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Education Showcase Building future experse across the water industry

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Page 1: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

Education ShowcaseBuilding future expertise across the water industry

Page 2: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

Water for the wellbeing of all Australians Water Research Australia Limited (WaterRA)

Where are they now? 2014 PhD graduate Simon Perraton

SIMON PERRATON undertook a PhD at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Simon’s research, which identified legal barriers to wastewater reuse in Australia, was published in the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management and presented at the Australia and New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics conference in 2012 and the Asia Pacific Water Recycling Conference in 2013. Since completing his PhD he has used his research skills in the office of a Federal Senator and worked as an environmental lawyer for the Environmental Defenders Office. Simon now researches wastewater disposal as part of a Commonwealth-funded research project under the National Environmental Science Program’s Marine Biodiversity Hub.

Being based in Tasmania and outside of Australia’s capital cities, Simon found that one of the biggest advantages of the WaterRA PhD program was being able to travel interstate and meet a range of people from the water industry and research institutes.

2014 PhD graduate Emma Plant

EMMA PLANT completed her PhD in Adelaide in 2014 and now lives in Perth, working for the Water Corporation of Western Australia. Her role as Source Protection Consultant is focussed on drinking water catchment management around WA. Her recent work includes leading a three-year R&D project into understanding and effectively monitoring pesticide risks to drinking water sources, and providing advice for the management of a recently burnt catchment area.

She has seized a number of opportunities to act in senior roles, recently leading a team that monitors and maintains water quality through metropolitan Perth’s distribution network. She is now studying her Masters part-time through the International Water Centre.

Philanthropic Sponsorship(WaterRA Scholarship Fund)Do you have a commitment to education and research for environmental issues in the water industry?WaterRA now offers Philanthropic Scholarships to support students interested in a career in the water industry to become tomorrow’s young professionals - skilled and employable researchers and practitioners.WaterRA’s not-for-profit status means that you, or your company, can sponsor post-graduate student scholarships in the water industry. The WaterRA Scholarship Fund is an option for organisations looking at ethical or philanthropic support for Australian industry, via a student project.

Development of future professionals is a critical factor in the sustainability of Australia’s water industry.

The National Skills Audit 2008 anticipates that by 2018, a projected gap of 26,600 jobs - or 47 per cent of national requirements - will challenge future delivery of key requirements across the industry.

A focus on building future capacity and succession planning benefits the water industry, and most importantly, the community. Australia’s water industry needs high calibre research to inform operational practice and water industry guidelines, respond to emerging environmental issues and ensure the continued supply of safe water for our communities.

Postgraduate and honours student projects remain an effective means of undertaking research projects and provide excellent research training for future water professionals.

Sponsorship Packages

PhD $40,000

Masters $26,000

Honours $17,000

The funding comprises a top-up stipend and operating allowance.

The benefits of WaterRA sponsorship are not just financial! WaterRA provides an orientation day, networking opportunities, professional development, exposure to the water industry and a mentor. PhD candidates are supported to attend an international conference, and give at least one presentation at a domestic water industry meeting.

- See more at: http://www.waterra.com.au/education-program/philanthropic-sponsorship/

For more information contact Program Manager - EducationCarolyn Bellamy on 08 7424 2443.

WaterRA Showcase September 2016 EDUCATION

Page 3: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

Memorial ScholarshipsThe Education Program has two flagship scholarships for exceptional students. They were established to commemorate two people who played a pivotal role for WaterRA and for the Australian water industry. These scholarships are:

Michael R Moore Memorial Honours Scholarship

Professor Michael R Moore was Chair of WaterRA Board from inception in 2008 – 2014. This scholarship is for a stellarHonours student who has demonstrated leadership skills within the university or wider community. The successful student will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship.

Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship

Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE was Chair of the CRCWQT Board from 1995 – 2007 and was held in high regard withinthe water community for her pioneering accomplishments throughout her career. This scholarship is for an exceptional student who has a strong academic record and demonstrated initiative. The successful

student will receive an additional $15,000 scholarship and $10,000 for professional development.

Mentor supportWaterRA arranges a mentor for each Masters and PhD student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference, skype or face time on average every 6 – 8 weeks with support to meet face-to-face annually. The mentoring role is to be a sounding board, offering alternative perspectives to the student. This is an opportunity for the experienced workforce to give back to the industry and steer the next generation of young researchers.

