Centre for Animal Science - Summer Research Programs

Primary Supervisor: 

Dr Natasha Hungerford | n.hungerford@uq.edu.au
Dr Viviene Santiago | v.santiago@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Viviene Santiago (v.santiago@uq.edu.au) or Dr Natasha Hungerford (n.hungerford@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 hours per week flexible); on site (Health and Food Sciences Precinct, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains)

This project focuses on the identification and analysis of the hepatotoxic indospicine in Indigofera leaf samples. Indospicine, an unusual amino acid found in all parts of certain Indigofera species, is known to be hepatotoxic to different species of animals, including cattle, sheep, dogs, and rats. Prolonged ingestion of indospicine have been reported to result to mild to severe liver disease. This project will examine the indospicine content of leaf samples using LC-MS/MS analysis and examine isolation of indospicine from these samples using HPLC-PDA.

Expected outcomes: Scholars will gain skills in the use of HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis and will generate research data that is expected to lead to a publication.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from students with a background in organic chemistry with an interest in analytical chemistry. Can be undertaken as a research project for assessment if required.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Elizabeth Ross | e.ross@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Elizabeth Ross (e.ross@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); On-site (St Lucia Campus). 

Strawberry is a popular crop with an established breeding program, but the intergration of genomics into that program is inhibbited due to its the complex octoploid genome structure. This project will evaluate the oppertunity to use cutting edge long read sequencing for skim genotyping in strawberry. The project will use bioinformatic anaysis to assess various metrics in sequence data from strawberry samples selected from a real breeding program. Options for laboratory training will also be avalible if requested by the successful candidate.

Expected outcomes: Students will gain bioinfomatics skills, and have the oppertunity to contribute to solving a real issue in horticultural breeding. Students will learn to QC, manipulate and analyse sequence data, statistically assess the results, and report the results in accodance with scientific conventions. The student will join a team of 3 staff and 3PhD students, giving them oppertunities to learn about the academic system.

Suitability: Students with experience in bioinformatics, genomics, and agriculure. All levels of degree can be considered. Students should contact to supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Primary Supervisors: Dr Karishma Mody | k.mody@uq.edu.au 

Please contact Dr Karishma Mody (k.mody@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); On site (St Lucia Campus)

This project aims to develop and validate BenPol technology for efficient dsRNA delivery and sustainable release in agricultural pest control. The patented BenPol platform offers a non-GM, innovative RNAi solution that targets pests, addressing the limitations of traditional chemical controls. This project is expected to overcome pesticide resistance, deliver a transformative, eco-friendly solution, enhance crop protection, and ensure environmental sustainability and regulatory acceptance.

Expected outcomes: Students will gain practical skills in molecular biology techniques (PCR, RNA handling, and formulation with nanomaterials), insect handling and conducting laboratory bioassays. They will also develop teamwork and data analysis skills. By the end of the project, students are expected to deliver: 1) Results from laboratory assays. 2) A brief project report summarising findings.

Suitability: Students with experience in molecular biology, agriculture, and preferably entomology are encouraged to apply. All degree levels will be considered. Interested students should contact the supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Primary Supervisors: Dr Karishma Mody | k.mody@uq.edu.au 

Please contact Dr Karishma Mody (k.mody@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); On site (St Lucia Campus)

Insect parasites cause significant damage to livestock and are primarily responsible for significant economic losses. Conventional pesticides have issues of resistance and toxicity, and there is increasing market requirement and price premiums for low-chemical and welfare-friendly production systems. We aim to explore our RNAi delivery platform to protect animals from insect parasites that cause damage. This project will result in real-world outcomes, by translating and expanding our current biotechnologies to an industry-ready tool for livestock protection.

Expected outcomes: Students will gain practical skills in molecular biology techniques (PCR, RNA handling, and formulation with nanomaterials), insect handling and conducting laboratory bioassays. They will also develop teamwork and data analysis skills. By the end of the project, students are expected to deliver: 1) Results from laboratory assays. 2) A brief project report summarising findings.

Suitability: Students with experience in molecular biology, agriculture, and preferably entomology are encouraged to apply. All degree levels will be considered. Interested students should contact the supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Seema Yadav | seema.yadav@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr. Seema Yadav at seema.yadav@uq.edu.au before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (25 - 30 hours per week); On-site flexible working arrangements (St Lucia Campus). 

The student will work on a research question " How well can we predict a target phenotype from genome-wide markers ( ± simple environment summaries), and when if ever do deep learning models beat standard genomic prediction ?". The student will work with wheat datasets to build and compare machine-learning and simple deep-learning models for traits like heading date or yield.

Expected outcomes: The student will gain skills in data wrangling, model evaluation, and research reproducibility (versioned results, README) that transer to other species and problems. As part of the project, student will be supported to write a short research article.

