UniSC Professor Scott Cummins’ research focuses on the molecular basis for chemical communication in various experimental organisms, with applications in the fields of ecology, aquaculture and health.

His research further explores the chemical communication between aquatic organisms, with a focus on pest aquatic species.

Professor Cummins is the Director of the Centre for Bioinnovation, which is leading this type of research worldwide.

UniSC Professor Patrick Nunn specialises in climate-driven environmental changes, with specific research being undertaken within Pacific Island communities.

Professor Nunn, who is the Director of the Sustainability Research Centre, is researching ways that people in the Pacific Islands can sustain themselves using the resources available to them, all while understanding how these resources are being affected by sea-level changes.

UniSC Professor Gemma Read’s research applies theories and methods from human factors and ergonomics, systems science and safety science to enhance safety, health and wellbeing.

Her research has a focus on understanding how Artificial Intelligence and humans can work together as teams. 

Professor Read is also the Director of the Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science at UniSC.

UniSC Professor Lynette Cheah’s research focuses on developing innovations and pathways towards sustainable cities, particularly in mobility.

She is the Chair of Sustainable Transport at UniSC and works closely with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). The partnership with TMR allows her team to bring ideas and innovations into practice, translating their work into real world policies that work towards improving communities.

UniSC Professor Kathy Townsend is a marine conservation scientist with her research focusing on marine ecology, sea turtle conservation, and the impacts of human activities on ocean ecosystems.

Through the Milbi Centre in Hervey Bay, she works with partners to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick and injured sea turtles all while doing vital research into turtle health, disease and environmental stressors.

Associate Professor Sarah Burkhart works in nutrition and dietetics in the School of Health and is the Deputy Director (Research and Policy) for the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research.

Her work spans the South Pacific region where she leads and contributes to a range of projects to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture. A key focus of her work involves school food and nutrition environments in the South Pacific and the potential this could have on improving nutrition, health and educational outcomes, climate resilience and livelihoods.

Professor Victoria Traynor is a leading gerontology and healthy ageing researcher at UniSC, with more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse specialising in gerontology. Her research focuses on improving the health, wellbeing and quality of life for older people through evidence-based care, dementia research and healthy ageing initiatives. Through collaborations with aged care providers, healthcare organisations and research partners, her work is helping shape the future of healthy ageing and dementia care in Australia and beyond.

Professor Kerry Armstrong is the Director of the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration, based at UniSC. She has over 25 years’ experience in road safety research and has collaborated on major research programs addressing drink and drug driving, fatigue, traffic law enforcement and sanctions, and risk perceptions and deterrence. These projects have produced high-quality, policy-relevant outputs that have shaped evidence-based legislation and enforcement strategies.

Associate Professor Nadine McKillop is a criminologist, psychologist and Co-Leader of UniSC's Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit. Her research focuses on understanding, preventing and reducing the impacts of sexual violence and abuse in communities. She works to improve prevention, assessment and intervention programs that support safer communities and better outcomes for individuals at risk of offending.

Professor Alain Brunet is the Director of UniSC's Thompson Institute and National PTSD Research Centre and is one of the world's leading experts in trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He has spent more than 25 years researching how traumatic experiences affect the brain and developing new ways to help people recover.

His pioneering work led to the development of reconsolidation therapy, an innovative treatment designed to reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories. The therapy has been used internationally and has shown promising results for people living with PTSD.