Swinburne Research Excellence (research centres and areas of research concentration)
- Swinburne Research Centres and Groups
- Areas of Research Concentration
- Cooperative Research Centres - Membership
- National Centres of Research Excellence - Membership
- European Consortium of Innovative Universities - Membership
Swinburne Research Centres and Groups
Swinburne University of Technology has 13 designated Research Centres. The Centres facilitate research strength by grouping together human and instrumental resources into areas of research in which they collectively have a demonstrable national or international profile. These research groupings possess a proven exceptional record of scholarship, publication and research funding. Furthermore, these centres provide an outstanding environment for the training of postgraduate research students
The Research Centres are:
- Brain Sciences Institute The Brain Science Institute (BSI) conducts high quality research in human neuroscience. The Centre houses a multi-disciplinary team of researchers across several different disciplines and areas of expertise, including physicists, psychologists, psychophysiologists, biophysicists and neuroscientists. BSI focuses its research in areas of human neuroscience: in particular, in the areas of cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, clinical psychology, and psychological assessment.
- Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures The Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures (CAIA) has three primary goals: perform industrially relevant, innovative and critical research into new IP networking architectures; provide a world-class, stimulating and flexible research and teaching environment; and establish collaborations with leading industrial and academic research groups within and outside Australia.
- Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (CAS) is dedicated to inspiring a fascination in the universe through research and education. Established in 1998, CAS is the largest astronomical research group in Victoria, and one of the largest in Australia. Specific areas of research interest include astronomy visualisation (with CAS playing a major part in constructing an innovative virtual reality environment - VROOM - currently housed at the Melbourne Museum), star & planet formation, pulsars, globular clusters, super massive black holes, galaxy evolution and Big Bang cosmology. An active program of research and development includes involvement in the planned Square Kilometre Array project, regular telescope time at major observatories including the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Parkes Observatory, Australia Telescope Compact Array, W.M. Keck Observatory, the Gemini Observatory, and the Hubble Space Telescope Treasury Program.
- Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy The Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy (CAOUS) hosts nodes of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics (ACQAO) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-Ray Science (CXS). CAOUS is structured around four groups: Integrated Atom Optics; Ultracold Molecules; Ultrafast Spectroscopy; and Applied Optics.
- Centre for Complex Software Systems and Services The Centre for for Complex Software Systems and Services was established as a new Tier 1 centre in 2008. The Centre aspires to become an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence, distinctive for its world-class capabilities and significant research contributions in Complex Software Systems and Services.
- Centre for Micro-Photonics The Centre for Micro-Photonics (CMP) is an international leader in biophotonics and nanophotonics, providing a world-class laboratory for training Australian and international research students. Its mission is to develop innovative nanophotonic devices for all-optical information technology; to develop novel optoelectronic imaging methods for biological studies and industrial applications; and to understand mechanisms for light interaction with biological materials.
- Centre for Molecular Simulation Established in 1999, the Centre for Molecular Simulation (CMS) provides a focus for research in molecular simulation, providing fundamental insights into natural phenomena at the atomic level. CMS utilises Monte Carlo, equilibrium molecular dynamics and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics techniques which are used to explore a wide range of phenomena such as phase equilibria, transport phenomena and nanotechnology.
- Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure The Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure (CSI) has three major research programs consisting of a series of projects involving industry partners, centre staff, research fellows and graduate students. The research is carried out using analytical and experimental techniques to suit the project requirements. The three research program areas are as follows: structural performance and infrastructure renewal; sustainable materials and emerging technologies; and water resources modelling.
- Environment and Biotechnology Centre The Environment and Biotechnology Centre promotes the development of both applied and industrial research in both environmental science and biotechnology. The Centre currently has 16 academic staff and over 30 research students, possessing expertise in fields as diverse as bioactive compound production and extraction, surface and colloid science, molecular biology, bioremediation and composting, public and environmental health, biosensors, enzyme technology, heavy metal removal, tissue engineering, nanotechnology and pulp and paper bioprocessing.
- Industrial Research Institute Swinburne For the Industrial Research Institute Swinburne (IRIS), the most fundamental activity is to develop new technological concepts with industry. Industries are only able to maintain their leading edge in international competition if they identify new technology trends at an early stage and invest in technologies that rapidly find practical applications. Areas of research concentration for IRIS are: biotechnology; intelligent manufacturing systems; laser technology; micro-technology; robotics; and non-contact inspection.