Mentoring should be a rewarding experience for both student and mentor — there is a lot of wisdom that just doesn’t appear in textbooks!

If you would like to be part of our Mentor program please contact Carolyn Bellamy at WaterRA. ([email protected] P 08 7424 2443)

Associate StudentsWaterRA now has an Associate Student Member category. The intent is to engage additional students (in the water domain) from member universities, and provide benefits such as networking and exposure to the water industry by participating in the student orientation event. This opportunity is offered annually and is open to Summer, Masters and PhD students.

2016 Associate Student MembersHanaa Hegab UniSAMatthew Kube RMITTegan Hopwood University of NewcastleAmanda Clarke University of Newcastle

Current Sponsors - 2016CHEMCENTRECSIROHEALTHY WATERWAYS MELBOURNE WATER SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATIONSEQWATERWATER CORPORATION OF WA

SponsorshipWaterRA seeks external funding to support student projects that address priority industry research topics. Collaboration and industry relevance in project design ensures that students gain direct exposure to water and environmental issues.

Benefits to participant sponsors are practical and provide the opportunity to contribute to the industry and research sector’s research skills base.

Student packages provide a top-up stipend and additional support for resources and professional development.

With 20 years’ experience in providing student support, we are proud of our track record in producing well-rounded young postgraduates to fill the many stimulating career opportunities in the water industry.

WaterRA takes a holistic approach to student development and support through additional benefits. Students are encouraged to advance their skills and knowledge and engage with industry professionals through the Young Water Professionals and AWA networks. The students receive support to attend relevant workshops and deliver presentations at conferences, providing opportunities for further skills development and networking.

WaterRA generates engaged, industry-conscious students who, through exposure and opportunity, are able to see and understand where their research fits in the big picture.

I was fortunate to receive a PhD top-up scholarship from the CRCWQT education program. While the top-up provided greater guarantees around funding to conduct research, the less tangible aspects of the program continue to yield benefits, even today.One of the strengths of the pro-gram is the development of long lasting industry networks, both locally and nationally. Through these invaluable relation-ships, I developed an early appreciation of the opportunities and challenges the industry offers. This aspect, along with industry mentoring, leveraged my exposure and prospects for future employment. The support, encouragement and resources I received from the CRCWQT were exceptional, and undeniably the foundation for building my career in the water industry. It is a privilege that I now find myself as interim CEO of WaterRA, and have the opportunity to give back to the organisation that supported me so much as a student.”

Dr Will Buchanan

EDUCATION WaterRA Showcase September2016

Page 4: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

UNIVERSITY of Queensland (UQ) student Peter Wardrop received the 2015 Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship for his project aimed at improving performance of anaerobic lagoons (ALs) used for wastewater treatment.

“It is an honour to receive the Nancy Millis Memorial Scholarship. The additional financial support will allow me to improve on the quality of the work produced through the project, as well provide travel support for international conference attendance.”

Aside from the financial support provided through WaterRA scholarships, the Education Program also provides great opportunities for industry exposure for students.

“I’ve been able to meet many industry professionals and learnt a lot about the Australian water sector in just my first year, most of which came about by attending members meetings, symposiums and conferences supported by WaterRA.”

Peter is undertaking his PhD at the Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC; UQ), working closely with industry partner Melbourne Water and collaborators at The University of Melbourne. The project will couple biological and physical analyses to better understand how biological processes influence solids behaviour and process performance in ALs. Peter’s project involves novel pilot-plant systems, large-scale AL sampling and computational fluid dynamic modelling utilising parameters including sludge shear and compression rheology. Outcomes of this work will lead to improved management strategies for AL operators, allowing water utilities and other industries to better plan and manage the impacts of variable conditions for enhanced energy recovery and wastewater treatment.

“The design process for the pilot-plant has been challenging but very rewarding. The pilot-plant reactor will adopt a tall-cartridge type design, to simulate solids sedimentation and sludge layer development, which occurs in full-scale systems. The pilot-plant is being constructed at Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant, and will use the same sewage feed that goes into the full scale lagoons at the plant.”

“Working on such a multidisciplinary project also allows me to develop a broad range of specialised skills. Being based in Melbourne with my principal project supervisors in Queensland presents challenges at times, however I’m able to work closely with a diverse group of experts - including world leading researchers in anaerobic digestion at AWMC and suspension rheology at UM.”

