ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS
FRIDAY 20 MARCH 2015
CONFERRING OF DEGREES CEREMONY
THE PROCESSION will enter the Wilson Hall at 6pm in the following order:
Chief Marshal
Marshals
Doctoral graduands
Academic staff
Heads of Colleges
Members of Council
Deans of Faculties
President of the Academic Board, Professor R. Webster
Guest Speaker, Professor D. Hilton
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor J. McCluskey
Esquire Bedell, Dr. G. Di Lorenzo
Chancellor, Ms. E.A. Alexander, AM
WELCOME BY THE CHANCELLOR Ms. Elizabeth Alexander, AM, BCom(Melb), FCPA, FCA, FAICD.
THE OCCASIONAL ADDRESS to be given by Professor Douglas Hilton, BSc(Monash), BScHons, PhD(Melb), FAA, FTSE;
Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and Head of the Department of Medical Biology, Faculty
of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
CONFERRING OF DEGREES with the Chancellor presiding.
MUSIC INTERLUDE with performers from the Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
CONFERRING OF DEGREES with the Chancellor presiding.
THE PROCESSION will leave the Hall in reverse order to that of entry, followed by the new graduates. Guests are requested
to remain standing while the procession leaves.
ORGANIST Mr. David Macfarlane, BMus(Syd), BEng(LaTrobe), Konzertdiplom(Vienna), LMusA.
CHOIR Choristry, conducted by Mr. Trevor Jones, BMusEd(Hons)(UWA).
Guests are reminded to switch off all mobile telephones prior to the ceremony
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Conferring of Degrees
DOCTOR ATE
Kate Maree Filia (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
To be presented by Professor R. A. Strugnell,
BSc, PhD(Monash), FASM
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate and International Research),
Melbourne Research
John Richmond Ford (Science)
Professor E. Sonenberg, BSc, PhD(Monash), DipCompSt(Melb)
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Collaboration and
Infrastructure), Melbourne Research
Farhad Goodarzy (Engineering)
and
Natalie Karavarsamis (Science)
Professor R. Webster, BSc(Monash), MSc(Sussex),
PhD(Cambridge), MAAS, MIAU, MRSV, FAIP
President of the Academic Board
Alireza Kashani (Engineering)
Benjamin David Forbes (Science)
Matthew Laurence Giuca (Engineering)
Benjamin John Glasson (Arts)
Nicole Allison Hill (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Thu Ba Thi Huynh (Land and Environment)
Christiane Evelyne Kehoe (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Clare Louise Kinnear (Science)
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The faculty in which the student undertook their research
is shown in brackets after their name. A citation for each
student’s research also appears in the program.
Shze Yung Koh (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Cassandra Marie Kotsanas (Education)
Wei Loon Lau (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Kate Elizabeth Lee (Land and Environment)
Prudence Frances Elizabeth Addison (Science)
Samantha Gayle Lichter (Engineering)
Mira Adler-Gillies (Arts)
Grace Jie Liu (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Richard Scott Balson (Engineering)
Colette Marais (Business and Economics)
Asal Bidarmaghz (Engineering)
Mary John (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Amanda Mae Boucher (Arts)
Tamara Mihalic Tynan (Land and Environment)
Hugo Edward Britt (Arts)
Charlotte-Rose Millar (Arts)
Paul Edwin Carnell (Science)
Karen Louise Chalabi (Victorian College of the Arts and
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music)
Helen Margaret Milte (Arts)
Sithy Reihana Mohideen (Engineering)
Kok Fei Chan (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Anny Mokotow (Arts)
Hui En Jonathan Chee (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Joy Elizabeth Olsen (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Weikai Chen (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Sara Oveissi (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Caroline Elizabeth Clark (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Roland Marcos Sampang Padilla (Science)
Simon Robert Crouch (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Vidal Patrick Paton-Cole (Engineering)
Andrew David Cutting (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Robert Carl Pipunic (Engineering)
Selina Mary Parry (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Catherine Jane Penington (Science)
Orwa Dandash (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Thea Madeleine Potter (Arts)
Jennifer Rose Devlin (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
John Anthony Purcell (Law)
Sophie Di Francesco-Mayot (Arts)
Joseph Jacob Richardson (Engineering)
Mubing Duan (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Goce Ristanoski (Engineering)
Rebecca Jean Featherston (Science)
Jessica Anne Roberts (Science)
Conferring of Degrees
Cassia Florence Read (Science)
Information in this program was correct at time of printing. Any late changes may not be reflected.
