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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.
News
Early career researchers awarded more than $2.1m ARC DECRA funding to drive future innovation
Four outstanding early-career researchers from the University of Newcastle have secured more than $2.1 million in the highly competitive Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA).
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We’re not going anywhere: Muswellbrook faces transition beyond coal head on
As the Hunter region of New South Wales inches toward the closure of the state’s largest coal mine, Muswellbrook community members are urging industry to leave a positive legacy in their wake.
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Generous post-mortem donations spark international collaboration
The Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research is thrilled to announce that we have now commenced an international collaboration with the Gregory lab at the Duke University Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Centre, led by Professor Simon Gregory.
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Generous post-mortem donations spark international collaboration
The Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research is thrilled to announce that we have now commenced an international collaboration with the Gregory lab at the Duke University Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Centre, led by Professor Simon Gregory.
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National praise for world-leading program smashing gender norms
A groundbreaking father-daughter well-being program aimed at empowering daughters and their father-figures has received national recognition at last night’s Engagement Australia 2025 Excellence Awards in Sydney.
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New research reveals hidden cost of supporting adult children
A new study has uncovered the hidden burden of the financial and practical support many Australian parents are bearing for their adult children.
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Research Impact
We work with industry, community and government partners to translate research into real-world impact that makes a positive difference to our regions and our world.
Featured stories
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.
“I thought I was a bad mother”: How telehealth changed a young boy’s life and gave a family hope
“I thought I was a bad mother,” says Marlie Matthews, tearfully. “I tried everything, but Marcus was getting more and more behind. He wasn’t speaking much and when he did, I couldn’t understand him. It was very hard on all of us.”
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Girls in STEM
Female high school students in the Hunter are being inspired to pursue meaningful careers in STEM thanks to a unique program created over a conversation at a campus cafe.
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New video shows sharks making an easy meal of spiky sea urchins
Long-spined sea urchins have emerged as an environmental issue off Australia’s far south coast.
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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
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.
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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.
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Anna Giacomini
Professor Anna Giacomini and Professor Shanyong Wang won back-to-back John Booker Medals for Engineering Excellence, in 2019 and 2018.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Behdad Moghtaderi
Professor Behdad Moghtaderi received the prestigious ExxonMobil Award of Excellence in Chemical Engineering.
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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.
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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.
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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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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.