“It's through curiosity and looking at opportunities in new ways that we've always mapped our path.”
Michael Dell
It 2016 The DeLorean Project and University of the Sunshine Coast entered into un-chartered waters. An opportunity arose for some of our Year 10 students in the DeLorean program to shadow a USC PhD Candidate each Wednesday for a year in their chosen study of research. The skills that the students are encouraged to develop in The DeLorean Project are transferable to different contexts and academic research was one of these areas.
To date, the USC and DeLorean Project partnership has brought together 24 GCC students and USC PhD Candidate mentors across 6 USC Schools of Discipline. It is exciting to watch this partnership grow and enable more students and mentors to gain valuable experience and enrich their opportunities and potential.
Meet our 2021 USC Students
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Amelia Siddans
School of Science, Technology and Engineering (Environmental Microbiology)
This project uses molecular biology and classic microbiology techniques to do a site analysis of fungi responsible for timber decay. This is achieved by studying the fungal flora attracted to outdoor, exposed timber and the enzymes involved in the decay process. Techniques used involve the extraction of fungal DNA from timber, followed by metabarcoding and metagenomic analysis of the sequences obtained from the timber specimens. Following this, woodblock assays will be analysed to look for potential antagonistic/mutualistic responses of fungi, associated with wood decay, found in the field.
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Kade Morgan
School of Business and Creative Industries
This research project involves small businesses in the Moreton Bay Regional Council region. The managers of the businesses are the participants in this research and they will be attending a free business planning / development course at the USC Caboolture campus. The research project will thematically analyse the adoption of strategic management principles and further the benefit effect to their businesses.
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Chloe Forbes-Hood
School of Business and Creative Industries
This research project proposes to explore and research domestic abuse from the experience of an adolescent who is witness to and victim of the internal terrorism, and further, the repercussions of this abuse on identity development. With an emphasis on trauma within the familial environment, the research will explore capacity-building for resilience. By presenting trauma as a complex agent of change and maturation, the research will delve into trauma in relation to a youth’s formulation of self-identity. Research literature will include creative exemplars, as well as academic and nonfiction texts investigating conceptual foundations of domestic abuse including the societal, political and psychological impacts of trauma.
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Emily Hall
School of Law and Society
This project is related to the regional integration process of Latin America (LA) in the context of the analysis of the concept of populism. The idea is to explore the topic within a multidisciplinary approach (International Relations, Political Science and Constitutional Law) from a qualitative research methodology.
2019 Partnerships
William Manthey mentored by Krisztina Morris
School of Communication and Creative Industries
‘Development of a web-based community-focused resource for clients and families with Parkinson's Disease’
Lizzie Reedman mentored by Lisa McIllwain
Sustainability Research Centre
In the field of environmental governance - Taking a sustainability perspective to investigate forest management in the Brazilian Amazon.
Jordan Fish mentored by Umuyal Ramasamy
School of Science and Engineering
Proteomics of Human Genetic Diseases.
2018 Partnerships
Liana Perry mentored by Krisztina Morris
School of Communication and Creative Industries
‘Multinational corporations communications and public relations practices in the developing world through the lens of globalisation and post-colonialism’
Paige Thompson mentored by Samuel Phillips
School of Science and Engineering
‘Understanding the immunological basis of vaccine protection in koalas with Chlamydial disease’
Vincenzo Porfiri mentored by Meghan Smith
GeneCology Research Centre
'Novel biological control methods for the Crown of Thorns Starfish'
Bakani Kombanie mentored by Yong Kiat Wee
School of Science and Engineering
‘Development and application of systems biology approaches for multiple dimensional data integration on cancer genomics data’
Amelia King mentored by Thomas Hamlyn-Harris
School of Communication and Creative Industries
‘Analysis of how graphical representations of time are used to develop narrative and an exploration of the relationship between time and narrative in contemporary comics and picture-books’
Josh Sidey mentored by Rachael Wynne
Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems
‘Investigating cognitive driving behaviours using eye tracking technology and driving simulators’
2017 Partnerships
Alyssa Rose mentored by Christian O’Dea
School of Science and Engineering
‘Using next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to establish specific genetic markers for detection of human and animal faecal contamination and assess their robustness in surface waters of different catchments.’
Nikita Perro mentored by Rebecca Shipstone
School of Health Science
‘Nursing/Healthcare- Reducing Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy in Queensland’
Holly Lubcke mentored by Tamieka Fraser
School of Science and Engineering
‘Animal Ecology/Microbiology- Understanding the origins of sarcoptic mange in the wombat’
Georgia Chapman mentored by Jessica Levick
School of Health Science
‘Mental Health- Understanding Patient Time-Use on Mental Health In-Patient Units’
2016 Partnerships
Aaron Lerch and Joshua Coumi mentored by Delaney Burnard
School of Science and Engineering
‘Molecular Characterisation of Chlamydia in Marsupials’
Lauren Paul mentored by Kasha Strickland
School of Environmental Science
‘Social Personality of Eastern Water Dragons’
Daniel Mitchell mentored by Alyce Taylor-Brown
School of Science and Engineering
‘Screening Varieties of Fish Species for Novel Chlamydiae’
Keely Thomas mentored by Tamieka Fraser
School of Science and Engineering
‘Animal Ecology/Microbiology- Understanding the origins of sarcoptic mange in the wombat’
Catherine Manthey mentored by Sankhya Bommana
School of Science and Engineering
‘Expression and Purification of Recombinant Proteins for Vaccine and Immunological Studies of Chamydia pecorum Infections in Livestock’
William Warner mentored by Anthony Schultz
School of Environmental Science
‘Measuring and Mapping Koala Health in South East Queensland Using Sniffer Dogs’
Keen to be involved?
If you are a USC PhD Candidate (or a PhD Candidate from another university) and would like to consider being involved in taking on a student mentee, please get in touch. Aside from the opportunity to develop your supervisory skills and capabilities, and a $2000 grant towards your research, the greatest benefit comes from knowing that you are inspiring and encouraging skills in a younger generation. It’s a give back opportunity that promotes a win-win for all parties.
If you are a Year 9 GCC student and you would like to take up the opportunity to shadow a PhD Candidate in a field of research, please also get in touch! The list of benefits to you as a young person is long and it will assist you in shaping your future.
Here’s some Frequently Asked Questions for Mentors to consider:
How many days do I need to be available?
You will need to be available on campus on Wednesday’s between the start and end dates of the program (approximately late February to mid November and about 30 days).
Does all of my engagement with the DeLorean Student need to be in person?
The preference is for time to meet in person each week, however occasionally this can be negotiated with the student depending on circumstances.
While there are modes of communicating virtually these days, we know from previous years that for both the PhD candidate and the DeLorean student the experience is more enriching if there is an element of face to face engagement.
How will I receive the $2,000 grant?
You will receive the $2,000 grant in two instalments: upon commencement; half-way milestone.
How am I allowed to spend the grant funds?
Funds must be expended on items directly related to your research and are not to be utilised for activities that are not directly related.
Am I allowed to participate as a DeLorean PhD Mentor more than once?
Yes, we encourage those that engaged as a PhD Mentor in previous years, to nominate again while undertaking their research.
I don’t think I can participate due to privacy / confidently issues related to my research topic?
You may still be eligible to nominate as a PhD mentor.
The experience is about developing the DeLorean students research skills, so there may be tasks that you can engage them in that do not directly relate to accessing the raw data.