Sydney Horizon Fellows

Associate Professor Aaron Jenkins’ research program, Watershed Interventions for Systems Health (WISH), addresses water-related diseases by tackling upstream drivers of ill-health in Melanesian watersheds. The Horizon project aims to deliver nested interventions, scale and finance Integrated Watershed Management (IWM), and promote knowledge sharing for regional replication. By the program’s end, the goal is to implement IWM in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and PNG, establishing a scalable model for the Pacific. Participatory research methods include nature-based solutions, health interventions, and community-based surveillance.

Dr Alison Peel, Faculty of Science, researches the associations between bat ecology, virome dynamics, and human health risks from emerging bat viruses. Her work focuses on the One Health approach, addressing the root causes of viral emergence by improving ecosystem health. Notably, her team has identified climatic and ecological drivers of Hendra virus, predicting spillover clusters and developing ecological solutions. Her Horizon project uses bioinformatic analyses of RNA sequencing libraries to understand how ecological, environmental, and host-viral factors drive co-infection and viral emergence in wildlife.

Dr Alistair Senior focuses on healthy ageing through sustainable nutrition. His research uses data science to explore dietary trade-offs, such as the benefits and risks of high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets in old age. His Horizon project aims to identify dietary patterns that extend healthspan for both humans and the planet. This involves developing methods to measure biological ageing and using multi-objective optimisation to find diets that slow ageing while reducing environmental impact. His expertise includes computational biology, biostatistics, data science, machine learning, multi-omics, meta-analysis, and multi-objective optimisation.

Dr Ann Na Cho is pioneering bioengineered human brain tissue on a microchip, advancing personalised disease modelling and medicine. Her Horizon Fellowship aims to create a vascularised human brain model incorporating neuroinflammation to study interactions between blood, the immune system, and the brain in aging and diseases like childhood degeneration and mental disorders. The project focuses on developing complex brain organoids with bioprinted vasculature, defining neurovascular and neuroinflammatory interactions, and validating personalised disease models for neurological disorders. Her research spans personalised stem cells, organoid biofabrication, organ-on-chip technology, and regenerative medicine.

Dr Aoni Xu is pioneering autonomous electro-active material discovery to combat climate change. Her research addresses the limitations of current electrocatalysts by integrating data-driven computational design and autonomous laboratories. Dr Xu's Horizon program aims to establish Australia's first computational solid-state material database, develop a new computational package combining high-throughput datasets and machine learning, and build an automated laboratory to accelerate electrocatalyst discovery. Her methodology includes computational modelling, machine learning-based optimization, automated experiments, chemical synthesis, Raman spectrometry, and automation.

Dr Archita Mishra leads the ‘Microbial-Immune Priming’ program, aiming to predict and prevent neonatal and childhood diseases by studying early-life microbial interactions. Her research focuses on how microbes shape the immune system from the womb through early childhood, reducing infection risks and allergies. The program includes three subprograms: Discovery (mapping microbiome evolution), Diagnostics (developing predictive immune-health tests), and Therapeutics (enhancing immune health with microbial insights). Using advanced methodologies like metagenomics and single-cell RNA-seq, Dr Mishra’s work seeks to revolutionise neonatal health by leveraging the human microbiome’s potential.

Dr Arman Siahvashi is leading Australia’s first project on high-efficiency, modular, and low-cost hydrogen liquefaction and storage. With global energy consumption projected to rise nearly 50% by 2050, hydrogen is crucial for meeting demand and enabling decarbonisation. Liquid hydrogen, which reduces gas volume by 900 times, is key for storage and transport but current designs lack efficiency. Dr Siahvashi’s Horizon project aims to develop a modular hydrogen liquefier, leveraging his expertise in cryogenics and liquefaction thermodynamics. His research includes experimental design, cryogenic systems, analytical models, 3D printing, and multidisciplinary approaches to advance clean energy.

Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves researches the impact of AI on aged care, aiming to address the current crisis and improve social health outcomes. Her Horizon program is the first to map and compare AI technologies like robots and chatbots in care homes and community settings. The program has three goals: assess stakeholder perceptions and outcomes, develop AI-based solutions through communities of practice, and evaluate inclusive, sustainable care models. Her mixed methods approach includes surveys, fieldwork, and interviews to create best practices and policies for global benefit.

Dr Blanche Verlie explores the emotional politics of the climate crisis, focusing on ‘post-disaster climate anxiety.’ Her interdisciplinary social science research aims to articulate climate distress as a multi-temporal experience, demonstrate the complex interactions between social structures and individual experiences, and highlight opportunities for social change. Her methodologies include ethnography, discourse analysis, and policy analysis. 

