Current staff announcements
Operational
Health and Safety
Health and safety risks to workers include both physical and psychological injury risk. A psychosocial hazard at work is an adverse workplace interaction or condition of work that compromises a worker’s health and wellbeing. UQ has developed a guide to psychosocial safety and wellbeing and maintains a dedicated web page with links to helpful resources to support psychosocial hazard identification and risk management. We strongly encourage the reporting of all hazards and incidents through UQSafe, including psychosocial hazards and incidents.
PeopleSense
PeopleSense is UQ's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider. The EAP allows UQ staff to access free confidential counselling and support on personal and work-related matters. You can book your appointment by calling 1300 307 912.
HSR Legislative Update
There have been recent changes to WHS legislation relating to Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) in the workplace. Updates to the UQ PPL and the safety contacts webpages will be made, and the HSR network will be formally notified at their next HSR network meeting.
Clearance around power distribution boards, fire extinguishers, safety showers/eyewash stations
Please ensure that you leave at least 1 meter clearance around vital and emergency equipment. Do not put bins, equipment, furniture, or storage items within this clearance zone. Unimpeded access is always needed.
Chemical waste
A reminder that chemical waste containers should be removed and replaced at least every 3 months to avoid instability of chemicals and container degradation. Please check your areas for any waste containers older than 3 months and return them to the Chemical Waste lockers for collection. Containers can only be collected if they have Science Store generated labels that include a QR code. If you have any containers with old labels attached, please request a new label from the Science Store before returning them to the lockers.
Respiratory mask fit testing
The Faculty's occupational health and safety team carries out respiratory equipment fit testing for staff and students. To apply for a fit test, get in touch. Testing is carried out in the Mayne Medical Building, Herston, and St Lucia campus, Room 316, Don Nicklin Building (74), or by prior arrangement at limited other locations.
Teaching and Learning
Library focus groups
The UQ Library is hosting focus groups to gather a diverse range of perspectives to help inform their strategy refresh. Check the Library blog for how you can get involved.
Events
2024 Queensland Immunology Networking Symposium
Researchers, students and clinicians are invited to attend the fifth annual Queensland Immunology Networking Symposium. The face-to-face event provides several networking opportunities, alongside a program of fantastic speakers and the panel discussion – One Size Doesn’t Fit All: The Challenge of Predicting Responders to Therapy. It will be held on Wednesday 16 - Thursday 17 October at the Translational Research Institute. More details and registration link here.
Join UQMS for The 67th E.S. Meyers Memorial Lecture, with keynote speaker Dr Jana Pittman
Dr Jana Pittman was the first Australian woman to compete in both the summer and winter Olympics. She has since completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and is now a registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This free annual lecture is held as a special tribute to the life of one of UQ Medicine's founding members and first Patron of the UQMS, Professor Errol Solomon Meyers, bringing together members of the medical, university and general community. Sunday 8 September, 10am – 12pm. Register now.
TRI Game Changer Seminar
Professor Jennifer Martin, Chair of Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Newcastle, will speak about Equity and Access to Health – Reflections from a Philosophy, Political and Economic Perspective. Using equity and access to pharmaceuticals as an example and through the lens of a practicing clinician facing this ethical/clinical/legal/regulatory and financial interface daily, we look at how principles of distributive justice can be considered. This is important in light of the increasing gap in equity and access to health across Australia. Thursday 5 September from 12-1pm at TRI Auditorium or Zoom.
Research and Innovation Week events
Event registrations are now open for Research and Innovation Week 2024. Join us from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October as we celebrate and raise awareness of the remarkable research at UQ. Highlights include the UQ Research and Innovation Awards for Excellence, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and Innovation Forum and the UQ 3MT Final 2024. Explore the full program and register to secure your spot today.
Online learning event: Strengths and Frailty in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Dr Jesse Zanker will summarise recent evidence on frailty and strengths in older First Nations peoples, and discuss knowledge gaps and future directions. Join on Zoom Wednesday 11 September from 3pm. Full details and RSVP.
Successes and Failures in Telehealth (SFT-24) conference program announced
Hosted by the Centre for Online Health, the Successes and Failures in Telehealth (SFT-24) conference fosters collaboration between clinicians, researchers, policymakers, consumers, and industry leaders in virtual healthcare. This year we gather in Brisbane 13-15 November, with Introduction to Telehealth, Evaluation, and Consumer Involvement workshops offered prior to the conference. View the full SFT-24 program and register here.
From the Director’s Desk
As August already comes to a close, I draw your attention to our upcoming All CHSR Forums in September and November, with time/date details for both listed in the CHSR events list below. Our September Forum is online-only due to exam-time space requirements. Associate Dean (Research) Professor Karen Moritz will be speaking to research support impacts of the most recent New Faculty change paper, especially for ECMRs. Virologist Associate Professor Kirsty Short, who you may recognise from UQ’s COVID-19 Know the Facts video series with Professor Ian Frazer AC, will share her experience of strategically pursuing big research profile builders like awards, grants and media coverage. In November, we’ve decided to combine our final Forum + End-of-Year Social Event at Herston. We’ll wrap up the forum by putting on a late lunch (with our annual CHSR Staff Awards of course), so please make sure you keep this date free for us to celebrate as a team.
Best wishes, Monika
UQ Experts
A reminder that later this month we will be launching the UQ Experts website (about.uq.edu.au/experts) that will replace the current Researchers website (Researchers.uq.edu.au). Your UQ Expert Profile (formerly called ‘Researcher profiles’) is highly sought after in web searches, by HDR students, media, and industry looking for your expertise. A Guide to updating your UQ Experts profile and short video has been developed to help you develop a strong and engaging profile that is well optimised for web searches.