Philip John Ryan (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Gabriela Yael Segal Wasserman (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Shamista Archana Selvarajah (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Patrick James Shilling (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Ian Mathew Smith (Science)
Kylie Soanes (Science)
Philippa Margaret Soccio (Architecture, Building and Planning)
Kate Elizabeth Tregloan (Architecture, Building and Planning)
Erin Turbitt (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
CITATIONS
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
PRUDENCE FRANCES ELIZABETH ADDISON
who investigated the use of long term monitoring data in
Australian marine parks. She assessed the use of models
in marine conservation planning and developed novel
approaches to acquiring marine monitoring data, This
process ensures the data has direct, practical application in
marine park management.
MIRA ADLER-GILLIES
Susan Margaret Webster (Medicine, Dentistry and Health
Sciences)
who analysed debates among French socialists after 1870
over whether socialism should be based on revolutionary
collectivism or continue the workers cooperatives of
earlier decades. She found that the ideological victory of
the collectivists after 1880 has obscured the continuing
relevance of the cooperative ideal within the socialist
movement, still today.
Taryn Elizabeth Wills (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
RICHARD SCOTT BALSON
Lidija Turkovic (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Jibran Abdul Wali (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Juliet Emma Helene Watson (Education)
Karen Joy Wood (Education)
Jordan Lucas Murphy Wright (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Linlin Wu (Engineering)
Yew Ching Yip (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY and
MASTER OF PSYCHOLOGY
The faculty in which the student undertook their research
is shown in brackets after their name. A citation for each
student’s research also appears in the program.
Jean Li Quing Cheng (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Dominic Dwyer (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
Rachel Elizabeth Ruth Ellis (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Carmen Clare Pace (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
Nandita Vijayakumar (Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences)
who studied mechanisms underlying epileptic seizures. He
developed mathematical models that could be individually
tailored to enable measurement of critical aspects of brain
physiology that are normally hidden. Results provide insight
into how seizures occur and will assist with the development
of therapies and interventions to control seizures.
ASAL BIDARMAGHZ
who investigated ground source heat pump systems as
an alternative energy technology for cooling and heating
buildings. She developed a new detailed 3D numerical
model based on first principles. Her findings provide further
insights into the short-term and long-term performance of
these systems, leading to significant environmental and
economical benefits.
AMANDA MAE BOUCHER
who made new interpretations of symbolism found in
Bronze Age (1700-1200 BCE) marine themed floor-paintings
from Aegean (Greek) palaces and anchor assemblages
from the temples at Kition (Cyprus). She combined
archaeological, architectural, and iconographic analysis
to demonstrate that maritime representations served as
transitional spaces of political, social, and ritual power.
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Conferring of Degrees
HUGO EDWARD BRITT
CAROLINE ELIZABETH CLARK
who investigated a recurring theme in the poetry of AngloSaxon England. He argued that the scavenging wolf, raven
and eagle that appear after battle in Old English poetry carry
with them multiple associative connections. These findings
contribute to a better understanding of possible AngloSaxon responses to this theme.
who studied the interplay of doctors, temperance interests,
alcohol sellers and the state in the handling of chronic
drunkenness in Victoria, Australia from 1870 to 1930. She
considered the history of four institutions with varying
treatment ideologies. Her study has implications for current
views and handling of alcohol problems.
PAUL EDWIN CARNELL
SIMON ROBERT CROUCH
who examined the resilience of rocky reefs around Port
Phillip Bay. He showed how storms and grazing sea urchins
cause major ecosystem shifts, and, when a disturbance
coincides with extra nutrients in the water, marine pests can
take over. These results improve our ability to manage urban
coastal waters.
who examined the health and wellbeing of children with
same-sex attracted parents. He found that these children
are developing well overall, but are negatively impacted by
stigma. His findings are receiving international attention,
informing policies on same-sex families and highlighting the
effect heterosexual assumptions about families can have on
children.
KAREN LOUISE CHALABI
who investigated the notion of ‘Spirit’ in Eastern European
flute repertoire. She used a practice-lead research
methodology to prepare the works and incorporated both
Jungian and Nietzschean archetypes into the concert
performance. These insights led to a deeper level of musical
expression in the performance of the repertoire.