Suitability:  All levels of degree can be considered. Ideal for students curious about the use of AI in agriculture and interested in exploring the intersection of genetics, data science and machine learning. experience in R/Python + basic statistics is must. Students should contact the supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Seema Yadav | seema.yadav@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr. Seema Yadav at seema.yadav@uq.edu.au before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (25 - 30 hours per week); On-site flexible working arrangements (St Lucia Campus). 

Over the past decade, machine learning and deep learning have been increasingly applied in plant and animal breeding to predict complex traits from genomic and environmental data. While some studies report clear gains, others show classical approaches (e.g., GBLUP) remain highly competetive. The student will conduct a review to understand where, when and why ML/DL succeed or fail in genomic prediction, with an emphasis on wheat and related crops.

Expected outcomes: Through this project, the student will strengthen their ability to critically review and synthesise scientific literature, build a clear understanding of key quantitative genetics concepts, and gain practical experience applying modern machine learning and deep learning methods with current software tools. As part of the project student will be supported to write a structured mini-review summarising findings, gaps and promising directions.

Suitability:  All levels of degree can be considered. Ideal for students curious about the use of AI in agriculture and interested in exploring the intersection of genetics, data science and machine learning. Basic statistics knowledge is helpful but not required. Students should contact the supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Loan Nguyen | t.nguyen3@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Loan Nguyen | t.nguyen3@uq.edu.au before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); On-site (St Lucia Campus). 

The student will extract and sequence up to 1,000 hair samples, generating low-coverage sequencing data to assess methylation patterns and predict the age of the animals. Additionally, since these animals have recorded methane emission phenotypes, the dataset may also be used to identify individuals with low methane emissions.

Expected outcomes: Students will gain bioinfomatics skills. Students will learn to QC, manipulate and analyse sequence data, statistically assess the results, and report the results in accodance with scientific conventions. The student will join a team of 3 staff and 3PhD students, giving them oppertunities to learn about the academic system.

Suitability:  Students with experience in bioinformatics, genomics, and agriculure. All levels of degree can be considered. Students should contact to supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Primary Supervisor: 

Mr Ziming Chen | ziming.chen@uq.edu.au
Dr Chian Teng ONG  | chianteng.ong@uq.edu.au
Dr Elizabeth Ross | e.ross@uq.edu.au

Please contact Mr Ziming Chen (ziming.chen@uq.edu.au), Dr Chian Teng ONG (chianteng.ong@uq.edu.au) and Dr Elizabeth Ross ( e.ross@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); On-site (St Lucia Campus). 

In bacteria, DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic memory marker inherited across their lineages to regulate various cellular activities. Although environments can shape the bacterial epigenetic memory, the recovery of epigenetic memory after environmental transitions remains poorly understood. This project will collect Escherichia coli samples periodically after a chemical challenge, followed by DNA extraction and Oxford Nanopore sequencing. Data analysis will be performed on the sequencing data to evaluate the extent of epigenetic memory (DNA methylation) recovery. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the stability of bacterial epigenetic memory and how bacteria stay resilient in fluctuating environments.

Expected outcomes: This project provides students with training in key research skills, including bacterial culture, DNA extraction, and Oxford Nanopore sequencing. Students also have a chance to learn data analysis using high-performance computing and different computing languages.

Suitability: Students with microbiology and molecular biology backgrounds are preferred. All levels of degree can be considered. Students should contact the supervisor before applying.

Primary Supervisor: 

Sean Bisset |  s.bisset@uq.edu.au
Dr Conny Turni  |  c.turni1@uq.edu.au

Please contact Sean Bisset (​​​​​​s.bisset@uq.edu.au) and Dr Conny Turni (c.turni1@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 - 36 hours per week); On-site (EcoScience Precinct, Dutton Park)

The bacteria species Pasteurella multocida and Glassaerella parasuis are both significant causes of respiratory disease in pigs, and a costly burden to the industry. The treatment of these infections is typically antibiotics, but due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the prevalence of these bacteria to form biofilms, these bacteria are becoming more difficult to treat. We have partnered with an industry partner who has developed a compound that both reverses antibiotic resistance and disperses biofilms, which are are testing against a panel of pig respiratory pathogens. However, in order to test these compounds in vitro, we first need to establish biofilm formation methods for P. multocida, and establish reliable methods of testing antimicrobial resistance in G. parasuis. This project would benefit anyone with a microbiology background or interest in microbiology who wishes to work with unusual bacteria in a laboratory setting.

Expected outcomes: This project will provide the student with experience in growing unusual and fastidious bacteria, as well as experience with either working with biofilms in vitro, or establishing and running antimicrobial assays.

Suitability: This project is open to 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students or masters students, with a background in microbiology.