Upcoming CHSR events
Next QDHeC Digital Health Grand Rounds
Tuesday 27 August
12:30-1:30pm
Towards using wearables in clinical practice - A step in the right direction
Dr Graeme Mattison
Register here
Visualise Your Thesis competition
Wednesday 28 August
10-11:30am
Featuring Centre of Online Health HDR student Molly Warner
Central Library at Purple Stairs (opposite Bookmark Cafe)
Please register via StudentHub to attend (and vote!)
Next All CHSR Forum
Thursday 5 September
11:30am-1pm
Online
Guest speaker: Associate Professor Kirsty Short
Click here to join the meeting
Next CHSR Seminar
Wednesday 18 September
12:30-1:30pm
Click here to join the meeting
Next CHSR Shared Lunch at PAH
Thursday 19 September
12pm
Ground Floor Kitchen, Building 33
Bring a plate!
Next CHSR Shared Lunch at Herston
Thursday 26 September
12pm
Level 5 Kitchen, Health Sciences Building
Bring a plate!
Next QDHeC Digital Journal Club
Wednesday 11 September
12:00-12:45pm
Consultant Endocrinologist
Dr Ben Sly
Register here
Next AFN Frailty Nexus online learning event
Wednesday 11 September
3-4pm
Strengths and Frailty in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Dr Jesse Zanker
Register here
Next AFN Geriatric Seminar Series
Friday 18 October
12-1pm
Russell Strong Auditorium PAH or online
Low Energy Trauma, co-hosted with Queensland Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Network conference
Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, Dr Davd Lockwood, Dr Aisling Fleury
Register here
Final 2024 All CHSR Forum + End-of-Year Social Event
Tuesday 19 November
11am-3pm
Mary Emelia Mayne Room, Herston
Fully catered!
Conferences
Successes and Failures of Telehealth Conference
13-15 November
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Program announced
Health Services Research Conference
4-6 December
Royal International Convention Centre
Invited speakers announced
Research Support Team updates
The HMBS Major Organisational Change Proposal has been released and it affects the research support function for CHSR. Please take the time to review the changes and provide your feedback during the consultation period via this link (closes 5pm Wednesday 28 August).
Please notify the CHSR Research Support Team via the online survey or email Casey and Lauren if you are applying for grants (either as CIA or collaborator). For post-award support, please contact James Reid and Trish Murray.
UQ Research and Innovation Week celebrates the achievements of UQ researchers and partnerships from 30 September – 4 October. Full program here. Events of interest:
30 September 2024 5:30pm–7:00pm. Join Nobel Award-winning scientist and UQ Alum, Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, for a lecture that honours his major contributions to infection and immunology.
1 October 2024 9:30am–11:30am. Faculty of Medicine Research Showcase.
1 October 2024 12:00pm–1:00pm. How to Pitch to The Conversation.
3 October 2024 10:00am–1:00pm. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and Innovation Forum.
Funding opportunities
NHMRC Targeted Research Call – Health Services Research – close 28 August
NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies – close 28 August
QDSA Collaborative Research Grants – EOIs close 9 September
MRFF Research Data Infrastructure – close 28 October
ARC Early & Mid-Career Industry Fellowships – close 12 November
NHMRC Partnerships (PCR3) - close 27 November
MRFF International Clinical Trials (R2) – close 4 December
MRFF Frontier Health and Medical Research – EOIs close 31 March 2025
Award opportunities
Good luck to everyone nominated in the upcoming award ceremonies!
1 October 2024 6:00pm–8:30pm. UQ Research and Innovation Awards for Excellence
2 October 2024 10:00am–12:00pm. UQ Research Culture Awards
3 October 2024 6:00pm–9:00pm. UQ Research Partnerships and Translation Awards
Training opportunities
UQ Spark Program. EOIs are now open, this program offers mid-career academics the opportunity to gain practical skills and experience in industry engagement.
UQ Library online and in-person training available here.
QCIF online biostatistics and bioinformatics training available here.
Publications
Clemensen, J., Holm, K. G., Jakobsen, P. R., Jensen, C. M., Nielsen, C., Danbjørg, D. B., Smith, A. C., & Rothmann, M. J. (2024). Participatory design in telehealth research: Practical case examples. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 1357633X241262820. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X241262820
Milliken, L., Horsham, C., Rodriguez-Acevedo, A. J., Jayasinghe, D., Soyer, H. P., & Janda, M. (2024). Comparison of artificial intelligence smartphone applications for skin cancer risk stratification of pigmented lesions: An observational study. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 10.1111/jdv.20253. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.20253
Olufson, H. T., Ottrey, E., Young, A. M., & Green, T. L. (2024). An ethnographic study exploring person-centred nutrition care in rehabilitation units. Disability and rehabilitation, 46(16), 3620–3628. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2254230
Sazon, H., Catapan, S. C., Rahimi, A., Canfell, O. J., & Kelly, J. (2024). How do Twitter users feel about telehealth? A mixed-methods analysis of experiences, perceptions and expectations. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 27(1), e13927. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13927
Medical School community achievements
Master of Mental Health anniversary
Congratulations to the Master of Mental Health – Art Therapy team who celebrated the 20th anniversary with a special event on 12 July. The anniversary celebrations included a panel discussion, a weaving activity in the Reconciliation Garden and an art exhibition. Images of this special milestone event can be found here.
