Early career researchers
The Centre is bringing early career researchers to the region who will undertake their PhD and Masters research activities in the region.
Research Fellows
Dr Anna Kosovac
Dr Anna Kosovac is a Research Fellow in Water Policy. Her research considers the role of risk perceptions in decision-making in governance. She holds a PhD in Risk Perception and Decision Making, a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons) and a Master of International Relations, all from the University of Melbourne. She is a member of the University of Melbourne SAGE Athena SWAN Team, as well Secretary of the Australian/New Zealand branch of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA).
Anna has worked as a civil engineer within the water industry for nine years, project managing a range of projects from planning through to construction. She has also been involved in designing and implementing an industry-wide strategy for ethical supply chain management that aligns with UN Global Compact guidelines. Anna also has a successful track record of implementing research into action through effecting policy changes within water authorities in Australia as a direct result of her doctoral research. Anna’s expertise lies in water governance and policy, risk perceptions and decision making.
PhD Researchers
Anne Wang
Research topic: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Water and Nutrient Stress Detection in Orchards
Overview: Nutrient status plays a pivotal role in plant growth and productivity. Monitoring nutrient status is crucial for crop managers to balance plant production against economic loses and environmental effects for sustainable agriculture. Remote sensing using imaging spectroscopy offers effective and repeatable solutions for nutrient and water stress detection and has enormous potentials to inform fertilizer and irrigation management.
This research aims to explore the assessment of water and nutrient status using solar-induced fluorescence quantified from airborne hyperspectral imagery and plant physiological traits derived from the inversion of physical radiative transfer models and its connection with yield reduction in almond trees. Methods for leaf and canopy trait retrievals will be evaluated along with tree-level yield data, aiming at developing models for a wide range of water stress and nutrient levels. This research will contribute to the large-area mapping of nutrient and water status of individual trees, which in turn will inform fertilizer and irrigation decisions for rapid and precise plant management. The improvement of monitoring capabilities and the optimal use of fertilizer and water input are crucial to maintain sustainable farm management.Supervisors: Research lab: Qualifications: Master of Geographic Information Technology, The University of Melbourne
Sewwandi (Sew) Wijesuriya
mwijesuriya@student.unimelb.edu.au
Research topic: Impact of Flow Regulation and Environmental Watering on Phytoplankton Dynamics in Hattah Lake System
Overview: Along with the importance of floodplains to the downstream river ecology, Australian floodplains are known to hold a vast faunal and floral diversity. Thus, they attract both locals and tourists to the sites for many recreational activities providing the government with substantial annual income. Due to the heavy water extraction and diversion events, the flow of the Murray River is unable to provide a natural flooding regime to its floodplain lakes. As a solution, environmental watering is used to provide regulated flooding events at these wetlands to sustain the ecological diversity in the ecosystem. The environmental watering has reduced the ecological degradation in floodplain lakes, but the current regime still results in prolonged droughts followed by flooding events that would take over four months to completely inundate the area.
This introduces varying arrays of physico-chemical conditions and environments for a range of organisms in floodplains to thrive over time. This research will study the occurrence of phytoplankton, the lower trophic level organisms, under such a varying regime of environmental conditions. The purpose of this study is to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of floodplain phytoplankton within the study site. This will help to determine when it is necessary to control phytoplankton growth to prevent algal blooms, but while also keeping their concentrations at a level to underpin the aquatic food web. It is also expected to suggest management measures that could be implemented alongside the environmental flow regime.Supervisors: Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (Zoology Special), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. - (First Class)
Chunying Wu
chunyingw@student.unimelb.edu.au
Research topic: Impact of climate change and environmental water delivery on floodplain vegetation: A case study of a connected floodplain-lakes system
Overview: River floodplains are among the most dynamic and diverse ecosystems on the planet. They are at risk of degradation due to river regulation and climate change. Floodplain vegetation is one of the components affected. Environmental water can be delivered to floodplains to maintain environmental health. However, informed decisions about how much water to deliver, and when, require accurate models of how vegetation respond to watering events. These models can be informed and improved through monitoring of these responses. This is the essence of adaptive management, an important part of the new practice of active management of environmental water. Existing ground-based monitoring programs are time intensive and require considerable resources.
This research will investigate the influence of hydrology and climate change on floodplain vegetation using remote sensing technology. Taking the connected floodplain-lakes system of the Hattah Lakes in North-West Victoria as a study area and considering the change of hydrological factors in a distributed water balance model, environmental water management strategies for vegetation health under different climate scenarios will be constructed. As well as the improvement in fundamental understanding of floodplain hydrology-vegetation linkage, the results will provide technical support to environmental water management to restore and maintain vegetation health under climate change.Supervisors: Qualifications: Bachelor of Geographical Information System, Nanjing Normal University, China
Master of Cartography and Geography Information System, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Amali Dahanayake
amali.dahanayake@student.unimelb.edu.au
Research topic: Modelling Lake Shore Vegetation in Lake Victoria, NSW
Overview: Lake Victoria, located in the Lower Murray sub-catchment of the Murray–Darling Basin, is enriched with a diverse cultural significance to the Maraura people, a sub-group of the Barkindji. The operation of Lake Victoria as a water storage has been implicated as the cause of shoreline erosion leading to exposure of many of these sites. The Lake is operated by South Australia Water Corporation under a Section 90 Consent and Section 87 Permission to Operate. These permits require that lake operations be designed to minimize any damage to the cultural heritage values of the lake. It is assumed in the Section 90 Consent that revegetation of lakeshores will stabilize sediments and hence protect cultural heritage values.
