Ethics, Integrity and Compliance website.
Upcoming broadcasts 2025
- 24 April 2025
- 22 May 2025
- 19 June 2025
- 17 July 2025
- 14 August 2025
- 11 September 2025
- 9 October 2025
- 6 November 2025
- 4 December 2025
Be part of the broadcast
To have your study included in the broadcast, submit an application to conduct research.