People and culture
Staff appointments
We are pleased to introduce new staff within the Medical School. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to:
Greater Brisbane Clinical School
Julie Anderson, Administration and Engagement Assistant, Royal Brisbane Clinical Unit
Robert Nona, Lecturer, MD Learning Hub
Academy of Medical Education
Zoe Noonan, Senior Lecturer, Medical Education (Year 3 Course Coordinator), AME
Claire O’Halloran, Senior Lecturer, Medical Education (Clinical Skills), AME
Mayne Academy of Medicine
Nick Sowden, Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Medicine, Mayne Academy of Medicine
AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award
Congratulations to Professor and Chair of Anaesthesiology at UQ, Professor André van Zundert, who has been awarded the Australian Medical Association’s 2024 AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award at a recent conference on the Gold Coast. AMA President, Professor Steve Robson presented the award, saying “Professor van Zundert’s efforts in healthcare are exemplary, and they are matched equally by his efforts in many other fields. Professor van Zundert is a wonderful anaesthetist, anaesthesia researcher and teacher. He is also a volunteer supporting Brisbane’s homeless and has served with NATO Peacekeepers as military medical director.”
Student success
Congratulations to MD student Ria Thompson who represented Australia in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ria qualified for and competed in the Quadruple Scull event. Although Ria’s team did not place, they gave an impressive performance and represented Australia well.
Congratulations also to Kealey Griffith, a Yuggera woman and second-year UQ MD student, who was awarded the 2024 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship. Kealey is an aspiring psychiatrist and hopes to assist First Nations women experiencing sexual and family violence. She has is a strong advocate for diversity, to improve health outcomes for all people and communities, and recognises the importance of giving space to different voices from all kinds of backgrounds.
Research
Medical School Publication Award is now open
The Medical School Publication Award is a great opportunity for you to gain recognition for published work between 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 and promote your research. The award acknowledges research impact excellence in Medical School publications and offers a valuable career development opportunity for emerging research leaders. Three prizes, each worth $3000, will be awarded to highly ranked nominated publications. Open to all researchers in the Medical School, don't miss out on this chance to showcase your research! If you are interested, please email the Research Development Office for an application form. The deadline for this award is 9am AEST on 16 September.
Medical School Research Town Hall Meetings
Save the date for the next quarterly meeting:
Wednesday 28 August, 4-5pm on MS Teams. Meeting link. An agenda will be circulated prior to the meeting. The slides from the first Medical School Research Town Hall Meeting on 3 June with useful links can be downloaded here.
Weekly drop-in sessions
The Medical School Research Support Team have begun trialling regular weekly “drop-in” sessions. These occur on Wednesdays, 4-5pm via MS Teams. If the Research Support Team members online that week can’t answer your particular question, it will be taken on notice, and you will receive a reply as soon as possible.
UQ Spark Program
The UQ Spark program provides mid-career academics with the tools required to nurture the spark that ignites when a researcher’s ideas are brought together with those of a partner. This training program equips Level B/C academics with practical skills in mapping and engaging industry partners, attracting funding and scaling up opportunities for investment. To be eligible, candidates must have a clearly identified project and be seeking support for industry engagement. Learn more and apply by 2 September: https://research-support.uq.edu.au/spark-program
Erasmus+ Scholarships
Funding is available through the Erasmus+ Scholarships for Staff Mobility for Teaching or Training at TUM for professional and academic UQ staff for:
- Two mobilities of one week each (5 days activities at TUM + 2 travel days, total grant amount of 2.620 € each)
- Two mobilities of two weeks each (12 days activities at TUM including the weekend between, + 2 travel days, total grant amount of 3.740 € each)
Submission deadline: Wednesday 4 September
UQ Technical University of Munich (TUM) Workshop Grant Scheme
Funding is available for up to 5 grants of up to $10,000 per project which will be awarded in 2024 for joint applications between academics from UQ and Technical University of Munich. Workshop Grants are intended to support delivery of, and attendance at, joint workshops and symposia.
Submission deadline: Wednesday 4 September
Ethics and Governance training
Research Ethics and Integrity Training sessions are available for UQ Staff and HDR candidates. Please see the schedule below. Please direct enquiries to: training.rei@research.uq.edu.au.
- Drop-in sessions for questions on human ethics applications:
Wednesday 4 September - 11:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday 5 November - 10-11am
Register for the drop-in sessions for questions on ethics applications.
- Conducting Ethical Research with Humans at UQ:
Thursday 7 November – 11am-1pm
Staff can register for these sessions in Workday.
- Ethical research & teaching with animals at UQ:
Wednesday 6 November – 1-2pm
Register in Workday for any of these sessions.
- Research ethics: Human (HDR Students):
Tuesday 20 August - 10-11:30am
Tuesday 19 November - 10-11:30am
HDR candidates can attend any of the Human Ethics training sessions organized by the Graduate School.
- Research ethics: Animal (HDR students):
Wednesday 21 August - 10-11am
Wednesday 20 November - 12-1pm
Register for these sessions on the Graduate School website.
Faculty Research Alert
The Faculty Research Alert is circulated weekly via email and includes information about UQ internal schemes, external funding opportunities and awards. If you would like to receive the Alert, please email the Faculty of Medicine Research team. Detailed information on research funding opportunities and awards can be viewed on the Faculty of Medicine intranet. For previously advertised grant and award opportunities and events, please refer to the Archive Faculty Research Alert webpage.
Education
MD Design update
The detailed design of Year 3 experiences is nearing completion. The longitudinal tutorial series has been confirmed. The basic framework of the Year 3 scholarly project was endorsed by the MD Design Board, with further discussion to take place to confirm the appropriate governance and approvals for projects.