DAMIEN Moodie’s Honours project was to establish if microbeads from personal care products will leach toxic pollutants to earthworms. Microbeads entering waste water treatment streams concentrate persistent organic pollutants and are an growing area of concern for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Much current research has focussed on contamination of marine environments, with little focus on the fate and impact of contaminated microbeads in terrestrial environments. Our controlled exposure experiments improved understanding of the impact of microbeads in the terrestrial environment.

Earthworms in artificial soil were exposed to microbeads from a commercial personal care product that was spiked with known quantities of poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs were extracted from the earthworm tissue and analysed. Our experiments showed uptake of PBDEs was statistically significant compared to the controls. As biosolid applications to agricultural land is an increasingly popular means of reusing a relatively cheap product high in N and P, results indicate that microplastics are vectors for the transfer of organic pollutants to soil biota therefore risks to the environment must be considered.

As a WaterRA Student, Damien attended the annual Orientation day and met other WaterRA students, followed by the 2016 Young Water Professionals (YWP) conference held at UNSW Australia. The O day and YWP conference were both fantastic opportunities to meet fellow students and industry personnel. I was able to begin building a network of research and professional contacts as well as gain experience in explaining my project to individuals who may not necessarily be involved in this particular area of study. I was also able to get great feedback and input regarding my project and other possible avenues of inquiry. I was also very fortunate to be awarded the Memorial Michael R Moore Scholarship at the WaterRA members meeting. This was a great honour and apart from the peace of mind that the financial stipend aspect provided for the last half of my Honours project, it also gave me and my research project a renewed impetus and vitality that, at half way through my project, was most welcome.

"My future PhD project, sponsored by Melbourne water, commencing in 2017, also at RMIT University, will involve investigating the bioavailability of perfluronated compounds (PFCs) found in biosolids to the soil fauna and associated flora. Again this will involve a variety of specific uptake experiments involving both flora and fauna. Many of the lessons that I had to learn the hard way during my Honours year involving issues such as experimental designs, sample extraction and sample analysis, I will be able to take forward into my future studies to enable better research outcomes."

Michael R Moore ScholarDamien Moodie

Nancy Millis ScholarPeter Wardrop

WaterRA Showcase September 2016 EDUCATION

Page 5: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

BEN Thwaites is a PhD student with the University of New South Wales; based in Adelaide and working with the South Australian Water Corporation on his project ‘Optimisation of granular sludge for energy efficient wastewater treatment and reuse’. His project is looking at how the emerging technology of granular sludge, which utilises rapid settling microbial granules to treat wastewater, can result in increased treatment capacity or reductions in treatment plant area. This study aims to investigate several key areas that are currently not understood - the key question being, how can this technology be implemented at full-scale to existing treatment plants, without the requirement of large infrastructure changes? Ben’s supervisors are Professor Richard Stuetz (University of New South Wales), Dr Juan Pablo Alvarez Gaitan (University of New South Wales), Dr Michael Short (University of South Australia) and Dr Ben van den Akker (South Australian Water Corporation).

Ben started his project in February 2016 and attended the AWA-YWP conference in February where he was able to present the background work for his project. While this project is still in its early stages the support from his supervisors, WaterRA and his colleagues at SA Water has been invaluable. His project is sponsored by a Co-operative Research Centre – Low Carbon Living (CRC-LCL 2017) scholarship, a top-up Water Research Australia (4522-16) scholarship, and supported by South Australian Water Corporation and the Australian Water Quality Centre. Through these sponsors Ben hopes that his research will open up potential collaborations with both national and international water utility, academic partners and industry groups.

The WaterRA top-up scholarship enabled both personal and professional development opportunities, connecting with other WaterRA students at the annual student induction conference and the connection with a professional mentors. In October he will be travelling to Launceston, Tasmania to visit his mentors at TasWater and hopes to visit some of the local wastewater treatment plants. Since commencing his PhD Ben has joined the South Australian Young Water Professionals committee and looks forward to working with them on their future endeavours promoting the water industry to up-and-coming professionals.

Ben Thwaites

GASTROENTERITIS is a major public health concern in both developed and developing countries, affecting people of all ages. It is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children under five worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths per year. The three main causes of gastroenteritis are viruses, bacteria and parasites, with viral agents diagnosed in more than 50% of all health-care-associated gastroenteritis. Contaminated water is a major source of disease outbreaks, which can be due to human and animal waste entering waterways without proper treatment. With the increased use of recycled water, monitoring viral contamination is essential for water sustainability. If the water is not processed adequately, re-used water may contain enteric viruses that can lead to potential gastroenteritis and hepatitis outbreaks. Thus, these risks need to be fully understood and characterised.

