Dr. Stefan Peters is a Senior Lecturer in Surveying and GIS at the University of South Australia (UniSA) within the UniSA STEM school. His research focuses on applied remote sensing and GIS to address environmental and geospatial challenges, including fire detection, habitat modeling, and 3D reconstructions. Lecturer in Surveying and GIS, UniSA STEM Research Degree Supervisor Stefan's research spans geospatial data fusion, environmental monitoring, and participatory mapping. He has contributed to frameworks for 3D point cloud fusion in forestry, AI-driven fire smoke detection, and urban catchment analysis using LiDAR and multispectral data. His recent publications highlight advancements in hyperspectral satellite AI emulation, channel morphology monitoring, and cross-sensor fire detection algorithms. Key themes include remote sensing innovation, environmental data integration, and urban-ecosystem interactions. Scientific contributions include: Best Paper Award (2012) Stefan coordinates courses in Web Cartography and Environmental Remote Sensing, emphasizing practical geospatial applications. He collaborates with institutions like Geoscience Australia and the FWPA on projects spanning forestry, fire management, and heritage preservation.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationAustralia
Shaun Frost is a Senior Researcher at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), focusing on ocular biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases and medical imaging technology development. He holds a PhD in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences from the University of Western Australia, along with advanced degrees in Applied Mathematics and Signal Processing from the University of Adelaide. PhD (Ophthalmology and Vision Science), University of Western Australia (2014) M.Sc. (Signal and Information Processing), University of Adelaide (2006) B.Sc. (Hons) (Applied Mathematics), University of Adelaide (2000) B.Sc. (Physics and Mathematics), Flinders University (1998) His research explores advanced imaging techniques for early Alzheimer's disease detection through retinal analysis, including AI-driven diagnostic systems. This work has demonstrated potential for identifying Alzheimer's pathology 20 years earlier than current methods. He also develops portable retinal cameras used in remote health settings and space missions. Scientific awards include NHMRC Research Fellowship (2016-2019), WAiTTA Merit Award (2018), Best Presentation at NNIDR Australian Dementia Forum (2017), and multiple industry awards. His publications span biomedical imaging, AI applications, and ocular diagnostics for systemic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationAustralia
Dr. Christopher Doropoulos is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment , leading coral reef restoration research through the Sustainable Marine Futures Program . With 15+ years of experience in marine ecology, he focuses on recruitment dynamics and restoration strategies for coral reefs across Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef), Palau, and the Maldives. His research spans Climate change impacts on reef ecosystems Resilience and recovery of coral communities Recruitment ecology Population and community dynamics Restoration ecology Hydrodynamic modeling for coral dispersal Key projects include EcoRRAP (ecological intelligence for reef restoration), RRAP Moving Corals (larval-based restoration scaling), and RECRUIT (industrial-scale reef recovery). Internationally, he co-leads CORDAP ReefSeed and community-led programs in the Maldives. Scientific awards: Julius Career Award (2020-2024) Coral Reef Hero (2021) Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award (2017) Australian Endeavour Award (2013) Virginia Chadwick Award (2013) He has supervised 9 PhD and 3 Master’s students to completion, mentored Palauan researchers, and advised Maldivian restoration programs. His work integrates ecological modeling (e.g., connectivity studies), field experiments, and technology development for scalable restoration. Collaborations span Indigenous stakeholders in Australia, Maldivian communities, and international coral reef centers. Current leadership roles include co-chairing Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program subprograms and serving on the QLD Dive Advisory Committee.
Dr. Kai Li is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Finance at Macquarie University's College of Business and Economics. He is affiliated with the Emerging Risks Research Centre and holds a Scopus h-index of 11, with over 388 citations. Education: PhD in Finance, University of Technology Sydney (2014) MS in Mathematics, Harbin Institute of Technology (2009) BS in Mathematics, Harbin Institute of Technology (2007) Dr. Li's research focuses on asset pricing, investor sentiment, and heterogeneous beliefs, particularly in the context of nonlinear market dynamics and time delays. His work explores bounded rationality, momentum strategies, and financial market stability. Recent research trends highlight studies on extrapolative pricing, volatility clustering, social interaction effects, and optimal dynamic momentum strategies. His 2025 work on investor sentiment synthesis underscores his leadership in behavioral finance. Scientific Awards: Excellence in Early Career Research Award (2016) International Researcher Development Award (2015) Outstanding Reviewer for Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control (2017) Outstanding Reviewer – Pacific-Basin Finance Journal (2017) PBFJ Research Excellence Award (2018) Dr. Li's projects include collaborations on green finance, stock market stabilization, and non-Markovian asset pricing. He contributes to nonlinear finance research, emphasizing information diffusion and market regime shifts. His affiliations with the Emerging Risks Research Centre and active industry partnerships demonstrate his commitment to applied financial research and policy impact.
