Congratulations to our 2026 award winners.
The University of Queensland Research and Innovation Awards for Excellence recognise and celebrate the exceptional research, researchers and contributions that drive research excellence across UQ and their impact on our diverse community. The awards are presented as part of Research and Innovation Week.
We were thrilled to celebrate research impact and recognise UQ's remarkable researchers and research training leaders across categories including early career research, research supervision, leadership, industry engagement and programs and support.
UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award winners
The UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards (UQ FREA) celebrates the exceptional research achievements and leadership potential of individual early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). By recognising and supporting EMCRs this prestigious award aims to foster their development as research leaders, accelerating their career development and enabling them to make a sustained impact in their disciplines.
Dr Fleur Garton
Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Building a Translational Program to Improve Outcomes in Motor Neuron Disease Using Blood and Genetic Insights.
Dr Merja Joensuu
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Neuronal Fatty Acid Fluxes: From Energy Storage to Lipid Clearance.
Dr Melissa Johnston
School of Political Science and International Studies
Brideprice, Conflict and Violence Against Women: Turning Evidence into Action.
Dr Anne Levitsky
School of Music
Songs of the Sea: How music—not maps—spread knowledge about the sea in the Middle Ages.
Dr Haijiao Lu
School of Chemical Engineering
Photothermal Catalysis for Selective Green Methanol Production.
Dr Miaoqiang Lyu
School of Chemical Engineering
Energy-autonomous wearable health monitoring powered by non-toxic indoor photovoltaics.
Dr Cassandra Pattinson
Child Health Research Centre
From evidence to community: Co-designing child, family, and community sleep resources for Logan and beyond.
Dr Carla Verdi
School of Mathematics and Physics
Computational design of advanced materials for clean energy and quantum technology.
UQ Awards for Excellence in Graduate Research Training winners
We're committed to recognising and rewarding outstanding performance in the supervising, mentoring, and training of HDR candidates. The UQ Awards for Excellence in Graduate Research Training provide an opportunity to publicly celebrate the achievements and initiatives of our academic and professional colleagues who enable our HDR candidates to achieve their highest potential.
Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Supervision award winner
Dr Laura Fenlon
School of Biomedical Sciences
Supervision—Emerging Advisor award winner
Associate Professor Taylor Dick
School of Biomedical Sciences
Leadership award winner
ARC Training Centre for Bioplastics and Biocomposites Leadership Team
Professor Steven Pratt, Dr Lisa Pope
School of Chemical Engineering
Promoting Industry Engagement award winner
CALD HDR Engagement Forum
Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan, Associate Professor Obaid Hamid, Associate Professor MD Shahriar Hossain, Associate Professor Sobia Zafar, Associate Professor Teresa Ubide Garralda, Dr Dewan Rahman, Dr Hao Liang, Dr Hao Tran, Dr Mehwish Nisar, Dr Shirina Lin
Multiple UQ Faculties and Schools
Programs and Support award winner