A meeting with the Mayne Academies was held on 5 August to progress the Assessment matrix and the immersion models. A meeting with the Mayne Academies and the Clinical Unit leads has been tentatively proposed for the week of 12 August to review the impact of Year 3 implementation. In parallel individual meetings with each Mayne Academy and the Rural Clinical School are underway to confirm the year 3 implementation plan for the regional pathways and the rural immersion model.
The structure of Year 4 has been finalised which includes three clinical immersions as well as a personalised learning and development (elective) term and a pre-Internship term. Consultation with Prescribing Skills Assessment Australia continues with input from Medical School academics and professional staff. The immersion models are progressing, with the first draft of the year 4 sections of the curriculum documents expected to be completed at the end of August.
Faculty of Medicine Teaching & Learning Recognition and Achievement Awards
To celebrate teaching excellence and recognise staff for the quality of their contributions to Faculty teaching programs, nominations for this year’s Faculty of Medicine Teaching and Learning Award nominations are now open. These awards provide an opportunity to recognise all categories of staff involved in our programs – academic, professional, tutor, clinical educator, professional practice supervisor.
Nomination forms must be completed by the applicant and endorsed by the Head of School or Centre/Institute Director. Completed nomination forms (nomination and guidelines) must be submitted to med.ada.ea@uq.edu.au by 9am on Monday 19 August.
Engagement
Bullying and Harassment prevention and response training
UQ runs an in-person bullying and harassment prevention and response training workshop developed by the Workplace Diversity and Inclusion team and facilitated by HR Client Partnering. The workshop is aimed at supervisors and runs for half a day (4 hours). It is strongly encouraged for supervisors to be supported in finding time to attend the workshop. The next workshop is scheduled for Monay 28 October and still has spots available. Details can be found here.
Values-based leadership: Addressing unacceptable behaviour
UQ also runs the 3-hour Values-Based Leadership: Addressing Unacceptable Behaviour workshop. This workshop was developed by the Organisational Culture and Capability team and is also aimed at supervisors and attendance is strongly encouraged. Details can be found here for upcoming sessions on 19 August and 21 October.
Cyber Security Training
With cyber security threats on the rise, now is a good time to boost your cyber safety savviness and learn how to apply this knowledge in both a personal and professional setting.
- Introduction to Cyber Security for IT Professionals – Tuesday 20August and Wednesday 21 August 9am–12pm (online - two half-day sessions, total six hours). Professional staff currently employed in an IT roles completing this course will further develop their understanding of information security principles and cyber security as a risk to business objectives.
- Cyber Security Fundamentals – Wednesday 25 September 1-4pm (in person at St Lucia campus). This introductory course is a good place to start for anyone who would like to gain practical knowledge to become safer online in their personal lives and at work.
- Register now via the Training section of the UQ Stay Cyber Safe webpage or by searching for the course title in WorkDay. Short and on demand online cyber security awareness learning content is also available when you have five minutes to brush up your cyber security knowledge. Content includes interactive activities, quizzes and video modules to help you improve and test your cyber security knowledge. Visit the Online Staff Training section of the Stay Cyber Safe webpage and log in with your username@uq.edu.au. Content is within the Library tab.
New exhibition open
UQ Art Museum’s Semester 2 exhibition Hoda Afshar: A Curve is a Broken Line is now open. It is the first major solo exhibition of one of Australia’s most innovative and unflinching photo-media artists, Hoda Afshar. The comprehensive exhibition provides an overview of the artist’s recent practice and examines the politics of image-making. Amassed together in dialogue for the first time, these works offer a poignant reminder of the power of images and their coercive potential.
World Entrepreneurs’ Day
UQ Ventures is celebrating World Entrepreneurs’ Day on 21 August at the Great Court with the Ventures Showcase! The Ventures Showcase is a celebration of everything entrepreneurship at UQ. Students, staff, alumni, and anyone who is interested is welcome to drop by between 11am-3pm for a day of festivities, including startup stalls, food trucks, entertainment, activations and more.
General Practice Clinical Unit newsletter
The General Practice Clinical Unit distributes a quarterly newsletter. Click on the Newsletters tab for the latest information regarding the Mayne Academy of General Practice and General Practice Clinical Unit, teaching tips, articles and more.
View archived announcements from the Medical School
RCS Director Update
Firstly, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Rural and Remote (RRM) Team for their incredible dedication and hard work in planning the 2024 Immersion Program. The itineraries are impressive and detailed, and I am confident that the students will have a truly immersive experience within their rural communities. This program is crucial in fostering and maintaining our strong connections with our rural and remote communities and introducing our first-year students to life in the bush.
I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to the attending staff who will be present at each of the nine locations, ensuring the success of this initiative. Your commitment and support are vital to making this program a success. This year fourteen RCS staff and 2 Brisbane staff will join the 140 Year 1 students visiting our rural communities. On the final day there will be an opportunity for students to visit our Regional Clinical Units, to meet our teams and to connect with other students in the region as they prepare to join us for Year 2 in 2025.
Additionally, we recently held our first Medical Pathways – Rural Session at the 2024 UQ Open Day. With over 70 prospective students and their families in attendance, it was an excellent opportunity to showcase our DD-SW and CQ-WB pathways in Brisbane. Our popular session highlighted the growing interest in our rural medical pathways and reinforced the powerful role our students’ ambassadors play in advocating for us. Their stories and experiences not only inspire future doctors but also drive the success of our initiatives.
