SHORT TERM ATTACHMENTS

Summer Scholarship (2023)

Please contact Shaneel directly for details around the short term opportunities

Project 1: Microplastics removal from water (Rockhampton or Gladstone)

Project 2: Electrochemical determination of circadian hormones (Rockhampton)

Workplace Attachment (2023 onwards)

Please contact Shaneel directly for details around the short term opportunities

Project 1: Evaluation of analytical data (No tagged location)

Project 2: Preparation of review manuscripts (No tagged location)

PHD RESEARCH AREAS

Project 1 Microplastics Removal from water (available from 2025)

This project will be aimed at removing microplastics fragments from water via flocculation. It will be a chemistry-discipline project, and jointly offered between CQU and a collaborating institution. More details on this will be made available in due course. However, aspiring PhD candidates are welcome to contact Shaneel now and discuss commencing a PhD study and scholarship application.

Project 2 Remediation of nitrate-enriched water in Queensland (available from mid 2024)

This is an industry-funded project that aims to remove high nitrate levels from industrial wastewater. It is looking at bioremediation pathways to achieve this, and will be jointly supervised by Dr Shaneel Chandra and Dr Angela Capper. The project will be based at the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre in Gladstone and may require occasional travel to Rockhampton for analytical work. The project is multidisciplinary and straddles the following Field of Research Codes:

340199 Analytical chemistry not elsewhere classified (30%)

410503 Groundwater quality processes and contaminated land assessment (40%)

370704 Surface water hydrology (30%)

Project 3 Novel storage methods to address current limitations of renewable energies

One of the requirements of solar energy harvesting is to store the harvested energy during the day and use it at night. This field is still in its infancy and hence the progress with solar energy adaptation is slow. There is a potential to manufacture solar energy storage facilities using biochar. To this end, CQU researchers have produced biochar from more than 30 feedstocks using an existing custom-built pyrolyser capable of operating in any simulated condition.

A research scholar is therefore sought to join our team to explore the possibility of using biochars in designing and manufacturing of solar energy storage facilities. This project is jointly supervised by Shaneel Chandra and Associate Professor Nanjappa Ashwath.

Project 4 Extraction of nanofibers via green synthesis from waste oils and biochar for various environmental applications

Nanotechnology is a buzzword, and rightly so. The products of nanotechnology are all around us, from window tints, to mobile phones to even within our bodies. Yet, there are significant concerns around several aspects of the use and applications of nanomaterials, perhaps rightly so. One such concern is the origin of nanomaterials, which often includes methods with a high environmental footprint.

To address this challenge, the proposed study will ‘harvest’ nanomaterials from green sources, characterize these materials using a mix of spectroscopies and microscopies and apply them to various environmental applications. The project is multidisciplinary, and includes the guidance of chemistry, engineering and botany experts.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with engineering, botany and chemistry experts in other countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 5 Smart detection devices for hormone measurements in humans

This project is a multidisciplinary study in partnership with psychology experts. Stemming off the long-held interest in measuring the effects of abnormal hormonal transmission in humans and animals, this project addresses a very critical limitation – the ability to measure hormone levels in a rapid and sensitive manner. It would suit anyone who has a chemistry Master’s or Hons degree.

Project 6 Novel smart sensors for early diagnosis of disease

The project straddles some biochemistry and analytical chemistry. It will suit a student with background in biology and chemistry, though this attribute is not essential. The project will be offered in collaboration with colleagues in biomedical sciences. Diseases include various cancers, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, dementia and other conditions like dementia.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with biomedical experts in other countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 7 A selective and sensitive field biosensor for iron determination in saline waters

Iron association is linked to the lability and distribution of other notably species in water. We are extending our analytical capabilities towards environmental monitoring and in a mine-region like Central Queensland places us in an ideal position to be able to develop sensors for iron detection. This project will straddle both environmental chemistry and electrochemistry research areas (40%) and (60%). This project will suit a student with strong analytical chemistry background.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with environmental chemistry experts in other countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 8 Development of an Electrochemical Sensor for Narcotics

This project looks at disposable biosensors for screening for metabolites of several drinks in the Pacific. There will be extensive travel involved. Ideally, the student will have a background in analytical chemistry, or organic chemistry.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with medical, chemistry or pharmacology experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

MASTERS RESEARCH AREAS

Please note that Masters research areas can be scaled down to suit an Hons project. If you are interested, please contact Shaneel to discuss.

NEW PROJECTS!

