Honours

QAEHS is a research centre that aims to improve human health through environmental health science by addressing local, national and global environmental health science challenges and achieve first class outcomes in research, training and partnership engagement. We welcome Honours students from a range of backgrounds.

Enrolment

Students can undertake their Honours program at QAEHS while enrolled through any UQ School, such as the School of the Environment, School of Civil Engineering and School of Public Health or other schools across the UQ faculties.

The Honours Program is a one-year, full time course. Students must fulfill the prerequisites of the School through which they are enrolled.

For enquiries regarding studying at QAEHS, please contact the QAEHS Centre Manager.

Available Honours projects

Exposure to contaminants in cosmetics and everyday use products

The research project involves using highly advanced analytical instruments and methods to assess hazardous contaminants in products we use everyday in our households such as personal care products, cleaning products and detergents. In this project you will be trained on how to extract and analyse samples for chemicals of concern as well as data interpretation techniques. The project is in collaboration with a number of European partners and will inform risk of presence and exposure to detected contaminants to inform public health guidelines. You will work alongside a post-doctoral fellow and as part of a team of academic and professional staff. Students will learn new techniques for sampling, measuring, and identifying chemical pollutants of concern as well as how to interpret data. This project is open to applications from students with a passion for science and plenty of curiosity. A background in chemistry / analytical chemistry / environmental chemistry would be highly beneficial.

Contact: Dr Sarit Kaserzon k.sarit@uq.edu.au / Dr Sara Gorji s.ghorbanigorji@uq.edu.au

Evaluating the risk of contaminants in food contact materials

This research project will investigate contaminants of concern in food contact materials and whether the use of everyday food contact items poses risk to human health. We will start by surveying and assessing products used as everyday food and fast-food containers and will analyse these using advanced analytical methods (using advanced high resolution mass spectrometry) to identify contaminants and potentially harmful constituents. In this project you will be trained on surveying and sampling techniques, as well as how to extract and analyse samples for chemicals of concern and interpret data. The project is in collaboration with government and industry partners in Queensland and New South Wales and will inform risk of exposure and health protection guidelines. You will work alongside a post-doctoral fellow and as part of a team of academic and professional staff. A background in analytical chemistry / chemistry / environmental chemistry would be highly beneficial.

Contact: Dr Sarit Kaserzon k.sarit@uq.edu.au / Dr Sara Gorji s.ghorbanigorji@uq.edu.au

Wastewater analysis to predict impacts of pollen on health: Potential forewarning of pollen events

A high proportion of individuals are allergic to pollens and these may impact on their health via pollinosis, rhinitis, asthma exacerbation and death. While there are several strategies to prevent allergy occurrence and reduce health outcomes there are difficulties in some sectors of the public in using these. Forewarning of periods of potential high pollen exposures is recognised as a key preventive strategy to both limit exposure and have access to appropriate medications to reduce symptoms. While pollen forecasting at the monthly level is relatively easy, estimation of only a few days in advance is difficult. This is due to several factors including the spikiness of pollen levels where they may range from 1200 units/m³ to 0 units/m³ overnight. This rapid change in levels is thought to be due to the complex interplay between the release mechanism of the pollen from the stamen by the plant, and the meteorological conditions present with wind and precipitation increasing and decreasing levels, respectively. Currently the forecast is based on the pollen levels of the days prior to the forecast day. New technologies have allowed measures of drugs in wastewater at minute levels (parts per trillion) allowing measures of population consumption of drugs to be estimated, included peaks in consumption. Measuring increases in quantities of different types of anti-allergy medications will allow another tool to be developed to forecast high pollen days, in conjunction with existing botanical and meteorological data. The student will analyse wastewater samples for antihistamines in collected wastewater samples from Melbourne, a city with a history of thunderstorm asthma events, with a view to determine the efficacy of wastewater data to track pollen impacts and potential utility for forewarning.

Supervisors: Dr Ben Tscharke, A/Prof Nicholas Osborne, A/Prof Phong Thai and Dr Qiuda Zheng

For enquiries please contact Dr Ben Tscharke

Assessing everyday chemical exposures using non-invasive samplers

We are constantly exposed to a range of potentially harmful chemicals in our everyday lives yet we only understand a small fraction of this exposure. This project will use novel passive sampling techniques of silicone wristbands and explanted silicon implants (breast implants) to provide new understanding on our individual chemical exposures and bioaccumulation of these chemicals. In this project you will be trained in passive sampling techniques for environmental monitoring and advanced analytical methods including high resolution mass spectrometry. Students will learn new techniques for sampling, measuring and identifying chemicals of concern and advanced data analysis techniques. A background in chemistry / analytical chemistry / environmental chemistry would be highly beneficial.

Supervisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert, Prof Kevin Thomas

Contact: Dr Cassandra Rauert, c.rauert@uq.edu.au

Understanding the impact of tyres on the environment

Tyre wear particles (TWPs) are one of the biggest sources of microplastics to the urban environment but we still have limited understanding on their occurrence and fate, especially in the Queensland environment. TWPs are also of concern as they contain a wide range of potentially hazardous chemicals that are then released into our waterways. In this project you will investigate sources and transport of TWPs and their chemical additives in our environment by monitoring key environmental compartments in Brisbane including road surfaces, stormwater and air. Students will learn new sampling techniques, how to measure and identify TWPs and chemicals using advanced analytical instrumentation and data analysis techniques. A background in chemistry / analytical chemistry / environmental chemistry would be highly beneficial.

Supervisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Prof Kevin Thomas

Contact: Dr Cassandra Rauert, c.rauert@uq.edu.au