Kind regards,
Riitta
Research Training Opportunities
- The registrations have opened for the DDHIRC Research Skills workshops for the rest of this year.
- RR-CLaN (Rural Research Collaborative Learning Network training - Qualitative data analysis in health service research.
Staff Movements
- Julie Walker, Lead Clinical Educator has left the BRCU, we wish her the best
- New Clinical Educator, Cherie Baars has been contracted to work two days per week until the end of the year at BRCU
- Sue Wright, Lead Clinical Educator at BRCU will be on extended leave from 8 August for three months
- We welcome Dr Chong En Chu to the Senior Lecturer of Clinical Skills & Simulations Toowoomba (Thurs/Fri)
- Over from SFT Team Leader – Trudy Stone will be leaning back into her medical education background taking up the role of Associate Lecturer of Clinical Skills & Simulations Toowoomba -Congratulations Trudy!
- We farewell Priya Martin and wish her all the best in her new role with UniSQ. She won’t be going far and is keen to stay in contact via her new email address priya.martin@unisq.edu.au.
- Recruitment will begin for Year 1 Student Co-Ordinator (in both CQ and WB) and Year 2 Student Co-Ordinator (DDSW).
Regional Training Hub
- RTH Trivia Night in Wide Bay - The night was a great success with 80+ attendees including UQ Medical Students, CQU RMP Students, Interns and a great mix of Health Professionals from the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service. We have received a lot of positive feedback so far from participants saying they felt more connected to the health community and were able to make several new connections which is wonderful as we wanted to bring a sense of belonging for our students and interns. $463 was donated to Doctors Health in Queensland from Raffles on the night and in addition to UQ & WBHHS the event was sponsored by – MIPS, RMP, Doctors Health in Queensland, Rum Raiders Bundaberg, Qld Indoor Arinas
- Battle of the Specialties in Toowoomba is happening on Tuesday 6 August. Students will have the opportunity to hear from a number of doctors representing their medical specialties to provide insight into the challenges and highlights of their specialty, test their medical trivia knowledge and get the chance to network with some of our local doctors to help guide their career decision making
Past Events
- Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit held their first adapted Silver-Q activities on 16 July and their last Dr 4 a Day for the year on 23 July.
- Gladstone Dorrie Day – 1 August
- UQ Open Day – 4 August – Thanks to the staff and students who promoted the Medical Pathways
- Student and staff celebrated UQ Green and Gold day on 2 August to acknowledge UQ students and alumni who are participating in the Olympics and celebrate Australia’s success.
- Research Projects Set to Transform Health and Wellbeing of Rural Queenslanders - RRR Research Event was held in July
Upcoming events:
- HBRCU first Work Ready workshop will be held 12 August
- RRM Immersion – 10 -14 August
- In place of ATOM this year UniSQ will be running a Medical Pathway Experience Day on the UniSQ Toowoomba campus - 18 August
- Bundaberg Dorrie Day – 29 August
- Gladstone Guidance Officer and Teacher Breakfast – run by UQ on behalf of the RMP – 30 August
- Gladstone RMP Health of the Region Dinner – 30 August
- Provisional and Graduate Entry Gladstone Info Session – RMP – 31 August
- Wear It Purple Day – 30 August
- Goondiwindi Medical Muster Sponsors – 6 September
Date Savers
27 Aug SBMS All Staff Meeting, 12-1:30pm, Zoom
11-12 Sep Honours Proposal Presentations (BIOM6192), location TBC
18 Sep Academic Staff Meeting, 2-4pm, venue TBC
18 Sep UQABS Annual Honours Evening, 6:30-9:30pm, Modwest Bldg (11A), room 120-121
29/30 Oct Honours Research Outcome Seminars, 9am-5pm, various locations
22 Nov SBMS Awards Evening, Customs House
2 Dec SBMS All Staff Meeting, 12-1:30pm, Zoom (details to come)
New SBMS Publications
Stress pathway outputs are encoded by pH-dependent clustering of kinase components
Yuliia Didan, Milad Ghomlaghi, Lan K Nguyen & Dominic C H Ng
Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50638-w
How cells use the same signalling pathway to respond to diverse stimuli with many different cell responses is poorly understood. As part of her PhD in the Kinase Biology lab, Yuliia unravelled some of this complexity by demonstrating that the pH environment in the cell cytosol influences the condensed state of certain kinases to alter phosphorylation and the flux of biochemical signals. These signals ultimately regulate how a cell behaves. Yuliia accomplished this, in part, through precise, quantitative and concurrent measure of pH fluctuations with kinase activity inside living cells. Our findings are significant as pH fluctuations are linked to all aspects of biology and explains how a single kinase pathway might respond differently with pH change in different pathophysiological contexts.
Making sense of plant sense
Key, B and Brown, DJ (2024).
Philosophy of Plant Cognition. Peter Schulte, Gabriele Ferretti and Markus Wild (Eds) Routledge NY pp.189-209 https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003393375-14/making-sense-plant-sense-brian-key-deborah-brown
The 1986 musical film Little Shop of Horrors features a carnivorous and sentient human flesh-eating plant called Audrey II that brings fame and misfortune to a struggling florist shop. Audrey II can speak and demands that Seymour, its human carer, "feed me all night long". The dumbfounded Seymour recoils—"You're a plant, an inanimate object". Audrey II then hollers “if I can move, who says I can't do anything I want". This is the fallacy that underlies the idea that plants are sentient—that is, the suspension of the form-to-function constraint that is the hallmark of biological explanation. You have to read the paper.
