Our world-class research

Our research drives transformative innovation and impact. Here, you’ll find passionate researchers working at the cutting edge of their fields, committed to changing lives for the better and ensuring a thriving future for all.

Inaugural Showcase debuts cutting-edge solar and hydrogen technologies

Inaugural Showcase debuts cutting-edge solar and hydrogen technologies

More than 200 industry, government officials, researchers, start-ups and university staff came together yesterday to celebrate the achievements of the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy program in its first year, namely establishing $117M in industry co-funded R&D projects focused on bringing disruptive technologies to market.

ARC Fellowships advance human rights research and ‘greener’ belt conveyor technology

ARC Fellowships advance human rights research and ‘greener’ belt conveyor technology

The University of Newcastle’s Associate Professor Amy Maguire and Professor Craig Wheeler have been awarded prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Mid-Career Industry Fellowships. More than $2.2m combined will fund their respective projects to support national human rights law reform; and to halve the energy used in Australia’s belt conveyer systems.

Great minds tackle brain cancer puzzle at International Summit

Great minds tackle brain cancer puzzle at International Summit

Brilliant leaders, experts, and innovators from around the world have united to help solve the brain cancer puzzle at the inaugural International Brain Tumour Research Summit - Australia in Melbourne.

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Happier in the Hunter: promising findings for young people

Happier in the Hunter: promising findings for young people

Despite the challenges that young people in regional areas face, new data reveals Hunter youth are happier than their peers in capital cities.

$10.6m MRFF funding boosts researchers’ mission to improve Australia’s health

$10.6m MRFF funding boosts researchers’ mission to improve Australia’s health

Seven University of Newcastle teams have secured more than $10.6m in Australian government funding to help solve some of the nation’s most pressing health issues.

Central Coast Living Lab promotes healthy ageing at home

Central Coast Living Lab promotes healthy ageing at home

A collaborative workshop has marked the launch of the first Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab – an innovative, real-life experimentation hub designed to support healthy ageing at home for generations to come.

Research impact

We work with industry, community and government partners to translate research into real-world impact that makes a difference to regions and our world.

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We have a strong track record for driving discoveries across a host of research disciplines. By leveraging the unique history of our region – and our research and academic excellence – we want our university and our regions to be the ultimate test bed for innovation.

Awards and honours

Our University is home to some of the world’s most well-regarded researchers. Our experts have earned national and international accolades for work in engineering, health and medical research, education, Indigenous studies and more.

Kelvin Kong

Kelvin Kong

Australia’s first Aboriginal surgeon - the highly acclaimed ear, nose and throat surgeon Associate Professor Kelvin Kong - was awarded the prestigious Menzies Medallion in 2020 for his leadership and advocacy for Indigenous health and research.

Matt Dun

Matt Dun

Dr Matt Dun was named a 2020 Young Tall Poppy for his work with rare brain cancers. He was also named Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow at the 2019 NSW Premier Awards.

Anna Giacomini

Anna Giacomini

Professor Anna Giacomini and Professor Shanyong Wang won back-to-back John Booker Medals for Engineering Excellence, in 2019 and 2018.

Nick Talley

Nick Talley

Laureate Professor Nick Talley has been named the most cited researcher in his field out of more than 76,300 authors. This is the latest in a string of honours bestowed on Professor Talley, who was named NSW Scientist of the Year in 2018.

Lyndall Ryan

Lyndall Ryan

'The Killing Times' – a collaboration between Professor Lyndall Ryan's Massacres Map team and The Guardian newspaper – won a 2019 Walkley Award for coverage of Indigenous Affairs. The collaboration also won a 2019 NSW Premier's History Prize for Digital Innovation.

Myles Young

Myles Young

Dr Myles Young was named Outstanding Early Researcher of the Year in the 2019 Bupa Foundation Awards. He has also been named one of the 2021 AMP Tomorrow Makers for his work in men's health.

Heather Lee

Heather Lee

As the top female applicant in the country, Dr Heather Lee won a 2018 Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research for her work to improve survival rates of patients with leukaemia.

Frances Kay-Lambkin

Frances Kay-Lambkin

Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin was named the 2019 Researcher of the Year at the annual Hunter Medical Research Institute awards.

Behdad Moghtaderi

Behdad Moghtaderi

Professor Behdad Moghtaderi received the prestigious ExxonMobil Award of Excellence in Chemical Engineering.

Clare Collins

Clare Collins

Clare Collins received a Laureate Professor distinction in 2020 - becoming the second woman at the University of Newcastle to receive such an honour. In 2019, she was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences for outstanding contributions to her field.

Nikola Bowden

Nikola Bowden

Pioneering cancer researcher Associate Professor Nikola Bowden was a finalist in the 2019 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards. She’s also the recipient of an unprecedented 10-year Hunter Medical Research Institute Fellowship dedicated to ovarian cancer research.

Kevin Galvin

Kevin Galvin

Laureate Professor Kevin Galvin was named a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2020 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of mineral processing. The fellowship is one of the highest honours an Australian scientist can receive.

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