ANDREW DAVID CUTTING
who studied embryonic development in the chicken model.
He focused on characterising genes that regulate the sexual
differentiation of the urogenital system. These comparative
studies shed light on how the same process occurs in
humans, and offers research avenues to the poultry industry
aiming to modulate flock sex ratios.
KOK FEI CHAN
who used x-ray crystallography to show that three different
T cell receptors interacted differently with an unusually long
tumour antigen fragment displayed by the human leukocyte
antigen molecule HLA-B7. His results have important
implications for future vaccine design.
HUI EN JONATHAN CHEE
who investigated the development of insulin secreting
beta cell-specific T cells in a mouse model of autoimmune
diabetes. He discovered that these cells develop into
effector-memory T cells in the pancreas and are able to
report pancreatic pathology. Monitoring these cells in blood
could be a reliable reporter for disease progression.
WEIKAI CHEN
who investigated the actions of a family of stress-activated
enzymes. His studies to identify and characterize novel
interacting partners, particularly those in the brain, provide
insights into the regulation and actions of these enzymes.
These findings improve our understanding of the stress
response and its targeting in disease.
Conferring of Degrees
ORWA DANDASH
who used functional brain imaging to investigate the
brain¹s frontostriatal circuitry. He demonstrated that the
connectivity of these circuits is heritable, disrupted in people
at high-risk for psychosis. Results suggest these disruptions
are not attributable to hypofunction of the NMDA receptor, a
molecular mechanism proposed to cause psychosis.
JENNIFER ROSE DEVLIN
who investigated how production and activity of ribosomes,
the cells machinery for making proteins, can be disrupted
to treat cancer. She found that B-lymphoma cells are highly
sensitive to novel drugs that target the ribosome. This
research has identified a novel therapeutic strategy to treat
patients with aggressive blood cancers.
SOPHIE DI FRANCESCO-MAYOT
who examined the Crisis of the French Socialist Party in
Contemporary France. She demonstrated how the Party’s
crisis is due to the problem of internal divisions among
Socialist elites. This is affecting the Party’s ability to devise a
persuasive political narrative and policy solutions for France.
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MUBING DUAN
BENJAMIN JOHN GLASSON
who used genetic technologies to study how defensive cells
in the lung adapt themselves under conditions of infection
and chronic inflammation. Her research has shown how
perturbation of this regulation leads to serious debilitating
disease. This work has revealed new strategies for medical
treatment of previously incurable conditions.
who argued that liberal-democratic environmental politics
is overdetermined by three logics, which are reflected
in climate scepticism, ecological modernisation, and
environmental apathy. He demonstrated that the subversion
and rearticulation of ecological modernisation towards a
more genuine ecologism was the most potent strategy for
green politics.
REBECCA JEAN FEATHERSTON
who investigated the evolutionary significance of
sex allocation in a gnat with unusual sex determining
mechanisms. Her novel experiments reveal how the conflict
between male and female genes plays an important role
in both offspring sex ratio and the evolution of secondary
sexual traits.
KATE MAREE FILIA
who reviewed the social inclusion literature and found there
to be no standardised, comprehensive social inclusion
measure for people with mental illness. She developed such
a measure, which underwent pilot testing and preliminary
psychometric assessment. It is anticipated that this measure
will become the standardised measure of social inclusion.
BENJAMIN DAVID FORBES
who explored atomic-resolution imaging of nanostructures
using charged particles that lose energy while interacting
with the specimen. He developed a novel theory describing
such energy-loss processes, in particular phonon
excitations. Applications exposing important new physics in
nanoscale imaging were made with experimental groups in
Germany and the U.S.A.
JOHN RICHMOND FORD
who studied the dynamics of reef fish populations in
Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. His research has identified what
ecological processes are most important for maintaining
healthy and productive fish populations. This has important
implications for managing and conserving Port Phillip and
the wider marine environment.
MATTHEW LAURENCE GIUCA
who developed a computer programming language
that combines the benefits of two previously separate
programming paradigms. Central to the new implementation
is a novel algorithm for analysing how programs use
memory, which allows the data to be handled efficiently
without changing the overall behaviour of the program.