Project 1 Take Only As Directed: Drug metabolites in Queensland Waterways and their Effects on Humans

Many over the counter, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to treat pain, fever and inflammation which is the reason for their widespread popularity among millions of persons worldwide at any one time. However, for some of these drugs, once removed from the human body, they find their way into waterbodies because they cannot be removed from wastewater by conventional treatment. This enables their accumulation and elevated concentration profiles in natural waters posing severe risks for aquatic biota like fish, crayfish and algae, mollusks and corals. Therefore, it is important to be able to monitor the levels of such known drugs in waterways and identify when dangerous concentrations are realized because inevitably, the toxic risk comes to humans as apex predators in a biomagnified level. This study aims to develop an analytical method for the determination of selected drugs in selected waterways, discharge points from water treatment plants and within treatment plants, both before and after discharge.

The study will be led by Dr Shaneel Chandra and based at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct at the Rockhampton North Campus. In exceptional cases, it could be hosted at the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre in Gladstone.

Field of Research Codes

340105 (Instrumental methods (excl. immunological and bioassay methods)
340109 (Separation science)
340199 (Analytical chemistry not elsewhere classified)

The Person

Graduate or final year student in science with an equivalent of a major in Chemistry (in exceptional cases, an equivalent of a minor in Chemistry will be considered)
Applicants in their final year of study will be considered
An interest in chemistry research and publishing peer-reviewed papers
An ability to work with minimal supervision alongside other senior research students in busy teams
A team player who likes to work smart and unwind after productive days in the laboratory
Willingness to relocate to Rockhampton North or Gladstone campuses

NEW! Project 2 Coffee: Piping hot… and toxic?

Coffee is a universally popular product due to the sensory enjoyment or mental stimulation that it provides. There is a strong chance that you are either a coffee drinker yourself or hate the stuff but know a coffee connoisseur (often rudely referred to as coffee ‘snob’).

Despite the various methods of preparing a coffee, the general principle of a water-based extraction of the caffeine (or equivalent in decaffeinated brews) applies to all. The pressure and temperature of the extraction plays a significant effect in the perceived taste and varying the extraction conditions would also affect the degree of extractability of all other chemicals in the product.

Unfortunately, there is no reported study on the presence and levels of the toxins in all of the various coffees available in Australia, or the exposure to consumers. This is potentially a serious health risk as individually, Australians consumed an average of 1.91 kilograms of coffee each during 2017.

This Master of Science study aims to address these knowledge gaps and establish the health risk to consumers from drinking various coffees. It will be led by Dr Shaneel Chandra.

Field of Research Codes

340105 (Instrumental methods (excl. immunological and bioassay methods)
340109 (Separation science)
340199 (Analytical chemistry not elsewhere classified)
300602 (Food chemistry and food sensory science)

The Person

Graduate or final year student in science with an equivalent of a major in Chemistry (in exceptional cases, an equivalent of a minor in Chemistry will be considered)
Applicants in their final year of study will be considered
An interest in chemistry research and publishing peer-reviewed papers
An ability to work with minimal supervision alongside other senior research students in busy teams
A team player who likes to work smart and unwind after productive days in the laboratory
Willingness to relocate to Rockhampton North campus

Project 3 Establishing microplastic loading in food

In the last 7 years, there has been an exponential increase in publications on microplastics. Yet, despite this surge in the literature adding to the knowledge base on the species, there is much that we still do not know. This project is aimed at quantification of microplastics in food.

The project is multidisciplinary and will be jointly supervised between Chemistry and Nutrition experts.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 4 A novel sensor for the selective and sensitive determination of histamine

Histamine has been found to be an important indicator in fish safety and quality determination. It is naturally produced in fish and high levels of the compound can lead to “scombroid poisoning” or histamine poisoning and even prove fatal if consumed.

This project proposes the development of nanosensing devices on an electrochemical platform. Nanosensing offers a viable solution for each of these issues with in situ analysis, shorter analysis times, increased sensitivity and selectivity towards the target analyte compared to conventional methods.

Successful electrodes will also be applied towards analysis of fish tissue for histamine. This project straddles several disciplines, including chemistry, materials science and biology. The candidate, upon completion of this project will be well poised to undertake more in depth studies at higher degree level in electroanalysis in particular.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 5 A modified sensor for trace level detection of As(III)

High concentrations of arsenic are carcinogenic and poisonous to humans and it is useful to be able to quantify these levels in waters that are used for human consumption.

Since As(III) is the more toxic form (about 10X) of the metalloid, its speciation is required to understand its biogeochemical cycling and potential toxicity of waters. Specific techniques employed to evaluate arsenic concentrations vary. Electrochemical analysis particularly on a voltammetric platform such as anodic stripping voltammetry is one means of analytical measurement techniques for inorganic arsenic in the lll and V oxidation states in the environment. Techniques such as anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) are sensitive, selective and inexpensive.