Dr. Sharon Cooper serves as a Lecturer at the University of Newcastle's School of Education and Centre for Teaching and Learning within the College of Human and Social Futures. Appointed as permanent academic staff in 2005 after serving as research assistant (1998) and casual academic (2003), she currently works as a sessional academic with ELFSC focusing on Foundations in Education courses while supporting university-wide teaching improvement initiatives. Her academic credentials include a PhD, Bachelor of Education (Mathematics) with Honours, and Master of Educational Studies, all completed at the University of Newcastle: PhD, University of Newcastle Bachelor of Education (Mathematics) (Hons), University of Newcastle Master of Educational Studies, University of Newcastle Cooper's research centers on sociology of education with specific focus on Australian education politics through discourse analysis methodology. She maintains expertise in curriculum design for enabling education, first-year student experience, and reflective teaching practices. Her work critically examines assessment practices, primary/secondary education transitions, and the sociopolitical dimensions of educational policy implementation in Australian contexts. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals sustained emphasis on student transition challenges and enabling pathway development. Her scholarship consistently bridges theoretical discourse analysis with practical curriculum innovations, particularly for foundational higher education courses. Key thematic threads include academic integrity frameworks, online enabling education models, and collaborative approaches to improving first-year experiences across diverse disciplines. Her teaching excellence has been recognized through multiple awards: Lecture of the Year Award (Winner and Top 10 National Nominee), University of Newcastle, 2009 Lecture of the Year Award (Top 10 nominee), University of Newcastle, 2008 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (Early Career Academic), University of Newcastle, 2007 Faculty of Education and Arts Teaching & Learning Award, 2007 Honours Class I, University of Newcastle, 1996 Colin C. Doyle Memorial Prize for Mathematics, University of Newcastle, 1996 Cooper has secured four competitive internal grants totaling $20,029 for research on Australian education reform and mathematics teaching strategies. While specific doctoral advisees aren't documented, her leadership as Director of Student Experience (until 2011) and course coordination roles demonstrate extensive mentoring of undergraduate students. Current grant activities focus on enabling program development and student transition partnerships. She actively contributes to the Centre for Teaching and Learning's mission through academic developer partnerships and enabling education initiatives like NUPrep and Open Foundation programs. Her collaborative work with Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre emphasizes equitable access to higher education through innovative curriculum design for underrepresented student cohorts.
Vigleik Angeltveit is a Senior Lecturer at the Mathematical Sciences Institute, Australian National University (ANU), where he has been since 2011. He received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006 and previously held positions at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on algebraic topology, stable homotopy theory, and algebraic K-theory. Education: PhD in Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2006) Angeltveit’s work explores connections between topological Hochschild homology, algebraic K-theory, and structured ring spectra. His recent publications address generalized Witt vectors, Tambara functors, and homotopy-theoretic approaches to graph theory. Scientific Awards: Clay Mathematics Institute Liftoff Fellowship His contributions span equivariant homotopy theory, model categories, and noncommutative algebra. He is an active researcher in stable homotopy theory, with a strong emphasis on topological cyclic homology and its applications to number theory and geometry.