Dr Cara Vansteenkiste focuses on corporate philanthropy, analysing how firms’ charitable giving impacts outcomes. Her Horizon project aims to develop a global database on corporate donations, examining their role in green innovation, sustainable technologies, health research, and disaster response. The project also explores the trade-offs between shareholder value and stakeholder welfare, and how regulations influence donation incentives. Her research employs database development, statistical methods, web scraping, empirical analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dr Chun Xu focuses on developing multifunctional nanoparticles for delivering genome editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9. Her Horizon project aims to create a new nanoparticle platform that enhances the precision and efficiency of gene editing by targeting specific cells and tissues, reducing off-target effects. Her research involves nanomaterial synthesis, nanoparticle characterization, fluorescence imaging, organic chemistry, animal studies, and tissue culture techniques. 

Dr Conrad Wasko focuses on future-proofing Australia against increasing flood risks. His Horizon project aims to develop a framework for flood risk assessment under climate change by understanding changes in flood drivers across Australia. Using climate model outputs, the project will translate these changes into future flood risk assessments compatible with current engineering probabilistic frameworks. His research involves mathematical modelling, probability frameworks, computer modelling, climate projections, and risk perception and communication.

Dr Danielle Kent emphasises the need for a radical shift in how we frame climate change decisions. Her Horizon Fellowship project aims to develop evidence-based strategies to guide institutions in reframing policies for greater sustainability. By testing if optimistic framing of sustainable decisions, highlighting temporary costs and permanent benefits, increases sustainable actions, her research employs survey analysis, behavioural science, and randomised controlled experiments.

Dr Elie Matar’s research focuses on sleep-wake disturbances in Lewy body disorders (LBDs) like Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). His Horizon project aims to identify, understand, and predict neurodegeneration by studying sleep-wake disruptions from early to advanced stages of LBD. Using clinical, imaging, and sleep assessments, Dr Matar seeks to uncover novel signatures and the pathological basis of these disruptions, ultimately improving disease prediction and prevention. His multidisciplinary approach includes high-density EEG, MRI, pathology, and computational modelling.

Dr Federico Tartarini focuses on understanding heat stress and developing sustainable interventions to reduce health risks in a warming world. His Horizon research project aims to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths by expanding human heat strain models for vulnerable groups. He is developing Australia’s first free online tool to calculate personalised heat stress risk and plan effective cooling strategies. The tool will simulate the efficacy of warning systems and cooling interventions at various levels using a human-centered approach under different global warming scenarios. His research spans computer science, human thermal physiology, and risk communication. 

Dr Joy Jiang’s research focuses on using plasma- and magneto-electrochemistry to address energy and climate challenges. Her group integrates science with engineering to develop technological solutions for the chemical industry, a major energy consumer and CO2 emitter. Key aims include using plasma electrochemistry for scalable chemical production, developing magneto-electrochemical technologies for chemical separations and ionic motors, and designing solar-powered plasma devices to produce ozone and mitigate climate damage. Her methodologies encompass plasma chemistry, electrochemical synthesis, radical reactions, and device engineering. 

Dr Jasmine Fardouly’s research focuses on improving social media’s impact on body image through a multilevel ecological approach. Her Horizon project aims to enhance access to body positive content and reduce appearance ideal content. It explores individual, interpersonal, community, and societal strategies, including viewing and posting positive content, changing social norms, understanding influencers’ motivations, and evaluating policy initiatives. Her methodology includes longitudinal projects, mixed methods, qualitative studies, stakeholder engagement, and open science methods. 

Dr Jiaying Li focuses on smart wastewater surveillance to enhance public health and wellbeing. Her Horizon Fellowship project aims to innovate public health monitoring through wastewater-based epidemiology, identifying novel biomarkers, tracking spatiotemporal trends, and analysing data for integrated social and health assessments. Her research methodology includes analytical chemistry, microbiology, environmental monitoring, biotechnology, wastewater engineering, epidemiology, GIS, hydraulic modelling, AI, and mass spectrometry. This approach addresses the urgent need for comprehensive burden-of-disease analysis in modern society.

Dr Jingjing You specialises in collagen-based biomedical research, aiming to develop new treatments and biomanufacturing technologies. Her team created an in-situ printing treatment for corneal injuries, leading to the spin-off company iFix Medical. They also developed a machine learning model for keratoconus progression, extracted high-quality collagen, and patented Col-I/IV bioink, contributing to a $35 million national grant. Her current projects focus on creating a sustainable collagen biomanufacturing platform, developing biomaterials for disease treatment, and using machine learning for drug discovery. Her expertise spans bioengineering, biomaterials manufacturing, machine learning, drug development, and tissue engineering.

