Bernadette McCabe

Professor Bernadette McCabe is Director of the Centre for Agricultural Engineering (CAE) at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and Research Program Team Leader for Energy and Bioresource Recycling. She leads Australia’s National Team for IEA Bioenergy Task 37 (Energy from Biogas) and is a member of the ARC College of Experts. With over 25 years in academic and industry research, her work focuses on converting agricultural and food-industry waste into valuable resources like biogas, recycled water, and biofertilizers. She collaborates with industries to enhance profitability through sustainable waste management, addressing livestock, cropping, and water utility sectors.

Education:

• BSc(Hons) in Agriculture, University of Sydney (1992)
• PhD in Agricultural Bioengineering, University of Western Sydney (1999)
• Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning, USQ (2007)

Research Interests:

• Biogas production from agro-industrial waste
• Anaerobic digestion optimization
• Greenhouse gas mitigation strategies
• Biosolids and digestate management
• Circular economy applications in agriculture

Grants & Projects:

• Recycling and Renewable Energy Commercialisation Hub (2023)
• Nutrients in a Circular Economy (NiCE) ARC Hub (2022)
• Wastes to Profits: Regional Agri-Food Waste Valorisation (2021)
• Pilot-scale digestate-derived bioproducts (2020)

Awards:

• Advance Queensland Mid-Career Research Fellowship (2017)
• ALTC Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2011)

Labs/Teams:

• Leadership in CAE’s Energy and Bioresource Recycling program
• Collaborations with IEA Bioenergy, CSIRO, and industry partners