Highly Commended announced for Research Excellence Awards

It is with great pleasure that we announce the shortlist of Highly Commended applications for the 2014 Macquarie University Research Excellence Awards.

All applications and nominations were very strong and highly competitive, but after great deliberation the judging panels have selected the following applicants as Highly Commended. Winners in each category will be announced at the Awards Dinner on Thursday, 2 October 2014.

The following are listed by category in alphabetical order:

Excellence in Research

Business, Management and Economics

  • Dr David Gray, “State of the Mobile Nation November 2011 – November 2012”
  • Dr Sharron O’Neill, “Informing Decisions about Work Health and Safety Performance”
  • Dr Nick Parr, “Estimating the Effects of Family Policies on Fertility and Workforce Participation in Australia”

Science & Engineering

  • Dr Andrew Barron, “Understanding the bee brain”
  • Professor Ian Paulsen, “An ace up their sleeve: characterisation of AceI, a new type of bacterial drug efflux pump”
  • Professor Jane Williamson, “Ensuring sustainability of our sharks through new ageing methods”

Social Sciences & Humanities

  • Professor David Christian, “The Big History Project: Education for the Anthropocene”
  • Professor Joseph Pugliese, “State Violence and the Execution of Law: Biopolitical Caesurae of Torture, Black Sites, Drones”
  • Professor Wendy Rogers, “On the cutting edge: Promoting best practice in surgical innovation”

Excellence in Higher Degree Research 

Science & Engineering

  • Audrey Adji, “Non-invasive Determination of the Effect of Age on the Relationship between Ascending Aortic Pressure and Flow”
  • Thomas Meaney, “Next generation quantum information through three dimensional ultrafast laser inscription”
  • Xavier Xambrano-Puyalto, “Characterization and control of nano-structures with the symmetries of light”

Social Sciences, Business & Humanities

  • Mirko Farina, “Foundations for a psycho-historical, socio-technologically scaffolded theory of cultural learning”
  • Laura Hammersley, “Interconnected relationships of reciprocity: responsible learning and ethical engagement between universities, students and Indigenous community-based partners”
  • Carly Johnco, “Learning cognitive restructuring in later life: The role of cognitive flexibility on cognitive restructuring skill acquisition in older adults with anxiety and depression.”

Early Career Researcher of the Year

Science & Engineering

  • Dr Trevor Keenan, Faculty of Science
  • Dr Elizabeth Madin, Faculty of Science
  • Dr K-Lynn Smith, Faculty of Science

Social Sciences, Business & Humanities

  • Dr Blake Dear, Faculty of Human Sciences
  • Dr Celia Harris, Faculty of Human Sciences
  • Dr Tom Murray, Faculty of Arts

The Jim Piper Award for Excellence in Research Leadership

  • Professor Amanda J. Barnier, Faculty of Human Sciences
  • Professor Quentin Andrew Parker, Faculty of Science
  • Professor Michael Withford, Faculty of Science

Only the main applicant is listed, however most of the applications have multiple University and external team members.

The Judges congratulate all applicants on the high quality of the submissions.

Find out more about the awards  or contact Sharen Page (sharen.page@mq.edu.au) on ext 4475.