Dr Katrina Champion focuses on innovative prevention strategies to enhance the physical and mental health of Australian adolescents. Her Horizon research program addresses key behavioural risk factors like physical inactivity, poor diet, and screen time, which contribute to mental disorders and obesity. By enhancing the Health4Life digital intervention, collaborating with low SES communities, and developing new digital tools, Dr Champion aims to improve health outcomes. Her methodologies include digital health, co-design, and randomised controlled trials, with a strong emphasis on early intervention and evidence-based practices in schools. 

Dr Kerrie Wiley integrates social science to combat vaccine-preventable diseases affecting both humans and animals. Her Horizon project aims to generate new data and tools to understand vaccination drivers across species, develop a theory on vaccine acceptance, and better integrate social science into health decision-making. Using mixed social science methods, literature reviews, and co-design with stakeholders, her work seeks to inform vaccine implementation, policy, and practice, ultimately advancing a One Health approach to disease control.

Dr Lee White’s project aims to make energy poverty visible by creating a measure that captures it holistically, focusing on people’s ability to live valued lives. This measure will identify those underserved by current energy systems and governance. The project seeks to highlight gaps in current metrics and inform policies for energy system reform that address both social and environmental goals. Dr White employs interviews, stakeholder engagement, pilot surveys, literature reviews, and statistical analysis in this multidisciplinary research.

Dr Liliana Laranjo is evaluating HeartChat, a conversational AI program designed to support heart failure patients in managing their disease. Heart failure affects 40 million people globally, posing significant challenges in self-management. HeartChat aims to provide personalised advice and behaviour change support through automated phone calls and text messages. Dr Laranjo’s Horizon research program will assess the efficacy and feasibility of this AI-driven approach. Her research methodologies include qualitative research, meta-analysis, systematic review, AI and machine learning, randomised controlled trials, and co-design with end-users.

Dr Mengyu Li specialises in integrated assessment modelling of sustainable energy, climate, and food systems. Her Horizon Fellowship project develops IAM capabilities for future scenario analyses of clean energy transitions, climate/health impacts, disaster resilience, and SDGs. It focuses on global reach with a special emphasis on Australia’s circumstances, optimising pathways for zero-carbon energy, climate mitigation, and food security. The project also fosters relationships between the University of Sydney and global institutions like the IPCC and UNEP. Her research methodology includes quantitative modelling, disaster and risk analysis, and high-performance computing.

Dr Mitchell Sarkies is establishing an implementation science laboratory to rapidly translate health and medical research innovations into better health outcomes. His Horizon project aims to pioneer advanced understanding of change within complex systems and translate innovations into practice. The project will field test strategies to improve adherence to cardiometabolic medications, assess their effectiveness across different communities, and ensure long-term sustainability. This initiative will generate a research agenda supported by partnerships with health service providers to solve real-world problems. His expertise includes implementation science, research translation, evidence-based implementation, stakeholder engagement, and clinical practice guidelines development.

When Dr Morgan James began his PhD 15 years ago, there were no approved therapies to treat addiction to stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine. Nothing has changed. As a translational neuroscientist who joins the University of Sydney after establishing a productive research program at Rutgers University’s Addiction Research Center, he is studying the neural drivers of addiction with a view to developing new treatments.

Dr James’s Horizon project addresses severe sleep disturbance in methamphetamine withdrawal. Sleep tends to get worse during the early stages of drug abstinence, and poor sleep is a primary driver of relapse. The aim of the project is to develop the world’s first ever approved medication to help achieve sustained recovery in persons with methamphetamine use disorder.

Dr Natalie Matosin’s research focuses on understanding how stress and trauma lead to psychiatric disorders, a critical issue in science and society. Her Horizon Fellowship aims to uncover the biological processes linking stress to mental illness and develop better diagnostic and treatment methods. Her vision is to create a global research program to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of stress-related mental illnesses. Her methodologies include biochemistry, genomics, surveys, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and single-cell/spatial multi-omics.

Dr Neda Mohammadi’s research lies at the intersection of humans and infrastructure systems – how humans interact with city systems like mobility, energy, healthcare and communication at various scales. Using data and AI-enabled technologies, she pioneered the concept of ‘Smart City Digital Twins’. These are living digital replicas of engineered systems that can update in real-time with new data and inputs on interactions between humans, infrastructure and technology, making them highly responsive to changing conditions and new information.

Dr Mohammadi’s Horizon project will expand her research to explore a variety of interconnected systems and to enhance the inclusion of human aspects in the models.

