Outstanding researchers awarded Vice-Chancellor’s fellowships

RMIT has announced the latest recipients of its Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowships, with 12 outstanding researchers making an impact in fields ranging from sleep disorders to nanotechnology.

The prestigious fellowship scheme supports researchers who are either emerging or established leaders in their fields, in research areas that align strongly with RMIT’s strategic priorities.

Professor Calum Drummond, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President, said the 2014 fellows would work on a broad range of projects, from advanced materials and societal issues to medicinal and textile innovation.

“We are pleased to have this diverse group of dynamic and passionate researchers,” Professor Drummond said.

“The Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowships enhance RMIT’s research capacity and help ensure our research activities have impact, delivering benefits for the community and for industry.

“We look forward to seeing the future contributions our 2014 fellows will make.”

The Vice-Chancellor’s 2014 Senior Research Fellows:

Dr Cameron Duff‘s work explores complex health and social problems in urban settings, aiming to contribute to the development of informed accounts of housing insecurity, mental illness and substance use. Dr Duff will be based in the School of Management.

Dr Christian Dwyer pushes the boundaries of what scientists can learn about materials by using innovative techniques in electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Dr Dwyer will be based in the School of Applied Sciences.

Dr Melinda Jackson is a registered psychologist with research interests in sleep disorders, sleep disturbance and shift work on cognition, mood and neural function, and examining sleep and cognition in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Dr Jackson will be based in the School of Health Sciences.

Dr Narin Osman is exploring the role of proteoglycans in disease. Her current research interests include cell signalling pathways that regulate extracellular matrix form and function with a focus on vascular disease and diabetes. Dr Osman is based in the School of Medical Sciences and is a member of the Health Innovations Research Institute.

Dr Libby Porter’s research in the human impact of planning and geography explore the ways in which we collectively produce our understanding of space and place. Dr Porter will be based in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies.

Dr Dong Qiu has been working on crystallography in low dimensional semiconductor materials and developing an in-depth understanding of the role of structure in solid-solid phase transformations. Dr Qiu will be based in the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Professor Richard Tay‘s research focuses on road safety and the implementation and evaluation of multidisciplinary measures to improve road safety and reduce the social cost of road crashes. Professor Tay will be based in the School of Business IT and Logistics.

Dr Xin Wang’s areas of expertise range across the textiles spectrum, from needleless electrospinning to cold-protective clothing, with his research contributing to advances in textile technologies and fabrication techniques. Dr Wang will be based in the School of Fashion and Textiles.

The Vice-Chancellor’s 2014 Research Fellows are:

Dr Jiao Lin‘s research interests include nanotechnology, optical engineering and photonic devices. His recent work lead to a new dimension of the dynamic manipulation of surface waves for the next generation of photonic circuits. Dr Lin will be based in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Dr Grace McQuilten is an art historian, artist and curator interested in contemporary art and design and community development, engaging with industry through curating exhibitions, conferences and festivals, and authoring papers in journals and books. Dr McQuilten is based in the School of Art. Associate Professor Liying Song’s research focuses on transport and logistics for urban planning and major events infrastructure, with projects including public transit system design for the Beijing Olympic Games. Associate Professor Song will be based in the School of Business IT and Logistics.

Dr Meagan Tyler’s research explores feminist theory, sexuality, medicalisation and women’s health, and violence against women. She has also conducted research on sociological approaches to bushfire preparation and response in Australia. Dr Tyler will be based in the School of Management.

Originally published on RMIT News.