- Institute for Social Research The Institute for Social Research (ISR) has nearly thirty years of experience in social science research and education and has a reputation for independent, innovative and timely work of high quality. Areas of research expertise include housing markets and policy; citizenship, politics and democracy; immigration and refugee policy; social policy; media and communications; information policy; public administration and finance; youth policy; and gender, cultural diversity and work. ISR has substantial links with researchers and policy-makers in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
- Swinburne Psychological, Clinical, Health and Evaluation Centre SwinPsyCHE aims for excellence in psychological science and practice, embracing innovation and skills development, with an emphasis on well-being. SwinPsyCHEs mission is to promote contemporary psychosocial research designed to impact on the welfare of individuals, groups and the community. This theory-driven research is guided by the scientist-practitioner model. The Centre promotes: (a) basic and applied psychological research; (b) education and training in psychological research; and (c) collaboration and partnership with research and community agencies. SwinPsyCHE has four main foci: (1) basic psychological research identifying psychological processes and factors relevant to understanding the human condition; (2) clinical research identifying psychological processes and factors relevant to understanding clinical conditions and their management, and the application of such knowledge; (3) health-related research identifying psychological factors associated with medical illnesses and the application of such knowledge; and (4) evaluation of practical applications, programs and policies, especially with respect to service delivery and care.
- The Business, Work and Ageing Centre for Research Established in 2001, the Business Work and Ageing Centre for Research is an international leader in researching the economic and social consequences of workforce ageing. The Centre undertakes research and provides specialised consultancy services to industry.
Other Research Groups comprise:
- Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship
- Information Security Research (iSECURES) Laboratory
- Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory
Areas of Research Concentration
Swinburne University of Technology has consistently pursued a policy of concentration in research, directing the bulk of its resources to supporting research in a limited number of areas. These areas strive to be globally competitive by virtue of the excellence of the researchers involved, and the level of research infrastructure provided.
Swinburne has particular research strengths in:
Business and Enterprise
- Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise
- Work and Ageing
- Public Sector Management
- International Business
Design
- Design Education and Designed Learning Environments
- Designing Virtual Environments
- Product Development and Innovation
- Emotion and Design
Engineering
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Sustainable Infrastructure
- Fluid Flow Modelling
- Advanced Materials
Information and Communication Technologies
- Software Engineering
- Internet Infrastructure and Applications
- Intelligent Systems
- Information Systems
Life and Health Sciences
- Brain Science
- Psychology
- Biotechnology
- Biomedical Instrumentation
Physical and Chemical Sciences
- Laser and Optics
- Astronomy
- Molecular Modelling
Social Sciences
- Media and Communications
- Citizenship and Government
- Cities and Housing
- Technology and Society
Cooperative Research Centres - Membership
Swinburne is proud of its membership of 5 Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). CRCs play an important role in the
Australian innovation system, bringing together researchers and research users from universities, the public sector
and business.
Swinburne is a core member of the following CRCs:
- CRC for Smart Services
Prof. Trevor Barr, +613 9214 8106 - CRC for Advanced Manufacturing
Prof. John Beynon, +613 9214 8441 - CRC for CAST Metals Manufacturing
Prof. Milan Brandt, +613 9214 5651 - CRC for Polymers
Dr Ranjith Jayasekara, +613 9214 8575 - CRC for Advanced Automotive Technology
Prof. Romesh Nagarajah, +613 9214 8530
National Centres of Research Excellence - Membership
Swinburne is a member of 4 Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics
Prof. Peter Hannaford, +613 9214 5164 - ARC Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems
Prof. Min Gu, +613 9214 5273 - ARC Centre of Excellence in Coherent X-ray Science
Dr. Lap V. Dao, +613 9214 4317 - ARC Centre of Excellence in Creative Industries and Innovation
Prof. Julian Thomas, +613 9214 5466
In addition, Swinburne hosts a Defence Materials Centre and Swinburne is also a core member of the following National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Excellence:
- Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research (ACRBR)
A/Prof. Andrew Wood, +613 9214 8867 & A/Prof. Rodney Croft, +613 9214 5149
European Consortium of Innovative Universities - Membership
Swinburne has a vision to become an internationally respected research-led University of Technology.
Swinburne is the only Australian University to be a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
Membership of this consortium provides opportunities for various types of research collaboration.
