Three rising stars join ARC College of Experts

Three University of Queensland professors have been appointed to the Australian Research Council College of Experts for 2017.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Robyn Ward said UQ’s new appointees were all rising stars in their research fields. They are:

• Professor Susanne Schmidt from the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, and an affiliated professor at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
• Professor Heather Douglas, an ARC Future Fellow in the School of Law.
• Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, and from the School of Biological Sciences

“It’s terrific that these appointments further raise the recognition and status of UQ’s high-achieving women researchers,” Professor Ward said.

“I congratulate Susanne, Heather and Kerrie and thank them for their contributions to the national and international research community.”

Professor Ward said the 176-member ARC College of Experts played an important role in assessing research proposals for funding under the National Competitive Grants Program.

“The breadth and calibre of UQ experts on the College of Experts underlines the University’s position as one of Australia’s top research institutions,” she said.

“The college plays a key role in identifying research excellence, moderating external assessments of research grant proposals, and recommending projects to be funded.”

ARC College of Experts members are appointed for up to three years and are announced annually, ensuring a constant source of expertise.

Professor Ward acknowledged UQ’s outgoing members of the college  and thanked them for their contributions. They are:

•          Professor John Zhu (Chemical Engineering)
•          Professor David Carter (Communication and Arts)
•          Professor John Macarthur (Architecture)
•          Professor Brad Sherman (Law)
•          Professor Gregory Marston (Social Science)

UQ’s continuing members are:

• Professor Zhiguo Yuan, Advanced Water Management Centre and the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
• Professor Ole Warnaar, School of Mathematics and Physics
• Professor Lianzhou Wang, ARC Future Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering and director of the Nanomaterials Centre
•  Professor David Trigger, School of Social Science
•  Professor Paul Strooper, Professor of Software Engineering, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
• Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop, School of Mathematics and Physics
• Professor Jason Mattingley, Queensland Brain Institute and School of Psychology

Acting ARC Chief Executive Officer Ms Leanne Harvey said the ARC College of Experts comprised a wide range of experienced and qualified people of international standing, drawn from academia, industry and public sector research organisations.

“Together with 118 continuing members of the College of Experts, the new members will meet throughout the year to review and assess the numerous ARC proposals submitted through the NCGP – providing valuable advice and perspective, and making funding recommendations on proposals across broad discipline areas,” Ms Harvey said.

Media: communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 7086.