If you are preparing a manuscript and you would like SBMS readership before submission, members of the Research Committee are willing and able to assist. Please contact the chair, Jana Vukovic.
If you have recently had a new publication accepted or published, please let us know. (NOTE TO MARCOMS: Please link the document – ‘Instructions for publication updates in the SBMS update’ to “let us know”.)
Library Update
Read and Publish agreements progress the transition to open-access publishing. UQ authors can publish their research in included open-access journal titles utilizing Library pre-paid APCs. The library funds open publishing via a combined access and publishing cost.
This webinar will discuss the UQ Read and Publish agreements for 2024, and demonstrate a collection of tools that UQ Library has developed to assist in strategic decision-making about publishing and considering open access pathways as part of the process. The workshop will:
- Explain Read and Publish agreements
- How to select journals based on:
- Impact Factor
- Subject area
- Coverage of an APC by a Read and Publish agreement
- Quartile
- How authors can adopt rights over their scholarly works using a Rights Retention Strategy
- How to comply with funder requirements via alternative publishing pathways
This workshop will offer advice and guidance on how to navigate Read and Publish agreements and journal selection.
To book to attend one of the upcoming workshops follow this link. Future workshops are scheduled (at various times) on:
- 3 September
- 30 September (R&I Week)
- 23 October
- 20 November
View archived announcements from SBMS
Head of School Update
Dear Colleagues
Ekka week has passed again for another year for me this always signals spring is nearly here, I hope you all enjoyed a break on the public holiday.
Congratulations to Louise Marquart-Wilson on the safe arrival of her daughter Romy Adalyn Wilson born on Friday August 16 (3040g and 50cm long). Nate is loving being a big brother and Louise is doing very well.
Last week, six of our academic staff submitted their Investigator grant applications. Well done to you all, we know these applications take a lot of time and energy. Best of luck for positive outcomes, and many thanks to Emma and Cathy for the hours of assistance provided to applicants.
Thank you to Megan Ferguson and Marina Reeves for organising the HDR Information event and thank you to all the academics for promoting the research opportunities that are available in our school for future Honours and PhD students.
One update I would like to provide in relation to the new Faculty, is that the Centre for Health Services Research will at this time stay as a Centre and not be coming into the School, which many people have asked about over the last couple of months.
After almost 20 years, Leonie Gemmell, the Data Access and Liaison Officer for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, is moving on to new adventures! Leonie has been a wonderful and valued colleague to everyone at the Australian Women and Girl’s Health Research Centre and will be greatly missed. All our best wishes for the future Leonie!
All the best
Sheleigh & Sarah
Sheleigh Lawler Sarah Piper
Acting Head of School SPH School Manager
Dates for diaries
22 and 26 August - School culture building sessions with Sue Sampson, contact Libby for details
30 August - Wear It Purple Day: Wear It Purple strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.
MS Teams Phone Migration
UQ is working towards migrating staff off the NEC desk phone system to Microsoft Teams Phone. Teams users can already make video and audio calls to each other, but the Teams Phone component allows you to make and receive calls to and from landlines and mobile phones. By migrating the functionality of your desk phone to Teams Phone, UQ will have a complete telephony solution so you can stay connected using your laptop, tablet, mobile or desk phone from anywhere.
Migration to MS Teams Phones can be requested by either following the “Onboarding Process” link on Microsoft Teams Phone - Current staff - University of Queensland (uq.edu.au) or via Email: TeamsPhone@its.uq.edu.au.
For staff yet to migrate to MS Teams, we ask that you and each member within your team/org unit commence migration by the end of August 2024 please.
Telephone handsets can be returned to FOM Reception, Level 2, Mayne Medical Building, Herston. Headsets are available to staff working in open plan areas from Reception as well.
New School Org Unit Intranet (OUI)
After consultation through a recent communications focus group, and consideration of a School-wide Teams team, the School will soon be creating an all new Sharepoint Org Unit Intranet (OUI) site. This will be a one-stop location for all our School internal communications and information such as staff directories, committee information and minutes, and SOPs. The creation of the OUI will be a significant project that will take several months to deliver. If you’d like to be part of the project group to have input on the OUI, please let Sarah know. Please note that Teams will continue to be utilised for work on School projects.
SPH Space update
A memo has now been submitted to the August meeting of the Capital Management Group, seeking approval to continue work on the building master plan. The draft of this plan will be shared at our School Forum tomorrow, and we’re keen to hear your feedback.
SPH LinkedIn Page
Continue to help build our SPH LinkedIn community by following and inviting others to follow our School of Public Health LinkedIn page. Please send Ailsa Bolton any content you would like uploaded to LinkedIn. She will need:
- An introductory paragraph to be posted that summarises the content
- Any link or document to go with the post
- Any person or organisation who needs to be tagged in the post (eg: coauthors, people in photos, partner organisations).
Alternatively, you can post on your own personal LinkedIn page and tag the School of Public Health by simply typing @UQ School of Public Health and clicking the SPH page that appears as a tag option.
HDR Update
HDR Wellbeing Chat
We are holding a HDR wellbeing chat, chaired by student HDR Subcommittee members and Megan, to hear about how UQ may be able to better support HDR students. The informal discussion will be on Friday, 30 August from 11am to 12pm, in the SPH building, room 418. Invites have been sent to SPH and Poche HDR students. We seek Advisors to encourage HDRs to join this discussion.
SPH, Poche & CHSR HDR 2024 Student Retreat
Registrations for the event, to be held at Atrium on Monday 14 October-Tuesday 15 October, will be circulated soon. We ask Advisors to encourage HDRs to attend for this blend of professional development and career trajectory expertise, wellness, and a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues.
Postgrad Ball
We still have a couple of seats available for the UQ Postgrad Ball on 21 September. If you are keen to participate, please email Frankie (f.berardi@uq.edu.au). You can read more here: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-annual-postgraduate-ball.
SPH Volleyball
We are recruiting participants for an SPH volleyball team. If you are interested, please contact Frankie (f.berardi@uq.edu.au) for more information.
Bridge to Brisbane
We are organising a Bridge to Brisbane team, and if you'd like to join, you can click here: Team Manager | The Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge To Brisbane Fun Run 2024 (enterb2b.com.au) and select 'Join a Team'. Then find 'UQ School of Public Health 2024'. The event is occurring on Sunday 8 September. There is a 5K and 10K option.
Kind regards, HDR team
Frankie Berardi (Co-Chair), Germaine Lai (Secretariat), Lisa McHugh (Deputy DHDR) and Megan Ferguson (DHDR)
Online Courses for HDR Students
Regardless of where HDR students are in their candidature, there are numerous free online courses available to provide support. These courses offer a variety of resources to help students enhance their UQ profile, showcase their research, and strategise for their future careers. Some of the available courses:
How to Write a Thesis - If you have a student who has just started their program, looking for some guidance on how to tackle their thesis planning.
Web of Science Academy - If your student is already publishing, this course can help develop their peer review skills.
Employability Guides for HDRs - These guides cover a range of topics to assist HDRs plan for future careers.
SPH Website Update
Work is commencing on updating and improving our SPH website, with the help of Stacey Pizzino and the engagement team. If you’re aware of any errors on our website that need correcting, please can you share the details via this webform: https://survey.app.uq.edu.au/sph-website-corrections-form This will remain active for the foreseeable future and we’re keen to hear from you. If you’d like to be a part of the website upgrade team, please get in touch with Stacey.
Australia’s Disability Strategy – Have your say
The Australian Government is reviewing Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031. Launched in 2021, Australia’s Disability Strategy is the national disability framework. It calls on Australians to ensure people with disability can participate as equal members of society. Those interested can review the discussion paper and complete a guided questionnaire on the Department of Social Services Engage website by 6 September 2024. For more information including on how to make a submission, visit here.
Project: Mothers and their Children’s Health study (MatCH 2) 0-4 years pilot survey
We are looking for mothers, aged 40+, of children aged 0-4 years to complete a 15-20 minute online survey and provide feedback.
About the survey:
- 15-20 minute online survey
- Tell us what you liked or didn’t like, or anything you found hard to understand
- You will receive a $20 eGift card in appreciation of your time and effort.
The MatCH 2 study collects data from children and their mothers. The study looks at the impact maternal, lifestyle and environmental factors have on child health and wellbeing. What the study finds can help shape health and wellbeing policies and programs for children in the future.
Your participant will help us make sure our survey is the best it can be, and that we are using the right questions to collect the data we need.
If you know of anyone who is a mother of a 0-4 year old, is aged over 40 years, and might be interested in participating, please feel free to share this information with them.
If you are interested in taking part, more information can be found here or by contacting the study coordinator directly: Carla Shield, Carla.Shield@uq.edu.au or 3443 6048.
Shade Workshop for HDR Students
Tuesday 10 September
8:30AM - 5:00PM
Queensland Health, 15 Butterfield St, Herston, QLD 4006
This workshop will focus on the significant role of shade in reducing skin cancer risk and how to deliver and sustain quality shade in the built environment. We will address the key challenge of getting shade for UV protection on the healthy built environment policy agenda through cross sector engagement. The complex context of delivering shade effectively in the built environment will be explored through presentations, panel discussions, case studies and a site visit. A key outcome of the day is to share strategies and tactics to deliver long term sustainable quality shade outcomes. More details can be found here.
All the info
- 2024 Academic Calendar - Academic Calendar
- CAHP - CAHP Information & Services
- Research News - UQ Research Main Page
- Current Funding Opportunities - Current Funding Opportunities
- MRFF 2024 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative - MRFF 2024 Early to Mid-Career Researchers grant opportunity
SPH Research Dissemination Toolkit
Keen to disseminate your research publicly? The SPH Research Dissemination Toolkit can help you do this.
From the Director’s desk
On Thursday August 15th UQCCR held a workshop discussing potential descriptors for leadership roles within UQCCR, namely, Group Leaders, and a new designation Team Leaders. The workshop was expertly led by Dr Richard O’Quinn from the UQ Business School. In coming weeks, we will develop some descriptors for the above roles and share them with all of UQCCR to make sure they are fit for purpose and acknowledge the roles people undertake and give structure to their leadership development.
The UQCCR Brain, Neurology and Mental Health Showcase will be on Wednesday 11th September in the UQCCR auditorium. This showcase will highlight the research of our early and mid-career researchers and our current students, and will demonstrate the strength of collaborations within our research. There are 4 sessions, Modelling brain disease, Biomarkers and imaging brain models, Brain and mental health and Clinical applications. All are welcome and are encouraged to attend. To register please go here: UQCCR Brain, Neurology and Mental Health Showcase - Centre for Clinical Research - University of Queensland.
Want to be included in the newsletter?
Email your updates, event, awards to news@uqccr.uq.edu.au for inclusion.
Are you a wellbeing? Check out UQCCR’s Wellbeing committee Initiatives and other Centre news on the Staff hub.
