Research

• 400+ active researchers
• $22m research income in 2021
• $94m+ in competitive research income 2016 – 2021
• 730+ annual peer-reviewed research publications
• 620+ research higher degree students
• 2 research institutes and 8 research centres
• 1,000 RHD graduates

Our research focus and engaged research agenda are already making positive impacts on individuals, communities and industries across the world. In coming years, this impact will continue to grow, expanding into new focus areas and transforming the way we think about current challenges. Our impact is demonstrated in improved industry processes, regional and economic development, business improvement, productivity and innovation, social advancement and equity and healthier communities. 

Read about our research impact 

Our research agenda is built around deep engagement with communities, industries and government.

In particular, the University is focused on delivery of research that is relevant to the northern Australia region.

To deliver great research that is meaningful and relevant, researchers work directly with stakeholders to identify challenges and deliver solutions. The end user is involved throughout the entire research project. This approach ensures our research delivers direct benefit and long-lasting impact.

The research partnerships team provide a conduit between our researchers and research staff and business and industry to develop collaboration opportunities and explore issues.

Read more about our research partnerships.

The research we conduct helps to guide the design and delivery of our learning and teaching.

Our University strives to achieve a connected approach to research, learning and teaching, believing that 'real-world' research impacts not only the community it operates in, but so too a student's experience across disciplines. This is evident in the way academics draw on their personal research in designing and teaching courses, where their research informs learning activities and academic discussion on contemporary issues.

Research tasks are also embedded in many undergraduate coursework programs, providing students with opportunities to grow their understanding through knowledge creation.

• Regional economies and supply chains
• Work, employment, regulation and governance
• Sustainable business and community justice
• Education
• Open and distance education
• Creative education in the arts
• Learning and assessment innovation for educational equity
• STEM education
• Education for global competence
• Transformative education practices in professions
• Railway engineering
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Clean energy
• Hydrogen
• Biofuels
• Pavement engineering
• Big data analytics
• Aviation human factors
• Healthy behaviours at work, rest and play
• Psychology and wellbeing
• Sleep and biological rhythms
• Physical activity
• Emergency and disaster resilience
• Gambling and addictive behaviours
• Regional health and health services
• Human factors and safety science
• Agricultural systems
• Agricultural management systems
• Agricultural extension/translation
• Environmental systems
• Environmental monitoring and management
• Exercise and sports science
• Applied medical health
• Medical and applied physiology
• Advanced clinical practice
• Quality and safety in healthcare
• Patient safety and consumer experience
• Clinician's capacity building
• Health workforce
• Clinical workforce
• Models of care
• Preparation for, and transition to, practice
• Safe communities
• Gendered violence
• Violence, abuse and neglect
• Psychosocial wellbeing
• Aged care
• Individuals, families, and communities
• Mental health nursing

Our research is monitored by a number of ethics committees and bound by a Code of Conduct, for more details visit the ethics and integrity page.