Jennifer Lun, a PhD student at University of New South Wales with support from Melbourne Water and Sydney Water, is investigating the quantity and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in environmental matrices to develop novel enteric disease surveillance systems. In particular, the project will focus on norovirus (NoV) and adenovirus (AdV). NoV is considered to be the most important enteric pathogen in terms of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. AdV is a human pathogen that causes a wide range of clinical disease, including gastroenteritis, respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and pneumonia. The viruses found in Sydney and Melbourne’s sewage system will be compared to those found clinically in Sydney in the same time frame 2016-2017. This will help us develop new ways to identify emerging pathogens and monitor their emergence in real-time through molecular genetic approaches.

In addition to project funding, the WaterRA scholarship also provides excellent networking opportunities to meet and interact with fellow WaterRA students and members of the water industry. Attending water-related conferences and Young Water Professionals workshops has boosted Jennifer’s career development and enabled her to learn from experts, as well as improving her skills and knowledge in the field of water research. These interactions can provide potential future collaborative research projects.

Jennifer Lun

EDUCATION WaterRA Showcase September2016

Page 6: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

Honours studentsAngus Fanning & Luke Kitchens

ANGUS Fanning (above) was awarded first class honours for his thesis, “Tracing the presence of anthropogenic-derived nutrients in intertidal ecosystems using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen”. The work focussed on assessing the various nutrient sources to the intertidal beaches and rocky shores of the Hunter region coastline, north of Sydney.

Angus analysed stable C and N isotope ratios of multiple intertidal bioindicators to identify and assess nutrient sources influencing trophic interactions across the Hunter. The study results suggest that treated effluent discharged from wastewater treatment works and plumes emanating from the Hunter River may be advected back to shore under extreme wet weather conditions, providing a nutrient subsidy to the intertidal food web. Furthermore, his research identified that the relative significance of external anthropogenic and terrestrial nutrient sources to intertidal coastal areas, is strongly related to climatic and oceanographic events. The opportunity to engage with water professionals, seek scientific expertise and engage with other students facilitated networking opportunities and opened doors to potential collaborative ventures in future research. Networking opportunities provided an equally important role in Angus’ professional development and research during his Honours year.

LUKE Kitchen’s study investigated links between soil hydrophobicity and a range of Australian native species at a bushland site in Kings Park, Western Australia. All soil samples collected at this site were water repellent (hydrophobic), ranging from moderate to very severe. Hydrophobicity differed significantly below different species. Organic compounds extracted and identified as enhancing soil repellency were long chain alcohols (≤C29), alkanes (C28), esters (C19 - C23), long chain amides (≤C50) and sterols (C28 - C29). This project was sponsored by ChemCentre in WA, who also gave Luke access to their laboratory to undertake some of his experimental work.

Honours enabled Luke to develop his academic skills, including researching and report writing, and project management skills.

I think it is this skill which has been the most valuable for me now that I have entered the scientific workforce - with the Queensland Government’s Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation in February 2016 as a Graduate Chemist. My honours project aligns with soil and water analyses conducted in their environmental laboratories, making me a strong candidate for the position on offer. Without it I would not be working today in one of Australia’s most exciting environmental science hubs.

Rhys Carter

RHYS is currently undertaking a PhD at Curtin University titled “Distributed Water in Swimming Pools: Understanding Chemistry of Pool Water to Minimise Chemical Risks”. The project expands on previous research undertaken during his Honours year, for which he was awarded first Prize for the WA Branch of the AWA’s Undergraduate Water Prize and second Prize for the National Undergraduate Water Prize (2014).

Rhys was awarded an APA in combination with a Curtin Research Scholarship (APA-CRS) and was also successful in gaining a Water Research Australia PhD Top-Up Scholarship for his PhD studies. Support via the WaterRA Education Program, sponsored by ChemCentre, has provided Rhys with great opportunities in both project specific and professional development terms.