Dr Nicholas Fancourt’s research focuses on immunology and pneumonia in malnourished children, particularly in Timor-Leste. His Horizon Fellowship project aims to understand how malnutrition affects the immune system and the risk of pneumonia, including vaccine responses. Secondary goals include exploring micronutrient deficiencies, identifying barriers to interventions, and assessing global impacts using data from the PERCH study. His methodologies encompass longitudinal cohort studies, randomised clinical trials, immunology, vaccinology, and health systems policy.

Dr Phillip Baker focuses on healthy diets for infants and young children within sustainable first-food systems. His Horizon programme aims to integrate infant nutrition into the global food systems transformation agenda. The programme has three objectives: developing a first-food systems framework, analysing dietary transitions in infants and young children globally, and generating political commitment for sustainable diets. His research employs literature reviews, expert surveys, interviews, statistical analysis, and case studies to drive transformative change in food systems.

Dr Shamila Haddad focuses on developing resilient housing for low-income residents and mitigating urban overheating in Australia. Her Horizon project studies thermal and environmental conditions in social housing to advance knowledge on urban climate change, heat mitigation technologies, housing design, and indoor environments. The project aims to retrofit over 300,000 public housing units and 100,000 community and Indigenous-specific homes, improving health and wellbeing. Her research methodology includes interviews, real-time measurements, sensor placement, microclimate simulation, architectural science, and urban energy modelling.

Dr Shawna Foo’s research focuses on enhancing coral reef resilience to climate-induced stress. Her Horizon Fellowship project investigates mangrove-coral ecosystem interactions using remote sensing, new sensor technologies, in situ experiments, and controlled experimentation. She aims to determine if reefs near mangroves show greater resistance to heat waves, identify climate-tolerant coral traits, and understand key adaptations for survival in extreme conditions. Her methodology includes animal models, quantitative tools, remote sensing, stereo-imaging, microscopy, modelling, and fieldwork in extreme environments.

Dr Sid Assawaworrarit focuses on advanced climate and energy applications of electromagnetics. His Horizon Fellowship project explores three key areas: using radiative cooling to combat climate change, enhancing the design of photonic transformers for improved robustness, and advancing dynamic wireless power transfer. His research methodology includes computational modelling, design and prototyping, material science, climate modelling, and wireless/electronics work.

Dr Steffen Herff’s research focuses on sustainable health practices, particularly music’s role in mental health and musicians’ physical well-being. His Horizon project has two streams: using music to enhance cognitive therapies by modulating mental imagery and loneliness and developing solutions for musculoskeletal injuries in musicians through biofeedback. His methodologies include Bayesian modelling, randomised control design, computational analysis, electromyography, and motion capture systems. Dr Herff collaborates with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to advance these multidisciplinary studies.

Dr Stephanie Partridge is a Horizon research fellow focused on leveraging digital technology to enhance adolescent health. Her work includes evaluating the digital food environment’s impact on food accessibility and consumption, co-designing solutions for emerging health issues, and implementing digital health interventions to improve physical and mental health. She aims to integrate successful approaches into state and national health services and establish an online platform to engage adolescents in research, fostering skills and addressing their health needs. Her methodologies include digital health, co-design, multiphase optimisation strategy, randomised clinical trials, and biostatistics.

Dr Tingrei Tan’s Horizon project focuses on simplifying and enabling accurate quantum simulations of ultra-fast chemical dynamics for designing novel photoactive drugs used in phototherapy, such as for treating skin cancers. This interdisciplinary project involves collaboration with theoretical chemists and clinical photobiologists at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, using advanced quantum hardware from the Sydney Nanoscience Hub. The research aims to benefit Australia’s quantum technology industry and impact other fields by advancing quantum-accelerated computational discovery in chemical, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors.

Dr Wesley Dose focuses on sustainable, high-energy materials for electrochemical energy storage, crucial for the global transition to net zero. His research tackles key challenges: developing sustainable, cost-effective, high-performance materials; understanding and mitigating degradation mechanisms; and creating a circular economy for batteries. Using techniques like diffraction, NMR, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and electrochemistry, Dr Dose aims to uncover insights at the molecular and atomic levels to design new materials and solutions for battery chemistries, while also developing methods to recycle and upcycle battery materials.

Dr Zengxia Pei’s Horizon Fellowship project focuses on developing advanced zinc-metal batteries for sustainable energy storage. By innovating in electrochemistry and nanofabrication, the project aims to create energy-dense, durable, and rechargeable batteries that integrate with renewable energy sources. This multidisciplinary research will contribute to affordable energy storage solutions, supporting Australia’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Key methodologies include solid-electrolyte interphase engineering, theoretical computation, microscopy and spectroscopy, functional device design, and in-situ electrocatalysis.