FARHAD GOODARZY
who studied low power, miniaturized wireless transceivers
for implanted medical devices and embedded neural
prostheses. He designed and fabricated an ultra low power
wireless micro-chip suitable for high resolution neural
implants such as the bionic eye and brain interfaces. He also
introduced a modified data modulation scheme to increase
chip efficiency.
NICOLE ALLISON HILL
who examined the impact of reasons for living on suicidal
crises. She found that, as the importance participants
attached to living increased, improvements emerged in
depression levels, thoughts of suicide, and physical and
psychological well-being. Exploration of reasons for living
may assist in understanding and minimising self-harm risk.
THU BA THI HUYNH
who investigated the policy impacts of the Reduced
Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation mechanism
in Vietnam. She found that processes for implementing this
mechanism were more inclusive of different stakeholders
and could contribute to local adaptation to climate change.
This work provides valuable insights for future climate
change policy.
NATALIE KARAVARSAMIS
who developed innovative statistical approaches to
estimating species occupancy rates from imperfect
presence-absence data. These approaches accommodate
uncertain detection, the probability of which may vary
depending on external factors. The theoretical and practical
findings can be applied to the estimation of species
dispersion in ecology.
ALIREZA KASHANI
who related the flow behaviour of alkali-activated cement
paste to particle size distribution, surface chemistry and the
structure of specially synthesised polymeric additives. She
developed a new creeping sphere method to quantify the
stiffness of setting cement paste. This research will enhance
the commercialisation of cements with reduced carbon
emissions.
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Conferring of Degrees
CHRISTIANE EVELYNE KEHOE
SAMANTHA GAYLE LICHTER
who evaluated the efficacy of a new emotion-focused
parenting program in improving parent emotion socialisation
and reducing youth anxiety, depression and somatic
complaints. She found significant improvements in parent
emotion socialisation and youth outcomes. This study has
important implications for prevention of mental health
difficulties during early adolescence.
who discovered how to use diamond to protect electronics
implanted in the body. She identified metal alloys that make
a leak-proof seal with diamond, and successfully welded
together diamond components. These methods enable
fabrication of a Bionic Eye that will last for the lifetime of
the patient.
GRACE JIE LIU
CLARE LOUISE KINNEAR
who investigated the evolutionary significance of
competition and vaccination for pathogen virulence.
Her experiments demonstrate that vaccination alters the
outcome of natural selection on virulence, which also varies
with vaccination method. These novel data highlight the
importance of considering evolutionary consequences when
designing human public health programs.
SHZE YUNG KOH
who studied the expression of a family of novel receptor
proteins in normal and malignant tissues from the human
oesophagus. Her work identified changes in the functional
activity of these proteins associated with different stages of
disease. These findings implicate these unique receptors in
the development of oesophageal cancer.
CASSANDRA MARIE KOTSANAS
who generated an ethical framework to support the
enactment of children’s participation rights in early
childhood settings. She adopted a post-structural
participatory action research process to engage educators
in the exploration of relevant theory and practices. This led
to the use of Derrida’s concept of hospitality to (re)theorise
young children’s participation.
WEI LOON LAU
who used disease models, genetic technologies and
imaging tools to study the development of severe lung
inflammation. His work has advanced our understanding
of mechanisms leading to emphysema and mucus hypersecretion. This research has uncovered new therapeutic
targets and strategies for the treatment of incurable
inflammatory lung disease.
KATE ELIZABETH LEE
who investigated the psychological benefits of urban
greening. She demonstrated unexpected boosts in attention
and work performance of office workers who spent short
‘micro-breaks’ viewing a city rooftop meadow. Her research
has implications for healthy workplaces and liveable cities,
and for advancing psychological theory.
Conferring of Degrees
who studied how mutations in a gene called Pax5 contribute
to B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most
common cancer in children. Using a new mouse model
of reversible leukemia, she identified the critical cellular
processes altered by Pax5 mutations, suggesting new
therapeutic strategies for the disease.
COLETTE MARAIS
who studied investment incentives and taxation in mining.
She used unique data from South Africa to provide some of
the first estimates of the distortionary effect of mining taxes
on firm investment. The structural econometric model that
resulted from this investigation integrates geostatistical and
economic models of firm investment.