Studying As(III) at carbon-based screen printed electrodes (SPEs) is not a straightforward analysis, and the project will modify commercially-available screen printed electrodes to enable As detection. The performance of the electrochemical technique will also be compared to the more commonly-used hydride generation method as performance evaluation.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Scholarships and Funding

Shaneel’s External Grant Record

SHORT TERM ATTACHMENTS

Summer Scholarship (2023)

Workplace Attachment (2023 onwards)

PHD RESEARCH AREAS

Project 1 Microplastics Removal from water (available from 2025)

Project 2 Remediation of nitrate-enriched water in Queensland (available from mid 2024)

Project 3 Novel storage methods to address current limitations of renewable energies

A research scholar is therefore sought to join our team to explore the possibility of using biochars in designing and manufacturing of solar energy storage facilities. This project is jointly supervised by Shaneel Chandra and Associate Professor Nanjappa Ashwath.

Project 4 Extraction of nanofibers via green synthesis from waste oils and biochar for various environmental applications

This study can also be offered in collaboration with engineering, botany and chemistry experts in other countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 5 Smart detection devices for hormone measurements in humans

Project 6 Novel smart sensors for early diagnosis of disease

This study can also be offered in collaboration with biomedical experts in other countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 7 A selective and sensitive field biosensor for iron determination in saline waters

This study can also be offered in collaboration with environmental chemistry experts in other countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 8 Development of an Electrochemical Sensor for Narcotics

This project looks at disposable biosensors for screening for metabolites of several drinks in the Pacific. There will be extensive travel involved. Ideally, the student will have a background in analytical chemistry, or organic chemistry.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with medical, chemistry or pharmacology experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

MASTERS RESEARCH AREAS

NEW PROJECTS!

Project 1 Take Only As Directed: Drug metabolites in Queensland Waterways and their Effects on Humans

The study will be led by Dr Shaneel Chandra and based at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct at the Rockhampton North Campus. In exceptional cases, it could be hosted at the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre in Gladstone.

Field of Research Codes

340105 (Instrumental methods (excl. immunological and bioassay methods)

340109 (Separation science)

340199 (Analytical chemistry not elsewhere classified)

The Person

Graduate or final year student in science with an equivalent of a major in Chemistry (in exceptional cases, an equivalent of a minor in Chemistry will be considered)

Applicants in their final year of study will be considered

An interest in chemistry research and publishing peer-reviewed papers

An ability to work with minimal supervision alongside other senior research students in busy teams

A team player who likes to work smart and unwind after productive days in the laboratory

Willingness to relocate to Rockhampton North or Gladstone campuses

NEW! Project 2 Coffee: Piping hot… and toxic?

Coffee is a universally popular product due to the sensory enjoyment or mental stimulation that it provides. There is a strong chance that you are either a coffee drinker yourself or hate the stuff but know a coffee connoisseur (often rudely referred to as coffee ‘snob’).

This Master of Science study aims to address these knowledge gaps and establish the health risk to consumers from drinking various coffees. It will be led by Dr Shaneel Chandra.

Field of Research Codes

340105 (Instrumental methods (excl. immunological and bioassay methods)

340109 (Separation science)

340199 (Analytical chemistry not elsewhere classified)

300602 (Food chemistry and food sensory science)

The Person

Graduate or final year student in science with an equivalent of a major in Chemistry (in exceptional cases, an equivalent of a minor in Chemistry will be considered)

Applicants in their final year of study will be considered

An interest in chemistry research and publishing peer-reviewed papers

An ability to work with minimal supervision alongside other senior research students in busy teams

A team player who likes to work smart and unwind after productive days in the laboratory

Willingness to relocate to Rockhampton North campus

Project 3 Establishing microplastic loading in food

In the last 7 years, there has been an exponential increase in publications on microplastics. Yet, despite this surge in the literature adding to the knowledge base on the species, there is much that we still do not know. This project is aimed at quantification of microplastics in food.

The project is multidisciplinary and will be jointly supervised between Chemistry and Nutrition experts.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 4 A novel sensor for the selective and sensitive determination of histamine

Histamine has been found to be an important indicator in fish safety and quality determination. It is naturally produced in fish and high levels of the compound can lead to “scombroid poisoning” or histamine poisoning and even prove fatal if consumed.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Project 5 A modified sensor for trace level detection of As(III)

High concentrations of arsenic are carcinogenic and poisonous to humans and it is useful to be able to quantify these levels in waters that are used for human consumption.

This study can also be offered in collaboration with experts in other South Pacific countries, which can allow prospective PhD applicants to start their candidature in their home country as a CQU student, while awaiting the international border reopening.

Scholarships and Funding

Shaneel’s External Grant Record

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