Dr. Yendrew Yauwenas is a Researcher in the College of Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), specifically within the Department of Aerospace Engineering . Based in the Ainsworth Building (J17), Level 4, Room 408, Kensington Campus, his work focuses on aerospace engineering, aerodynamics, acoustics, and noise control. Research Interests : Yendrew’s research spans aeroacoustics, drone propeller noise, turbulent boundary-layer dynamics, and blade-tower interaction noise. He investigates noise generation mechanisms in aerospace systems, including wingtip vortices, ducted propellers, and rotor turbulence. Publications : His work includes experimental and numerical studies on noise directivity in small rotors, unsteady thrust in strut wakes, and innovative noise control using 3D-printed porous materials. Recent articles (2024) explore wall-pressure anisotropy and cross-correlation of turbulent flows. Contact : yendrew@unsw.edu.au
Professor Jake Olivier is Head of Statistics within the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New South Wales. His research aligns with the Biostatistics and Ecology research group with a focus on statistical methods relevant to epidemiological, psychological and population health data. His primary application area is road safety and injury research, though he also collaborates with cancer, psychological and cardiovascular researchers. Professor Olivier's educational background includes a PhD in Statistics from the University of Mississippi (2003), an MSc in Mathematics from the same institution (1997), and a BSc in Mathematics from Centenary College of Louisiana (1995). He is also an Accredited Statistician (AStat) with the Statistical Society of Australia. His research interests focus on statistical challenges in quasi-experimental designs due to lack of randomization, particularly in assessing population-based interventions. He has conducted significant work on bicycle helmet legislation, gun access restrictions, and interrupted time series analysis. Professor Olivier also investigates effect sizes for epidemiological measures to complement significance testing, addressing how statistical significance is influenced by sample size. His publication record includes 151 journal articles, 2 books, 2 book chapters, and numerous conference papers and presentations. His research has been recognized with 2 Web of Science Highly Cited Papers (one in Mathematics and one in Social Sciences). Professor Olivier's scientific awards include: 2 Web of Science Highly Cited Papers (1 in Mathematics, 1 in Social Sciences) University of Mississippi Dissertation Fellowship John A. Hardin Mathematics Award from Centenary College Paul and Myrtle Bender Mathematics and Physical Science Scholarship from Centenary College He currently supervises three research students: Rianti Siswi Utami (with A/Prof Pierre Lafaye de Micheaux), Mehreen Afzaal (with Dr Boris Beranger), and Kardina N.S. Ayuningtyas (with Em Prof Raphael Grzebieta and A/Prof Carlo Caponecchia). His areas of supervision include meta-analysis of summary statistics, interrupted time series methods, methods for regression to the mean, and joint modelling of longitudinal and time-to-event data. Professor Olivier serves as Statistical Advisor for BMJ Open, Associate Editor for the Journal of Road Safety, and on the Editorial Boards of ANZ Journal of Statistics and Injury Prevention. He has held leadership positions with the NSW Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia, including Past President/VP and Treasurer, and was Chair of the Biostatistics Section.
Gulasekaran Rajaguru serves as Professor, Associate Dean of Research, and Director of the Centre for Data Analytics at Bond Business School, Bond University. He actively supervises PhD students and maintains significant research collaborations with industry partners including Gold Coast Airport, Queensland Government, and Brown Family Wine Group. His educational background includes: PhD in Economics (2004) from National University of Singapore Master of Social Sciences (Economics) from National University of Singapore Master of Statistics from Indian Statistical Institute Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Madurai Kamaraj University, India Rajaguru's research centers on Theoretical and Applied Econometrics with specialized focus on irregular frequency modelling . His work extends to critical areas including Energy Economics , Women Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation , Financial Time Series Analysis , and Economic Forecasting . His methodological innovations address complex data challenges in asynchronous financial markets and development economics. Recent publications (2025) demonstrate interdisciplinary reach across sports economics, environmental sustainability, and international labor mobility. These works consistently apply advanced econometric techniques to solve real-world problems, with strong emphasis on temporal aggregation effects and causal inference in heterogeneous datasets. Rajaguru secured a major Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP230101472) for $382,798 focusing on price discovery mechanisms in financial derivatives. His industry engagement portfolio spans transportation, energy, and public policy sectors through partnerships with Transit Australia Group, Work Healthy Australia, and Jones Lang LaSalle. As an HDR supervisor, he seeks students for projects on asynchronous financial data modelling, women empowerment impacts on fertility/education, and energy-poverty nexus analysis. He leads the Centre for Data Analytics and co-directs the Globalisation and Development Centre while hosting international researchers like Jing Yang (2024-2025).
Professor Deborah Harris is a Joint Chair in Nursing and Midwifery Research at the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Health. She is internationally recognized for her work in neonatal care, nurse practitioner workforce development, and health service research. PhD in Nursing, University of Auckland Masters in Health Sciences, University of Auckland Her research focuses on: Neonatal hypoglycemia management (Sugar Babies Study, GLOW Study) Nurse practitioner policy and practice (NPWORKS survey) Intravenous dextrose treatment and neonatal intensive care Scientific awards include the Prime Minister's Science Prize (2022) . She supervises postgraduate students and leads national collaborations on neonatal health guidelines.
Conjoint Professor Chris Howard is an Honorary Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Newcastle. With a Doctor of Science from the University of Melbourne, Professor Howard has established himself as a leading expert in crystallography and materials science. Professor Howard's research focuses on crystallography of minerals, ceramics and inorganic compounds, with particular emphasis on applications of group theory in crystallography and crystal structure-property relationships. His work bridges fundamental crystallographic principles with practical applications in materials science, particularly in understanding phase transitions and structural properties of various materials. His extensive publication record includes over 170 journal articles, 22 conference papers, 2 book chapters, and a book titled "Applications of Neutron Powder Diffraction" (Oxford University Press, 2008). His recent work (2018-2025) demonstrates continued activity in the field, with research spanning tungsten trioxide, hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, ferroelastic materials, and tungsten bronzes. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on symmetry analysis, phase transitions, and structural properties of materials, with particular attention to the relationship between crystal structure and material properties. Professor Howard has secured research funding totaling $369,643, including a major $363,000 ARC Discovery Project in 2009 titled "A New Paradigm for the Solid State Synthesis of Layered Materials" and more recent grants from ANSTO for strain analysis research. While his teaching experience is described as "limited," Professor Howard has taught a course entitled 'Diffraction and Phase Transitions' to Part II and Part III tripos students in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge. His administrative expertise includes holding a diploma in management and having led groups/sections at ANSTO from 1980-1997.
Dr. Frank Tuyl is a Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, affiliated with the College of Engineering, Science and Environment and the School of Information and Physical Sciences , with a focus on Data Science and Statistics . He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Newcastle and has over 20 years of experience in statistical and operations research consulting across manufacturing, IT, academia, and health sectors. Research Expertise: Applied Statistics, Biostatistics, Statistical Theory Email: frank.tuyl@newcastle.edu.au Dr. Tuyl specializes in Bayesian methods and applications, particularly in prior elicitation, posterior predictive distributions, and handling zero-event scenarios in statistical modeling. His work spans healthcare monitoring, tobacco use projections, financial statistics, and clinical prediction rules. He has contributed to the development of credible intervals for probabilistic evidence in physical therapy and epidemiology. His 2024 article in Statistical Science revisits Jeffreys' century-old prior point mass methodology for binomial distributions, while earlier works focus on Bayesian consensus priors, multinomial models, and global tobacco trends. His publications demonstrate a consistent application of Bayesian inference across public health, clinical diagnostics, and industrial statistics. Supervision and Grants: Dr. Tuyl has served as Principal or Co-Supervisor for four PhD completions. He has secured 10 grants totaling $638,341, primarily from the World Health Organization, Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia), and internal University of Newcastle funds. Projects include mortality impact analysis for tobacco interventions, Bayesian hierarchical modeling, and statistical tool development for the WHO Interactive Smoking Projection Tool.
Dr. Zoltan Kocsis is a mathematical logician and educator based at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he currently holds the position of Adjunct Lecturer. His research spans multiple areas including proof theory, nonstandard analysis, category theory, and computational logic, with a focus on logical verification, degree of satisfiability, and structured decompositions. PhD in Mathematics from the University of Manchester (2019) Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW Work with interactive theorem proving software like Agda Dr. Kocsis' work on degree of satisfiability explores the probability of logical formulas holding in algebraic structures, revealing gaps in equations from Heyting algebras to group theory. His research on structured decompositions and spined categories provides categorical frameworks for fixed-parameter tractability and tree-width generalizations. In formal verification, he contributed to the seL4 kernel on RISC-V architecture. Recent publications include Proof-theoretic methods in quantifier-free definability (2025), Apartness relations between propositions (2024), and Degree of satisfiability in Heyting algebras (2024). Earlier works cover pseudo-random sequences, homology, and nonstandard analysis in group theory. He has received the CSIRO SCS Engineering and Technology award (2021) and the IBM Prize (2018) for his contributions to logical satisfiability. His collaborations include work with Ben Bumpus on spined categories and Jade Master on structured decompositions, alongside teams at CSIRO and Tallinn University of Technology.