Rhys has been able to attend several conferences already via WaterRA support, all of which have provided great benefits. Rhys was given the opportunity to both inform and spark interest in the chemical water quality of swimming pools by presenting some preliminary findings from his work to the greater water community. In addition, attendance at conferences and meetings has allowed Rhys to engage in direct communication with those interested in his work and gain exposure to other areas or aspects of the water industry, as well as become familiar with how research and the greater water community are integrated. Through networking, Rhys feels he can contribute to and support bridging the gap that currently exists between water research and the greater water industry. As such, Rhys has become involved with the AWA’s Young Water Professionals group in WA, recently gaining a position on the WA branch committee.

Support and connections via WaterRA have proven extremely beneficial to Rhys. With continual support, he hopes his research will provide a better understanding of swimming pool waters, particularly mechanisms for formation of disinfection by-products and best practice to improve the water quality of swimming pools for public health.

In addition to conference and project support, the mentor-student relationship initiated by WaterRA has provided Rhys with the opportunity to converse and collaborate with experts in his field, who provide both technical and alternative points of view on his project.

WaterRA Showcase September 2016 EDUCATION

Page 7: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

Nijoy John

CYANOBACTERIA regularly form large blooms that may contain cyanotoxins and objectionable taste and odour (T/O) compounds. Blooms significantly impact on water quality (both drinking and recreational), tourism, fisheries, local agriculture and represent a potential threat to the health of humans and animals.

But not all cyanobacterial blooms are toxic or T/O producing and it is often difficult to determine what species are present and if they are producing problem compounds, leading to increased management costs and potentially unnecessary closure of water bodies. A rapid, sensitive, accurate, reliable and cost effective testing method is needed to aid assessment of the toxicity and T/O potential of these blooms.

Nijoy’s PhD project, supervised primarily by A/Professor Aaron Jex and based at The University of Melbourne, is validating the feasibility and efficiency of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based diagnostic tool called the Multiplex-Tandem PCR (MT-PCR) for cyanotoxin and T/O detection. Upon successful completion of this project, the robotic MT-PCR platform will fill a major gap in current cyanobacteria testing programs and will aid in the preservation of vital water resources, improvement of water quality and enhance protection of public health in Australia and globally.

Also supervising Nijoy’s project are Dr Judy Blackbeard and Dr Nick Crosbie from Melbourne Water. They have been very supportive in defining the aims of the project, giving constructive and honest feedback, providing all the necessities for the project and overall professional development.

"WaterRA’s top-up scholarship has enabled me to attend National Cyanobacteria Workshops, Industry focussed meetings, research symposiums and the YWP conference. I strongly believe that WaterRA’s Education program is providing me with the best opportunities to meet and communicate with academics, water industry experts and other like-minded people. I have been able to discuss my research project with industry leaders and other stakeholders and to build networks.

One of the highlights of WaterRA’s Education Program is mentoring. My mentor (Dr Daniel Hoefel from SA water) has been very helpful in developing my problem-solving and decision-making skills by sharing his expertise and experience. Overall, it is a remarkable and rewarding experience to be part of WaterRA Education Program."

Why Melbourne Water supports the Education ProgramMelbourne Water has been a long term supporter of the WaterRA Education Program because we recognise the importance of developing capability within the water industry. As a result, a number of Melbourne Water staff have come through the WaterRA PhD program and now hold senior positions with considerable responsibility. Melbourne Water also recognises it as an important mechanism for encouraging staff development leading to increased staff retention and greater continuity of corporate knowledge. A further attractive feature is the very simple contractual process used for sponsoring a graduate student.

The helpful and vibrant education team work hard to encourage development of a WaterRA student network through student conferences, student attendance at WaterRA meetings and local node meetings. The linking of students to industry mentors provides additional support for the students and gives them a greater understanding of the water industry.

The Honours and PhD program provides an opportunity for industry to sponsor students to research challenging problems facing the water industry. By working closely with an industry partner, the student learns about the water industry and the industry partner acquires greater insight into the issue being researched, with outcomes influencing industry practice. It also provides an excellent opportunity for industry to evaluate students with the potential for later employment, should the opportunity arise. Having completed a water related PhD in relative isolation, I can strongly recommend the WaterRA PhD program and the support and linkages to the water industry which it provides.

