What does a research degree look like? We asked our research candidates and supervisors this very question for the 2018 Research Higher Degree (RHD) Selfie Competition. The entries varied wildly, providing a special insight into the life of a researcher. We’ve compiled a few of the entries made by CQUni alumni to showcase where a CQUni degree can take you - including what it looks like when you find a rare, 45-million-year-old fossil.
This CQUni trio is all smiles – and deservedly so – they found a 45-million-year-old, extremely rare ‘horsetail’ fossil - a group of plants that were previously thought to have become extinct in Australia about 95 million years ago.
Alumnus and Head of Geosciences at the Queensland Museum Dr Andrew Rozefelds teamed up with fellow alumnus and CQUni researcher Dr Anita Milroy and CQUni Senior Lecturer Geosciences Dr Andrew Hammond on the Queensland Museum-led project. More…
Adam Rose’s PhD involves freshwater studies and not mud crabs. Why then, does the crustacean feature in this photo? Adam’s answer: “PhD supervisors are much like the mud crab: hard exterior, dangerous when they bite…but hopefully filled with gold”. Adam recently published an interesting article on the quality and cost of tap versus bottled water (did you know many Australians spend more on bottled water in a year than they do on petrol or beer?!).
What the cluck?! We’re not sure who has the best selfie pose, but here is Masters Researcher Steve Baldwin and his trusty side-kick at the Central Queensland Innovation Research Precinct (CQIRP) in Rockhampton. This shot is titled ‘“Checking with Chook … the belly bacteria” - Steve is researching microbiota in Australian chickens.
Pictured here is Nicole Ball running the very first sample of her master’s degree: pesticide method development on the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Nicole is undertaking a Masters by Research, investigating the environmental factors of Parkinson’s Disease.
This is not your average selfie: Karina Griffin from the Bundaberg Agriculture and Environment team snapped her ‘happy fluorescent plant bacteria’ accompanied by some tricky mirror-imagery-selfie magic. Karina is undertaking a PhD, researching pesticide resistance in Australian tomato crops.
Sheeana Gangadoo’s submission shows the caffeine-filled side of researchers. Hang in there Sheeana!
This is not a fruit-filled lunch break: it’s PhD candidate Nick Anderson assessing the dry matter content of mango fruit. Nick’s research is based on the NIR gun, which is a non-invasive tool to quickly assess the dry matter content of fruit. This gives harvesters a more informed decision on when to pick it, and gives better quality to consumers.
Either Bryan Gadd is cleverly using a window reflection to capture his selfie, or he is being held hostage in his office by some aggressive post-it notes who’ve grown tired of being reshuffled on the wall multiple times. We may never know. Bryan’s a PhD candidate in creative writing and this is his story board.
Where has your CQUni degree taken you? We’d love a snapshot of it to share with your fellow graduates - fill out the Alumni Profile form, or share a selfie from your workplace in the CQUni Alumni Facebook or LinkedIn group.