UQCCR Seminar Series - 28 August 2024, 9:00-10:30am
Please note the earlier start time for this seminar. Join us for an insightful session with Professor Andreas Obermair, presenting "Decades of Discovery: The Evolution of QCGC Research’s Clinical Trials," followed by Shawn Carlson from Ambergen, discussing "Spatial Multiomics – Broadening the Capabilities of Imaging Mass Spectrometry."
Morning tea will be provided by Ambergen after the seminar. Please register using the link below for catering purposes:
Check out other seminars across the School/Institutes/Centres, see here: https://biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/seminars/.
Publication of the Month July Winners
Emily Bryan – General Category
Title: A novel murine model mimicking male genital Neisseria species infection using Neisseria musculi
Journal: Biology of Reproduction
Dana Pourzinal – ECR Category
Title: Profiling people with Parkinson's disease at risk of cognitive decline: Insights from PPMI and ICICLE-PD data
Journal: Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring
If you've recently published as a first or last author in a Q1 journal in August, don't miss the chance to submit your work for Publication of the Month. Apply now: https://uniofqueensland.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dbZJmOGJ85zgXsi
Applications close 7th of each month.
UQCCR HDR/ECR Symposium
Tues 10 Sep 1:30-4 pm Auditorium
Join us for the inaugural HDR/ECR symposium! These will be held quarterly, and offer an opportunity to practice presenting.
This Research Quarter’s Symposium will showcase 15 minute presentations and 3 min poster pitches to help prepare for an upcoming conference. Feedback will be available if requested.
Please come and support our HDRs and ECRs and hone your presentation skills.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Hosted by the Research Training Committee - contact Amy for more information amy.reed@uq.edu.au
The 7th Southern Cross Australasian Travel and Tropical Medicine Conference is coming up on the 27 – 29 September 2024. This conference will build on a strong platform of professional development for health practitioners working in the fields of travel medicine and tropical medicine. The conference will be held at the Sofitel Brisbane Central. For registration and more details: Southern Cross Travel Medicine Conference - Southern Conference Travel Medicine Conference (sctravelmedconference.com).
Upcoming Qualitative Research Methods Masterclass
This masterclass is essential training for qualitative researchers, PhD, MPhil and Honours students. These workshops draw on real-world examples from qualitative research projects and uses practical examples to work through to help you conduct your own rigorous research. There is a cost to attend this masterclass.
Interdisciplinary, two-day Qualitative Thematic Analysis Masterclass at the University of Queensland, St Lucia: 3 & 4 September 2024, Brisbane-qualitative-thematic-analysis-masterclass-tickets-September
Online Masterclass also available: 14 & 15 October 2024: Online-qualitative-thematic-analysis-masterclass-tickets-October
UQCCR updates continued
See standing items such as social club chocolates, after-hours building access and research support services on UQCCR's tab in the Staff Hub.
Faculty’s Research and Statistical Support Services (RASSS)
Need help with study design, data analysis, manuscript, grant application or PhD supervision? To discuss bespoke statistical support at UQCCR, please complete a request form. See more information under the Research Support banner.
UQ clinical trials procedure
If you are establishing a clinical trial, please check the UQ Ethics page to ensure that you are familiar with UQ requirements, such as submitting additional notifications, obtaining any additional insurance for international sites, completing the UQ template Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) and ensuring your GCP training is current. Sabine is happy to assist with any enquires. Alternatively, please visit the Research Support team in Room 735 for any questions.
Budgets
Many research contracts submitted for signature are not using the UQ costing and pricing tool and do not factor in overheads or provide a relevant independent exemption reference, such as the funding body’s rules on their website. Failure to confirm these aspects early can mean delays in getting your contract signed or GRL issued. If you have any questions about the CPT or overheads, please contact Roheen.
COIs
FACs and research contracts require confirmation that your online COI disclosures, if applicable, have been approved by UQ, before a GRL can be issued or a research contract signed. Online approval happens via Workday in consultation with your line manager. As the COI process can take a few weeks, please ensure that you attend to your annual COI and updates, and factor in the timing required to avoid delays.
Research infrastructure
If there is a piece of equipment or infrastructure that may benefit several research groups within UQCCR please let us know by filling in this form (UQCCR Equipment & Infrastructure Request Form March2024.docx) and submitting it to the CCR Facilities Desk (FacilitiesDesk@uqccr.uq.edu.au). Information provided will be discussed within the Infrastructure Committee and can be used for developing external grant and/or philanthropic opportunities, or be used for developing access through the Faculty capital replacement scheme or via access at alternative locations. Please also discuss any infrastructure/equipment issues with the Facilities Team.
Research funding support
Visit the Faculty website for current research funding opportunities. Please contact Roheen Gill well ahead of any deadline if you are planning to apply for upcoming opportunities and Sara Gollschewski to discuss strategic funding alignment. You can find a summary of funding support and assistance available to researchers for administration, reporting and closing out of existing funding in this document under 'Research Resources'.
View archived announcements from UQCCR
Frazer Institute Travel Awards- Round 2, 2024
- Applications open 19 August
- Submissions CLOSE 19 September
Full details and documents are on the Frazer Institute intranet.
Awards Available- Round 2
- Jian Zhou Early Career Researcher Travel Award 1 x $3000
- Jian Zhou Mid-Career Researcher Travel Award 1 x $3000
- Jian Zhou Predoctoral Travel Award 1 x $3000
- Immunology and Vaccine Development Travel Award 4 x $3000
- Cancer Conference Travel Award 3 x $1000
View archived announcements from The Frazer Institute