Dr Judy Blackbeard, Melbourne Water

EDUCATION WaterRA Showcase September2016

Page 8: Education Showcase … · student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference,

Honours and PhD Projects: 2015–2016

www.waterra.com.au | PO Box 1751 Adelaide SA 5001 | P +61 8 7424 2443 | E [email protected]

Honours Projects

Angus Fanning [University of Newcastle] Sponsor: WaterRABeach macrofauna as an indicator of anthropogenic derived nutrients

Luke Kitchens [Murdoch University]Sponsor: ChemCentreCharacterising hydrophobic soils in water catchments and irrigated croplands

Damien Moodie [RMIT University]Michael R Moore Memorial Honours Scholarship recipient (2016)Sponsor: WaterRAInvestigating bioaccumulation of chemical pollutants adsorbed to microplastics

Samantha Pandelus [Flinders University]Sponsor: SA WaterDetection of radionuclides from radiation medical treatments within South Australia’s wastewater

PhD ProjectsRhys Carter [Curtin University]Sponsor: ChemCentreDistributed water in swimming pools:understanding chemistry of pool water to minimise health risks

Charndeep Chahal [Flinders University]Sponsor: Melbourne Water Particle protection of pathogens from disinfection

Sriharini Chellappan [University of Melbourne]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipient (2013)Sponsor: Melbourne WaterThe implementation of dry stacking operating methods in wastewater treatment evaporation pans

Florence Choo [UNSW]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipient (2016) Sponsor: WaterRAOptimisation of coagulant and PAC doses during cyanobacteria blooms using fluorescence probes

Christine Close [RMIT University]Sponsor: WaterRASampling of chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants in Australian surface waters

Tim Coggan [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterAssessing the impact of wastewater derived perfluorinated chemicals on aquatic ecosystems

Casey Furlong [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterInforming infrastructure planning processes for integrated Urban Water Management projects

Andrea Gonzalez [University UNSW]Sponsor: WaterRAOptimising algal floc structure for more efficient separation

Sara Imran Khan [University of UNSW]Sponsor: WaterRACharacterisation of cyanobacteria and their metabolites by fluorescence spectroscopy

Nijoy John [University of Melbourne]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterUse of MT-PCR in an operational environment to assess the toxicity of algal bloom

Sonya Kozak [Griffith University]Sponsors: Healthy Waterways and SeqwaterEvaluating application of microbial source tracking markers for QMRA of recreational and drinking water sources

Jennifer Lun [University of NSW]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterEpidemiology and detection of enteric viruses in clinical and environmental matrices

Cameron McPhail [University of Adelaide]Sponsor: SA WaterLong-term robust scenario planning of water supply infrastructure in a deeply uncertain future using formal optimisation methods

Maolida Nihemaiti [Curtin University]Sponsor: Water Corporation of WADegradation of contaminants and antibiotic-resistant genes in wastewater

Xi-Zhi Niu [Curtin University]Sponsor: ChemCentreDOM photosensitization in the photolysis of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant genes

Ben Thwaites [University of NSW]Sponsor: SA WaterUse of granular sludge to improve the capacity existing sequencing batch reactors

Adam Tomlinson [University of Adelaide]Sponsor: SA Water CorporationFormation of DBP from blue green algae following chlorination

Edward Tsyrlin [University of Melbourne]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterDevelopment and evaluation of molecular techniques monitoring aquatic macroinvertebrates

Yufei Wang [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterModelling and prediction of removal of micropollutants during wastewater treatment

Peter Wardrop [University of Queensland]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipient (2015)Sponsor: Melbourne WaterOptimising anaerobic lagoons for improved energy production from waste

AwardsWaterRA is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of students. Our students have won state AWA Undergraduate Water Prizes as well as ‘Excellent Publication’ or ‘Best Poster’ prizes within their own universities.

Student Awards

Florence Choo [UNSW]2015 Women in Engineering scholarship & 2015 Engineering Research Award

Luke Kitchens [Murdoch University] 2015 Nelly Stothers Bayliss Prize for best academic performance in Honours in Chemistry by a graduating student, supported by Sir Noel Bayliss CBE

Michael Webber [Flinders University]2015 AWA SA Young Water Professional of the Year

Philip Scott [ Griffith University] 2015 SETAC Australasian Postgraduate Research Publication Award (September 2015)

Sally Harrison [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne waterMolecularly Imprinted polymers for use in FIA systems for pesticide analyis

Jane-Louise Lampard [Griffith University]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipient (2010)Sponsor: WaterRAHealth risk assessment of stormwater harvested for reuse