MARY JOHN
who explored the potential of healthy bacteria known as
probiotics to reduce the incidence of Otitis Media. She
demonstrated that probiotics reduce colonisation of the
back of the nose with harmful bacteria. Results of a clinical
trial revealed that probiotics need to be targeted to the nose
to be effective.
TAMARA MIHALIC TYNAN
who investigated the factors that influence local peoples’
participation in building peace in Croatia. Her analysis
revealed that the main factors influencing local people to
become peace-builders were their experience of war, their
belief in their own agency and connectedness, and their
informal social networks.
CHARLOTTE-ROSE MILLAR
who examined the interaction between witches and devils
in seventeenth-century English witchcraft pamphlets. She
discovered that, contrary to common historical opinion,
the Devil was a key agent in a significant number of literary
narratives and that emotions such as anger, vengeance, fear
and lust were prominent drivers of witches’ behaviour.
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HELEN MARGARET MILTE
SELINA MARY PARRY
who investigated how local landscapes engage the body of
the writer via a similar immersion in country’s rhythms and
undulations. She used psycho-linguistic theory to argue for
Ecofeminist understandings of the longing for return to the
origins of poetry and harmony in the pre-linguistic world.
who investigated new rehabilitation and diagnostic
strategies to address the common problem of intensive
care acquired weakness. This novel research is stimulating
worldwide interest in the use of cycling with muscle
stimulation, and measurement of muscle architecture
using ultrasonography, to improve functional outcomes for
critically ill patients.
SITHY REIHANA MOHIDEEN
who studied the implications of renewable energy on
women’s lives in rural South Asia. She found that small-scale,
distributed energy systems can simultaneously address the
energy access problem and improve women’s welfare and
gender equality. This research is making a contribution to the
Government of Nepal’s renewable energy strategy.
ANNY MOKOTOW
who investigated the significance of dramaturgy in the
development of contemporary dance. She showed how
the role of dance dramaturgy has evolved to bring new
awareness of the performing body to choreographic
practices. These findings show how dramaturgy has
changed to integrate diverse methods of creative practice.
JOY ELIZABETH OLSEN
who studied the early spontaneous movements of very
preterm infants. She described movement development
prior to term and its relationship to brain growth and early
motor outcomes. Her study increases our understanding
of preterm motor development and provides important
information for clinicians regarding optimal times for infant
assessment.
SARA OVEISSI
who created a transgenic mouse line and studied the
initiation of killer T cell mediated immunity against virus and
tumour. She demonstrated the key roles played by helper T
cells and dendritic cells during such killer T cell activation.
The knowledge will help future vaccine development.
ROLAND MARCOS SAMPANG PADILLA
who studied business-customer perceptions of service value
in cloud computing. He found service value is linked with
satisfaction and the likelihood to repurchase cloud services.
He also found evidence for including service governance in
business-service value measurement. His findings will help
focus vendor and customer activities to maximise mutual
benefit.
VIDAL PATRICK PATON-COLE
who studied the structural behaviour of brick veneer
steel-framed walls in an earthquake. His study improved
our understanding of the seismic performance for this
form of building construction in the Australian context.
Recommendations made in the study can be incorporated
into future design codes of practices for improving safety.
CATHERINE JANE PENINGTON
who developed mathematical models of collective motion
of interacting randomly motile agents. Her studies examined
probabilistic rules governing the behaviour of individuals,
allowing for interactions with neighbours, and derived
deterministic differential equations to describe the average
properties of the collective behaviour. Such descriptions
provide important insights into complex multi-agent
systems.
ROBERT CARL PIPUNIC
who investigated the use of different types of satellite data
to improve predictions of energy and water exchanges
from land to atmosphere, which is important for weather
forecasting. He showed that incorporating land surface
temperature related data improved predictions more than a
common approach using only satellite soil moisture data.
THEA MADELEINE POTTER
who investigated the boundary stone in ancient Athens.
She used twentieth-century social theory and philosophy
to connect the god Hermes with the boundaries of private
property, the market, language, and life and death itself.
Her study furthers our understanding of antiquity as the
foundation of Western ideas.
JOHN ANTHONY PURCELL
who investigated bankruptcy’s distribution of creditor
entitlements by reference to non-economic natural
law concepts. He proved that bankruptcy law can be
explained in its own terms without reference to economic
analysis. The explanation of how private law obligations
are transformed in bankruptcy contributes to policy
development.
