How does the human brain control fast movements with our eyes and hands?

Description              

The project is part of an ARC-funded grant that investigates whether a primitive, subcortical part of the brain that controls out eye movements is also involved in controlling
fast movements of our limbs to targets. It will involve recording of muscle activity, eye and limb position, and non-invasisve brain stimulation, to identify similarities between eye and limb behaviour and neural control.

Expected outcomes

Exposure and opportunity to learn motion capture of eye and limb movements, muscle activity recording (EMG), transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS), and basic
programming skills (Matlab). No formal reporting required.

Suitable for                                            

Basic data analysis skills and some neurophysiology background desirable.

Number of position available

Project Duration

8 weeks

Preferred Commencement Date

25-Nov-2019

Expected hours per week

28 hours

Location

On campus (St Luicia)

Supervisor/s

Professor Tim Carroll - timothy.carroll@uq.edu.au

Please contact the project supervisor before applying online at: employability.uq.edu.au/summer-research

 

Peer Support and Exercise Trial

Description

Using peer-support to improve exercise adherence and the health of cancer survivors beyond the duration of a short-term supervised training program. Expected outcomes and deliverables
Being a summer scholarship student within this project will present with a number of learning opportunities, including, but not limited to:

- helping run supervised exercise sessions with people with cancer.
- helping run supervised exercise testing sessions with people with cancer.
- assisting with data collection and entry.
- gaining experience with administration procedures within a randomized control trial study. Suitable for

Suitable for     

This project is suitable for any student who meets the following criteria:
Essential:
- Willing and able to attend early morning testing and training sessions.
- Excellent communication skills
- High level attention to detail

Desired:
- Previous experience working with individuals with cancer
- Previous experience working with older adults in an exercise setting
- Students who have completed an exercise science technical skills subject (or equivalent)

Number of positions available
1

Duration
10 weeks

Expected hours per week

36

Location

On campus (St Lucia)

Proposed commencement date
25/11/2019

Application process:
You are not required to contact the supervisor before applying online. 

 

Influences of reward and action history on motor behaviour

Description

Success in every task that we face in life requires two things: a good decision about what to do, and an accurate movement to implement that decision. We know a great deal
about how decisions regarding WHAT to do are influenced by factors such as the precision of a stimulus, advanced priming information, and our past experience. Much
less is known about how such factors affect the details of the physical movements that must implement decisions, yet movement execution is just as important in determining
how successful we are.

This project seeks an integrated understanding of how our past history of movement, and the rewards associated with past movements, affect subsequent movement execution. In so doing, the work will provide theoretical foundations needed to improve human machine interfaces, and training approaches to enhance motor skills in industry,
rehabilitation, and sport.

This research will take advantage of cutting-edge motion-capture technology, and may include recording the electrical activity of the brain (using electroencephalography, or
EEG) and/or muscles (using electromyography, or EMG).

Expected outcomes

Students can expect to gain skills in data collection and analysis, and use of motioncapture hardware and software. Students will be expected to present a summary of their
work toward the end of the project, and contribute to publication of experimental results where appropriate. Students will be given the opportunity to learn programming skills,
giving them a substantial advantage with future Honours projects and research activities (e.g., PhD, and research assistant positions).

Suitable for

This project is open to application from students with an undergraduate background (having completed at least 2 years) in psychology and/or human movement studies. This
project is best-suited to students with an interest in learning to use advanced experimental technologies, including motion-capture and EEG/EMG, advanced analytic
techniques, and programming in MATLAB.

Number of position available

1

Project Duration

10 weeks

Expected hours per week

25 hours

Location

On campus (St Lucia)

Proposed Commencement

25-Nov-2019

Supervisor/s

You are not required to contact the supervisor before applying online. 

 

Wearing sensors for Cricket fast bowling

Description

In collaboration with Cricket Australia's Sport Science team, this project will determine the accuracy of an inertial sensor system to measure fast bowling arm velocity

Expected outcomes

Students can expect to gain skills in data collection and analysis, and use of motioncapture hardware and software. Students will be expected to present a summary of their
work toward the end of the project, and contribute to publication of experimental results where appropriate. Students will be given the opportunity to learn programming skills,
giving them a substantial advantage with future Honours projects and research activities (e.g., PhD, and research assistant positions).

Suitable for

Experience using Sports Biomechanics tools including 3D motion capture and inertial measurement units, as well as working in an elite sport environment

Number of position available

Project Duration

10 weeks

Expected hours per week

36 hours

Location

On campus (St Lucia) and external location

Proposed Commencement

25-Nov-2019

Supervisor/s

You are not required to contact the supervisor before applying online. 

 

Bodies of nature: Nature writing in Australian literature

Description

This project will explore nature writing in Australian fiction, with a particular focus on writing linked to physical activity and sports such as hiking, swimming, surfing.
Building on my existing projects with AustLit, this student will help research and compile a bibliographical dataset in the AustLit database about nature writing about
Australia and by Australians. Although nature writing is an established tradition in the UK and USA, in Australia, we know little about this genre. This project will help
researchers and writers develop a clear understanding about nature writing in Australian literature. The boundaries of what is included will be developed in
consultation with AustLit manager, Dr Catriona Mills (UQ), environmental humanities researcher and writer, Professor Katrina Schlunke (UTas).

