Graduate research impact
From the moment they begin their PhD our students are set on making a real world impact. Read about their aspirations and inspiring research topics below.
The aid equation: Who should decide how development dollars are spent?
Donors and recipients can want very different things from the same aid program. Jack Hennessy’s research puts those preferences head-to-head.
Beyond weathering the storm: What drives climate adaptation in coastal communities?
Lam Pham is building tools to help coastal communities do more than just survive climate change.
Feeding the future: Can prosperity exist without endless growth?
PhD candidate George Ellis is examining how Australia's food system can put people and the planet before profit.
Boss versus bot: Closing the senior leadership AI gap
Many senior leaders are only just beginning to engage with AI. PhD candidate Tom McAtee is working to change that.
Could gender equality boost the Indonesian economy?
PhD candidate Alamanda is using national labour data to examine whether closing the gender gap could strengthen Indonesia’s public finances.
Press under pressure: New study tackles threat to journalism
Ika Krismantari is investigating a question confronting democracies worldwide: can journalism survive when its business model is under strain?
Targeting the blind spots in Australia’s energy system
Frederick Madriaga is working to address increased cybersecurity risk brought upon by the rapid uptake of renewable energy.
Trust versus technology: Auditing in the age of artificial intelligence
Nithara Godewatta examines how managers respond when algorithms challenge their expectations.
After the storm: Mobilising climate finance in the Pacific
Corey Huber is tackling one of the Pacific’s biggest climate challenges – unlocking private sector investment for climate projects.
Bringing biopharma treatments to the patients in need
Shah Ali Riyad is uncovering ways to close the gap between scientific discovery and patient access through bio-pharmacy.
The private-sector impact of public transparency
Jia Feng is mining US government contract data to reveal how spending disclosures can affect mergers and acquisitions.
Mastering the leadership paradox: Knowing when to step in and when to step back
Xingyu (Sean) Feng's research reveals the best managers tailor their approach.
The cost of catastrophe: The hidden burden of energy poverty
Yitian Wang is uncovering the impact of extreme bushfires on household energy hardship, and why some families struggle long after.
When politics is personal: How background influences behaviour
Tze Yong Tan is investigating how hometown ties affect political decisions.
Out of step: Why Australian tax residency rules need a rethink
Swapna Verma is taking on nearly a century of Australian tax law, arguing it’s time to overhaul an outdated system.
Power and participation: Behind the screens of cooperative governance
Novita Puspasari's research explores how WhatsApp chats are quietly redrawing the lines of influence and inclusion in Indonesian cooperatives.
All roads lead to reform: Reimagining power in university leadership
Biripi man Auren Sol is focusing on the future to help embed Indigenous leadership at the highest levels of academia.
Can we trust the data? The researcher making uncertainty visible
Harriet Mason is investigating how data visuals shape our understanding and why seeing uncertainty is important.
Hidden triggers: How unexpected events fuel domestic violence
Sara Hutchinson Tovar's research reveals a disturbing link between unforeseen circumstances and spikes in domestic abuse across the globe.
The cost of convenience: Are pre-filled returns a shortcut to tax evasion?
Agustina Arumardi's study suggests pre-filled forms could actually be counterproductive.
Uncovering the hidden bias in disaster relief
Lihini de Silva's study of Australia’s Black Summer bushfires shows the most vulnerable communities don't always receive the most support.
Silent achievers: Australia’s best-kept sustainability secret
Stephan Dua Modest has uncovered the reasons behind the surprising new ‘greenhushing’ trend.
Breathing new life into workplace wellbeing
Shawn Ashkanasy hopes to provide a counterbalance to stressful workplaces by tapping into one of the fundamentals of life.
Game on: Harnessing fan rivalry as a force for good
Faisal Mahnashi's research offers a game plan to transform football rivalry-based violence into a catalyst for change.
Say it like you mean it: Helping NGOs communicate with authenticity
Tirukumar Thiagarajah knows the secret to building trust is all about the power of clear and authentic communication.
Circular solutions: ending the vicious cycle of waste
Roelof Vogel is empowering local councils to lead Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
Is renewable energy shrinking or widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor?
New research by Ha Chi is questioning how accessible new renewable energy sources really are for all Australians.
Bridging the gap: The quest for digital equity
Xiang Yao's new research aims to ensure developing economies are not left behind when it comes to emerging technologies.
Great expectations: How gender bias is limiting women in leadership
Karryna Madison's insightful new research delves into how workplaces and individuals treat their leaders.
Crunching the numbers: How new research has revealed the hidden truth behind indexes
Sherry Zhang has found a way to not only improve indexes, but unleash their power.
Decoding the crypto tax conundrum
Pioneering research by Yayan Riyanto promises to guide policymakers through the tricky terrain of tax compliance in cryptocurrency.
Unknown influences of life-and-death decisions
Giovanni Empel MD is examining the factors influencing doctors’ decisions and the impact this has on the healthcare they provide.
Striving for fairer healthcare
PhD graduate Karinna Saxby completed ground-breaking research exposing systemic injustice in Indigenous communities and people with disability.
Spreading the word: Can social connection enhance education outcomes?
Keyu Guo's research explores the power of parental social networks in improving early childhood education in developing nations.
Shaping the future of economics: Monash Business School graduates awarded top academic honours
Two PhD graduates have received Monash University’s highest academic accolades for their pioneering research.
Understanding the toll of climate change
Michelle Escobar Carias’ PhD thesis explores how the lasting impacts of environmental disasters affect vulnerable communities.
Championing caregiver equality
Amanda Selvarajah wants to make our legal frameworks and systems more inclusive.
Understanding online behaviour
Aakash Shah's research paper was inspired by his desire to discover how online reviews influence consumer spending.
Creating a fairer tax system
Amna Shah is researching factors that influence tax compliance for the self-employed.
The economics of aspirations
Jessica Arnup used her PhD thesis to tackle how the economy impacts students' wishes to attend university.
Reimagining the future of work
Margaret Lee's research examines the role the work environment can play in driving burnout recovery.