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Conferring of Degrees
CASSIA FLORENCE READ
SHAMISTA ARCHANA SELVARAJAH
who studied the distribution and community structure of
biological soil crusts in semi-arid woodlands of Victoria. She
developed novel statistical methods for predicting responses
to environment, degradation, and management intervention.
Her work provides practical guidelines for surveying soil
crusts and managing them sustainably.
who found that virulence gene expression in the malaria
parasite P. falciparum involves a novel parasite-specific
histone variant, H2B.Z. Her investigations significantly
enhance our understanding of gene regulation in the malaria
parasite and provide important new clues for future drug
development against malaria.
JOSEPH JACOB RICHARDSON
PATRICK JAMES SHILLING
who found that polymer multilayer films can be deposited
on particles immobilized in a liquid or hydrogel. He showed
that different forces, including electricity, diffusion and
convection, can be applied for film formation. His technique
has broad implications for coating technologies relevant for
diverse applications including in biomedicine.
who established the technique known as cell-free protein
synthesis. Using cell-free, he produced several important
proteins of the cell surface, including the relaxin-3 receptor,
which is involved in mood and stress. The successful
production of these proteins provides new tools for
developing treatments against mental illnesses including
depression.
GOCE RISTANOSKI
who developed new techniques for building time series
prediction models. The techniques he developed ensure
both accurate and stable predictions and can be applied
across diverse areas such as financial markets, meteorology
and sensor networks.
JESSICA ANNE ROBERTS
who developed methods for determining energy and water
requirements in mammals. She showed how metabolic
theory can be used to understand life histories and how
biophysical principles can explain kangaroos’ capacity
to deal with heat. These findings are fundamental for
understanding and predicting how mammals respond to
changing environments.
PHILIP JOHN RYAN
who investigated the function of a neurotransmitter in the
brain known as relaxin-3, demonstrating that compounds
related to this molecule strongly regulate neural circuits
associated with the control of appetite, stress, motivation
and reward. His studies identify the potential for targeting
relaxin-3 to treat individual or co-morbid psychiatric and
metabolic disorders.
GABRIELA YAEL SEGAL WASSERMAN
who characterised mechanisms that impair cytotoxic T cells
engineered to fight cancer. Anti-cancer T cells represent a
novel alternative to traditional therapy, but their efficacy is
hampered by suppressive factors deployed by the tumours.
Her studies may result in more efficacious adoptive T cell
therapies to treat cancer.
Conferring of Degrees
IAN MATHEW SMITH
who assessed diverse aspects of shelterbelts to identify
qualities associated with beneficial biodiversity. He found
that increasing ground cover, taller grass, more floral
resources and shelterbelts’ porosity, increased important
predators of common pests. This research will benefit
farmers seeking advice on increasing biological pest control
in crops.
KYLIE SOANES
who quantified the effects of roads and traffic on arboreal
marsupials and evaluated the effectiveness of road-crossing
structures at facilitating animal movement and conserving
wildlife populations. Her study was one of the first globally
to take a before-after comparison and highlights the
importance of a comprehensive monitoring approach.
PHILIPPA MARGARET SOCCIO
who studied post occupancy evaluation inside Australian
primary and middle school classrooms. She developed
a new evaluation tool, for communicating succinct
and targeted information about the causes of poor
indoor environment quality inside classrooms, to the
multidisciplinary group involved in commissioning,
designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and
occupying school facilities.
Information in this program was correct at time of printing. Any late changes may not be reflected.
KATE ELIZABETH TREGLOAN
TARYN ELIZABETH WILLS
who investigated the engendering, experience and
application of Design Epiphany - designers’ revelatory
visions. She demonstrated that flexibility and fixity of
personal constructs influence engagement with wicked
problems and perceptions of potential. Her study offers new
perspectives on design education and practice, and new
methods for investigating insight in design.
who examined the potential of neuroepithelial cells to
support regeneration after spinal cord injury. She showed
that these cells share many of the properties of stem cells
but occupy a unique cellular niche. Their implantation
reduces damaging scar formation and stimulates regrowth
of damaged axons after spinal cord injury.