Expected outcomes

Students will develop skills in working with a well-respected national literary database, including indexing skills, online research in Trove and analytical skills related to which
sources are relevant to the overall dataset. They will have the opportunity to develop communication skills and outputs related to engaging publics in aspects of the project.
The student will be expected to establish a publicly available dataset in AustLit for researchers, writers and high-school students, and that gives a basis from which to
explore traditions on nature and sport in Australian literature, which will greatly add to future publications from my DECRA project. The database will not be expected to
complete, as it will continue to build over time. The student will be given the opportunity to contribute a written or visual essay that will be associated with the
dataset, and will be recognised in, and invited to contribute to, any future publications resulting from this work.

Suitable for

A higher-level undergraduate student (at least in their second year) who has experience in socio-cultural studies of sport and/or literature studies and/or
environmental humanities.

Number of position available

1

Project Duration

7 weeks

Expected hours per week

20 hours

Location

On campus (St Lucia)

Proposed Commencement

25-Nov-2019

Supervisor/s

Rebecca Olive: r.olive@uq.edu.au 

Please contact the project supervisor before applying online at: employability.uq.edu.au/summer-research

 

Effects of exercise on Sexual function and Cardiovascular health in men with prostate cancer (ESCA) Study

Description

The aims of this study are to explore whether:


1) Exercise intervention group participants have superior treatment outcomes to usual care participants
2) The intervention is feasible as standard practice for prostate cancer patients and survivors

Forty men with prostate cancer will be recruited into this study and randomised to complete 12 weeks of supervised, individualised exercise at UQ or the PA Hospital,
or usual care. Outcomes will include assessment of vascular and autonomic nervous system function, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and sexual function.

Expected outcomes

Applicants will be involved in exercise testing and training of people with cancer, data collection, entry and cleaning, blood handling, preparation and storage.

Suitable for

All applicants with good attention to detail are welcome to apply. Applicants with experience in exercise testing and/or training, data entry/cleaning, or blood
handling, preparation and storage are strongly encouraged to apply.

Number of position available

Project Duration

10 weeks

Expected hours per week

36 hours

Location

On campus (St Lucia)

Proposed Commencement

25-Nov-2019

Supervisor/s

You are not required to contact the supervisor before applying online. 

 

Peer support for the maintenance of high intensity interval training and health in cancer survivors

Description

Using peer-support to improve exercise adherence and the health of cancer survivors beyond the duration of a short-term supervised training program.

Expected outcomes

Being a summer scholarship student within this project will present with a number of learning opportunities, including, but not limited to:

  • helping run supervised exercise sessions with people with cancer.
  • helping run supervised exercise testing sessions with people with cancer.
  • assisting with data collection and entry.
  • gaining experience with administration procedures within a randomized control trial study.

Suitable for

Essential:

  • Willing and able to attend early morning testing and training sessions.
  • Excellent communication skills
  • High level attention to detail

Desired:

  • Previous experience working with individuals with cancer
  • Previous experience working with older adults in an exercise setting
  • Students who have completed an exercise science technical skills subject (or equivalent)

Number of position available

1

Project Duration

10 weeks

Expected hours per week

36 hours

Location

On campus (St Lucia) and other locations

Proposed Commencement

25-Nov-2019

Supervisor/s

You are not required to contact the supervisor before applying online. 

 

Before-school physical activity programs: A systematic review

Description

Before-school physical activity programming is a promising approach for alleviating the clash between the educational and public health agendas of schools. Such
programs do not take time away from academic subjects and may therefore be a more attractive option for schools compared to other physical activity opportunities that occur during the school day. Before-school physical activity programs have the potential to help enhance children’s physical activity as well as other outcomes, including readiness to learn and multiple aspects of school engagement. However, no studies have thus far attempted to synthesise outcomes associated with before-school physical activity programs. Accordingly, the aim of this project is to conduct a systematic review of the literature examining the impact of before-school physical activity programs on physical activity, school engagement, and other outcomes.

Expected outcomes

The selected scholar will gain skills in conducting a systematic literature review, which involves searching different databases, screening articles for inclusion, extracting
information from articles, and evaluating the quality of articles. The student may also have the opportunity to generate presentations for local or national conferences, or work
towards a paper for publication with the supervisors.

Suitable for

This project would be suitable for 3rd and 4th year UQ enrolled students with a background and/or interest in physical activity, and its application in paediatrics/school
settings.

Number of position available

1

Project Duration

10 weeks

Expected hours per week

30 hours

Location

On campus (St Lucia) 

Proposed Commencement

25-Nov-2019

Supervisor/s

Dr Michalis Stylianou: m.stylianou@uq.edu.au

Please contact the project supervisor before applying online at: employability.uq.edu.au/summer-research