Spiny Sedge is the most abundant and extensive plant species on the shoreline of Lake Victoria. However, there are several other common species such as Common Reed, Common Couch, Rat’s-tail Couch, and Spiny Mudgrass. In order to facilitate an increase in vegetation cover and stabilise the lakeshore, a more detailed understanding of Spiny Sedge (and potentially of other species) biology and factors affecting growth is required.
This research will develop a predictive ecological model to quantify and predict the interaction between ecological processes of vegetation with hydrology, sedimentary processes, and anthropogenic activities in Lake Victoria. The functional model will be used to inform routine and scenario-planning operations at Lake Victoria. This will inform the lake operations to provide conditions for the continued expansion of this species and potentially others; and once established, what operations conditions are required to maintain vegetation cover. This understanding will be used by Murray Darling Basin Authority river operators to refine lake operations in the interest of cultural heritage protection.Supervisors: Qualifications: Bachelor of the Science of Engineering (Honors), Specialised in Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Master of Philosophy, Specialised in Civil Engineering (Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Masters students
Navneet Kaur
navneetkaur@student.unimelb.edu.au
Research topic: The hyperspectral image analysis of Almond varieties in Mallee Region to develop classification algorithm.
Overview: With rising demand of Australian Almonds worldwide, Almond Industry of Australia is expanding. The intensification of production processes demands accurate and efficient management of huge commercial almond orchards. The precision agriculture offers site specific crop management (SSCM) concept, which aids in detecting plant stress on specific site of farm thus resources can be judiciously utilized. With the advent of new technology now hyperspectral images are used for crop analysis and mapping. As the hyperspectral imagery offers continuous spectral measurement across entire electromagnetic spectrum with high resolution.
This research focus on utilising hyperspectral imagery collected by HyperSense lab of University of Melbourne along with field data from a commercial orchard in Robinvale, to deduce classification algorithm which helps in easy distinction of almond varieties. This will support in analysing different response of each variety to biotic and abiotic stresses. The study would be a useful resource for commercial research on almond varieties as well as it can be used to understand and implement better management practices of each variety.Supervisors: Research lab: Qualifications: Masters of Agricultural Science (Specialisation: Crop Production), The University of Melbourne.
Bachelors of Agricultural Science (major in Agronomy), Punjabi University, India.
Varun Perera
vperera@student.unimelb.edu.au
Current course: Masters of Engineering (Materials), University of Melbourne.
Research topic: Evaluating the potential of the Mallee region as a hydrogen hub through a sector coupling map.
Overview: As the world transitions out of its dependence on fossil fuels to a more decentralized, carbon-free hydrogen economy, areas rich in renewable sources such as the Mallee are being considered as a potential location for a hydrogen hub. In north-west Victoria, the Mallee boasts significant agricultural and industrial infrastructure whilst also being rich in solar energy and biomass resources. It is Victoria’s largest producer of almonds, grapes and citrus and owing to this large agricultural output, generates a plentitude of biomass resources to supplement seven active solar farms in the region.
This project seeks to affirm the region’s potential as a hydrogen hub- that is, a point of intersection for various users of hydrogen across industrial, transport and energy sectors. Uses of hydrogen include being a diesel replacement in trucks, for power generation and be converted to ammonia to be used as fertilizer. The project will revolve around hydrogen generation through water-splitting electrolysis and thus, a study into the region’s water resources is necessary alongside an evaluation of the Mallee’s solar and biomass resources. The relevant electrolyser technology and biotechnology required to convert said resources into hydrogen through processes that minimize carbon emissions will also be discussed.
The goal of the project is to summarise these findings into a sector coupling map that will help stakeholders visualize a reality in which green hydrogen can be used to fuel the region’s transport, electrical and gas needs. Of particular focus will be the transport industry, as the prospect of the Mallee being a hydrogen refueling station for the heavy-duty vehicles that operate in the region is very promising.Supervisors: Dr. Rebecca Yee
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (Chemical Systems), University of Melbourne.
Jacqueline Phelps
Email: j.phelps@student.unimelb.edu.au
Current course: Masters of Engineering (Environmental), University of Melbourne.
Research topic: Investigation of water required and availability in a hydrogen industry context in the Mallee region
Overview: Green hydrogen is a potential tool in reducing global emissions. The Mallee region has been identified as a possible green hydrogen producing hub. With some of Victoria’s highest solar radiation and many industries with the right characteristics to make the transition to a new fuel. Hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier, similar too many other fuels such as diesel. It is unique in that it can be produced and used without releasing greenhouse gas emissions. One emission’s free hydrogen pathway is via electrolysis of water. In this process renewable energy is used to spilt water into hydrogen and oxygen.
This project aims to understand how the available water sources in this region could suit a future hydrogen industry. Focusing on quality, types of water, and the legislative frameworks surrounding water in this region. The water sources which will be explored include brackish ground water, urban wastewater, industrial water recycling, and surface sources. Each source has differing requirements and opportunities. From the potential increase in wastewater treatment efficiency as a result of collocating urban wastewater and green hydrogen to the potential addition to saltwater interception schemes.
The overarching goal is to describe role of water for green hydrogen in an accessible manor to stakeholders in this region. The project will result in the production of a presentation that can be shared and reused to provide insight into the context of water sources.
Over the summer of 2021/22, Ms Phelps undertook an internship, supported by the Invergowrie Foundation and the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre. Ms Phelps worked out of the Centre’s office in Mildura. The internship allowed her to participate in stakeholder engagement activities with key industry, in addition her work on her research project.
Supervisors: Rebecca Wells
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Systems, University of Melbourne.