KAREN JOY WOOD
ERIN TURBITT
who investigated new genetic technologies in healthcare,
and explored how much genetic information doctors and
patients wish to discuss and receive. Her findings show that
both parties desire extensive genetic information, especially
about treatable conditions, but also results of uncertain
significance. These findings inform practice and policies in
genomic medicine.
who investigated the extent to which intelligence,
personality, and interests account for Year-12 academic
achievement. She demonstrated the importance of
numerical ability and the personality dimension of
conscientiousness, and the differential importance of
intelligence and interests, for males and females. The results
have important implications for curricula, assessment, and
teaching.
LIDIJA TURKOVIC
JORDAN LUCAS MURPHY WRIGHT
who investigated the risk of iron overload-related disease
for people with the autosomal-recessive condition HFEassociated Hereditary Haemochromatosis. She found,
through computer simulation, the optimal method for
the imputation of missing genotypes. This allowed the
identification of genetic and environmental modifiers of
binary haemochromatosis phenotypes in the HealthIron
cohort study.
who investigated the capacity of the brain to replace cells
after injury. He demonstrated that while the adult brain has
a limited capacity for repair, the newborn brain might be
capable of more meaningful ‘self-repair’. The results are
highly relevant for development therapies for neonatal brain
damage.
LINLIN WU
who investigated the loss of insulin-producing beta cells
in type 2 diabetes. Deficiency of the cell death protein Bim
resulted in improved insulin sensitivity and increased beta
cell mass in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. His work
suggests ways to therapeutically target beta cell death.
who developed algorithms, negotiation techniques and
architecture for optimal provisioning of Cloud resources for
applications. Her research aimed to maximize profit and
customer base while meeting Service Level Agreements
(SLA). Her proposed algorithms address real-world issues
associated with dynamic user requirements by handling
them during SLA formulation and resource provisioning.
JULIET EMMA HELENE WATSON
YEW CHING YIP
who investigated the intersection of homelessness and
gender through young women’s experiences of intimate
relationships. She showed how gendered subjectivities
are produced and performed through these relationships.
Her approach challenges conventional understandings of
homelessness and gives a unique insight into the ways
in which homeless young women manage structural
disadvantage.
who investigated the differences in the physical
characteristics and activity of blood platelets in children
compared to adults. The results demonstrate that blood
platelets of children are physically different and respond
differently to activation compared to adults. This knowledge
is fundamental in providing evidence-based therapy for
unwell children.
JIBRAN ABDUL WALI
SUSAN MARGARET WEBSTER
who conducted Australia’s first multi-site health policy and
systems study into health assessments for children in Outof-Home Care. Her work contributes new insights into the
challenges facing health professionals. Quality improvement
efforts by governments and child welfare agencies will be
better informed as a result.
Information in this program was correct at time of printing. Any late changes may not be reflected.
Conferring of Degrees
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY and
MASTER OF PSYCHOLOGY
JEAN LI QUING CHENG
who investigated the empirical roles of emotion
dysregulation and impulsivity in Borderline Personality
Disorder (BPD). Employing young clinical samples, findings
reinforced the specificity of emotion dysregulation in BPD.
She found that an interactive effect between emotion
dysregulation and impulsivity significantly contributed to
self-harm in BPD, with implications for early intervention.
DOMINIC DWYER
who studied brain mechanisms that underlie adolescent
self-control. He found that teenagers engage complex
networks of interacting brain regions that are highly specific
to their goals. His work has implications for the way that
we see the adolescent brain and will help us to better
understand mental illness.
RACHEL ELIZABETH RUTH ELLIS
who identified longitudinal trajectories of depressive
symptoms in adolescence, and related these to psychosocial
risk factors and outcomes. Using a connectomic approach,
she discovered a relationship between adolescent
depression and young adult brain connectivity. This research
provides a unique insight into the impact of depressive
symptoms on brain development.
CARMEN CLARE PACE
who investigated the nature and timing of mental health
difficulties in parents of very preterm infants. She found high
levels of parental psychological distress that were predictive
of later child outcomes. These findings represent a
substantial advance in the understanding and consequences
of parental mental health following preterm birth.
NANDITA VIJAYAKUMAR
who studied brain development during adolescence, and
its relationship to self-regulation and mental health. She
found complex and dynamic relationships between different
aspects of self-regulation and development of specific areas
of the prefrontal cortex. These findings provide a foundation
for understanding abnormal patterns of brain development
and psychopathology.
Conferring of Degrees
Information in this program was correct at time of printing. Any late changes may not be reflected.