Dr. Matthew Harper is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre within the School of Education , University of Newcastle . His career spans roles in higher education , international non-profit organizations , community theatre , and secondary school teaching . As a New Colombo Plan Alumnus , he contributes to cross-cultural educational initiatives in Southeast Asia. Doctor of Philosophy in Education , University of Newcastle Bachelor of Teaching (Honours) , University of Newcastle Harper’s research interrogates the philosophical and practical distinctions between school subjects , particularly mathematics and drama , using the Quality Teaching Model , Basil Bernstein’s pedagogic discourse theory , and critical realism . He argues for valuing arts and STEM equally to enhance student engagement and societal outcomes. His work also focuses on large-scale teacher professional development and student post-school aspirations , including co-developing the Aspirations: Supporting Students' Futures online course. Recent publications highlight his expertise in drama education , cross-cultural fieldwork , and train-the-trainer methodologies . Collaborative projects span Australia , Zimbabwe , and China , emphasizing global educational equity . Within the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre , Harper co-supervises doctoral projects on neurodiverse student support , school improvement , and cross-national drama pedagogy . He actively contributes to institutional quality teaching frameworks and has served in multiple teaching roles since 2018. His team utilizes the Quality Teaching Model to bridge school and university education , with a focus on rural and international contexts .
Professor Scott Brown is a distinguished cognitive scientist at the University of Newcastle, where he serves as Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences within the Psychology department. With a unique interdisciplinary background combining psychology and mathematics, Brown has established himself as a leading researcher in mathematical psychology, focusing on how humans process information, make decisions, and solve complex problems. His academic journey began at the University of Newcastle, where he earned multiple degrees: Bachelor of Science (Psychology) Bachelor of Mathematics Bachelor of Science PhD in Psychology After completing his doctorate in 2002, he spent four years as an Assistant Professor at UC Irvine before returning to Australia to join the University of Newcastle. His research has been consistently supported by prestigious fellowships, including an Australian Research Council (ARC) Fellowship from 2008-2013 and a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship from 2006-2010. Professor Brown's research program uniquely bridges theoretical cognitive science with real-world applications. His primary focus is on mathematical modeling of higher-order cognitive processes, particularly memory and decision-making. What sets his work apart is the application of these models to critical real-world scenarios where human cognition directly impacts outcomes. His team employs a combination of laboratory experiments and analysis of real-world data to develop precise mathematical theories that can make exact predictions about human behavior and thinking. He frequently emphasizes that mathematical theories in psychology allow for precision impossible to achieve with intuition alone. Brown's recent publications reveal a researcher at the forefront of several exciting interdisciplinary frontiers. His work spans from understanding medical decision-making in cancer patients to developing countermeasures against cyber hackers by exploiting their cognitive biases. He has also applied psychological theory to citizen science efforts for endangered species conservation and to improving public transportation systems. The mathematical rigor of his approach is evident across all these domains, with consistent emphasis on developing models that can make precise, testable predictions about human behavior in critical situations. Among his notable scientific achievements are being named a Fellow of the Society for Mathematical Psychology (2015) and a Fellow of the Psychonomic Association (2012). He has also received prestigious New Investigator Awards from both the Society for Mathematical Psychology (2008) and the American Psychological Association (2006). These awards recognize his significant contributions to advancing mathematical approaches in psychological science. Professor Brown has successfully secured substantial research funding, particularly through competitive Australian Research Council grants. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, mathematics, computer science, medicine, and ecology. He has mentored numerous PhD students and early-career researchers, taking particular pride in how his former students have 'gone on to think much bigger, brighter and deeper thoughts than me!' His approach to research emphasizes the importance of mathematical precision in understanding human cognition, challenging common misconceptions about psychological research, particularly the notion that 'everyone understands what it is to be human' therefore psychological research is unnecessary. Currently, Brown leads a strong research group focused on mathematical psychology, collaborating with researchers across multiple disciplines. His lab investigates how cognitive models can be applied to improve outcomes in critical domains including healthcare decision-making and cybersecurity. One particularly innovative project involves studying state-sponsored hackers to develop cognitive countermeasures that can impede their effectiveness by exploiting psychological biases. This work, funded by a US intelligence agency, represents the cutting-edge application of cognitive science to national security challenges.
