Latest Round of HDR Student Projects Highlight Innovation and Collaboration

MMFS was thrilled to welcome our newest cohort of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students last week as they presented their Confirmation of Candidature projects at a whole-of-school event. The day also featured vibrant poster sessions, where current HDR students shared updates on their ongoing projects, fostering valuable networking, collaboration, and support among students and staff alike.

A Closer Look at Our New HDR Projects

• Caitlyn Vicars: Caitlyn is investigating personalised therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a complex degenerative disease affecting the nervous system and motor functions—such as movement and breathing. Working alongside the Personalised Medical Centre, MND Australia, and Neuromuscular Australia, Caitlyn’s research explores molecular treatments to influence genetic expression in ALS patients and is developing tools for rapid diagnosis and tailored therapeutic strategies.
• Casey Rundle: Casey’s project examines the impact of endocrine-disrupting ‘forever’ chemicals, found in everyday products, on oocyte development. Using domestic cats as a model due to their household environments, the study investigates how environmental toxins affect hormone production and ovarian function, providing insights relevant to human health. Supervised by collaborative team from MMFS, The School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Australian National Phenome Centre
• Tarkjot Kaur: Tarkjot’s research focuses on improving grain yields in cereals through comparative genomics and genomic prediction. With Western Australia being a leading producer of wheat, barley, and oats, the project aims to identify genetic traits that optimise yield in barley and oats, collaborating with DPRID, and GRDC, with a top-up scholarship from WA Agricultural Research Collaboration.
• Hansini Batuwita: Hansini is working with the FS&N team on green extraction, stabilisation, and food applications of bioactive compounds from artichokes. By measuring the yield of beneficial compounds from globe artichoke leaves, stems and other 'waste' parts, the research adds value to the industry through nutritional benefits and sustainable, non-toxic process design.
• Rida Malik: Rida’s project explores the integration of Indigenous knowledges into mainstream STEM education—a pathway to intercultural pedagogy that strengthens educational outcomes and cultural understanding.
• Dorothy Nhepera: Dorothy is characterising beta glucan found in Western Australian oat varieties, contributing to the understanding of nutritional properties and potential health benefits of local oats.
• Lachlan MacPhail: Lachlan is pioneering deep-learning phenotyping of oat panicle architecture, alongside genotype × environment predictive modelling for smart agriculture. His work uses advanced machine learning to forecast growth, volume, and yield in oats, supporting the future of data-driven farming.
• Oula Bouphakaly: Oula’s research investigates the drivers of community resilience to Taenia solium, with a One Health perspective on smallholder pig production in Laos, highlighting the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental health.

   

  These exciting projects represent the diversity, innovation, and real-world impact of research at MMFS. We congratulate all our HDR students for their commitment and look forward to seeing their contributions towards the future of science and society.