Charles Darwin University (CDU) researchers have been awarded with two of the 32 projects sponsored by the Australian Government’s National Industry PhD program, which will help them shape solutions for important Australian industries.
The University of Newcastle, Charles Sturt University, and the University of Canberra are the other three universities receiving industry PhD funding in this round; CDU is one of only four whose main campus is not in a state capital city.
This funding, according to CDU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Fiona Coulson, demonstrates the calibre of research that CDU does.
“Here at CDU our researchers are some of the best and they play a key role in providing critical information to a range of industries not only here in the Northern Territory, but Australia and worldwide,” Professor Coulson said.
She added, “I look forward to keeping an eye on these research projects and seeing the impact they will have.”
In particular, CDU’s initiatives will focus on delivering answers to problems in the sectors of animal biosecurity and engineering, both of which CDU is eager to invest in to help Northern Australia.
The Australian Government-funded Research Institute for Northern Agriculture (RINA) at CDU will examine the biting midges, an insect that can transmit potentially fatal illnesses that might impact Australian cattle.
The project carried out in collaboration with an industry partner, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade of the Northern Territory Government, will provide information for simulation modelling to assist in directing surveillance practises and decision-making in the event of a potential disease spread throughout Northern Australia.
In the other CDU-funded project, researchers from the Energy and Resources Institute will investigate and develop procedures for the safe and reliable use of metal additive manufacturing (AM) in high-risk industrial applications.
SPEE3D staff will conduct the PhD research as part of the Industry Researcher Scheme through the CDU Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (AMA).
The goal of the project is to provide standard risk reduction techniques that can be applied by many businesses to lessen the uncertainty around the adoption of metal additive manufacturing and, eventually, increase the take-up rate of AM throughout Australia.
CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation Steve Rogers said the university prides itself in forging partnerships with businesses and developing practical answers to problems.
“Our research gets noticed not only for its uniqueness and the fact that it explores out-of-the-box ideas but also for the implications it has in helping to solve real-life problems,” Professor Rogers said.
He added, “As a regional university, we pride ourselves on the connections we make with industry and the impact we have.”
