Swinburne Research Centres and Groups
Swinburne University of Technology has 12 designated Research Centres. The Centres facilitate the strength of research by concentrating resources (both human and instrumental) into groups of researchers in an area of research in which they collectively have a demonstrable national or international profile. Such research concentrations can demonstrate an exceptional record of scholarship, publication and research funding. These focussed areas of research 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.
- 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:
