Summer and Winter Research Programs for Undergraduates

The copper industry faces a major technology gap: 80% of reserves are sulphides, which lacks a cost-effective method to process them. This study aims to design an eco-friendly, low-chemical hydrometallurgical method designed to efficiently extract copper from abundant, low-grade sulphide ores that current processes ignore. This study will initiate laboratory-scale tests to generate a lixiviant using aluminium (Al) electrodes, mobilizing Al ions in solution for metal extraction. This research will be conducted as a collaboration between the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and the Sustainable Minerals Institute.

Project Duration and delivery:  4 weeks duration, 36 hours per week. Attendance at The University of Queensland St Luica campus is required.

Expected outcomes and deliverables:  The successful candidate can expect to gain the following skills and knowledge:

• Learn fundamentals of electrochemical leaching for metal extraction.
• During this project, the applicant will be expected to set-up and monitor electrochemical leaching experiments as well as collect and analyse data from the experiments.

Students may also be asked to produce a report or oral presentation at the end of their project.   

Suitable for: Suitable for enthusiastic UQ enrolled 3rd–4th year undergraduate or master’s students with a background in mechanical and mining engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry or chemical engineering.

Primary Supervisors: Dr Eric O. Ansah and Dr Zhong Zheng

Further information: Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Eric O. Ansah or Dr Zhong Zheng to discuss this project in more detail.

This project aims to develop efficient processes for recovering critical metals (e.g., copper) from low-grade ores and mine wastes. The focus is on creating cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods that minimize post-mining ecological impacts. Hence, this research will investigate and advance bioleaching techniques for sustainable critical metal recovery. This research will be conducted as a collaboration between the Schools of Civil and Chemical Engineering and the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland, with active collaboration with the University of Cape Town.

Project Duration and delivery: 4 weeks duration, 36 hours per week. Attendance at the St Luica campus is required

Expected outcomes and deliverables:  At the end of the project the successful candidate can expect to gain the following skills and knowledge:

• Learn fundamentals of bioleaching.  
• The ability to set-up and monitor bioleaching experiments as well as collect and analyse data from the experiments.

Students may also be asked to produce a report or oral presentation at the end of their project.

Suitable for: Suitable for an enthusiastic UQ enrolled 3rd–4th year undergraduates and master’s students with a background in biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical and mining engineering or environmental engineering.

Primary Supervisors: Professor Sue Harrison and Dr Eric O. Ansah

Further information: Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Eric O. Ansah to discuss this project in more detail.

The University of Queensland has recently acquired a unique hyperspectral sensor capable of collecting data in drone-mounted, tripod-based, and laboratory configurations. The instrument captures contiguous spectral measurements across the visible, near-infrared (VNIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR) wavelength ranges. While the sensor can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, the current focus of this project is on mining applications, specifically the characterisation of rock samples of varying size, shape, and mineral composition in a laboratory environment.

Working under supervision and as part of a research team, the student will conduct systematic testing of these samples to determine optimal instrument settings for achieving high-quality data acquisition. This includes adjusting physical acquisition parameters (e.g., sensor configuration and scanning geometry), sample handling, as well as monitoring signal behaviour to ensure the integrity and reliability of the digital outputs, along with data curation. The outcomes of this work will contribute directly to the development of a robust QA/QC framework for the instrument and its associated data products.

Project Duration and delivery: 4 weeks duration, 36 hours per week. Attendance at the Long Pocket campus or St Lucia campus (to be confirmed) is required.

Expected outcomes and deliverables:  At the end of the project the successful candidate can expect to gain the following skills and knowledge:

• Gain hands-on experience working with a specialised sensor and instrument set-up, developing practical expertise in data acquisition techniques.
• Build strong skills in data quality assessment, signal analysis, and pre-processing to ensure robust and reliable results.
• Play an active role in strengthening the QA/QC framework by contributing to the standard operating procedures for the instrument and helping refine data processing protocols.
• Take ownership of aspects of the workflow, develop technical confidence, and contribute to best-practice methodologies.

The student will have the opportunity to deliver an oral presentation outlining the data acquisition workflow and associated QA/QC procedures.

Suitable for: Suitable for an enthusiastic UQ enrolled 2nd-4th year student from any background but is particularly well suited to students with a  background in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, mechatronics or physics.

Primary Supervisor: Katerina Savinova and Victor Tolentino

Further information: Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Katerina Savinova to discuss this project in more detail.

Mining operations in Australia generate large volumes of waste, which increases the risk of acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD), contributing to environmental pollution and high carbon emissions. The challenge lies in managing this waste sustainably while reducing the carbon footprint. This study proposes utilizing brine solutions to convert reactive waste minerals into inert carbonates, enabling efficient CO₂ storage while reducing pollution. Utilizing laboratory experiments, this study will investigate the kinetics of mineral carbonation in Australian copper and gold mine waste samples. This work paves the way for greener mining practices, turning waste into a resource for carbon-neutral closure.

Project Duration and delivery: 4 weeks duration, 36 hours per week. Attendance at the Indooroopilly Mine Site is required. 

Expected outcomes and deliverables:  At the end of the project the successful candidate can expect to gain the following skills and knowledge:

• Understand fundamentals of mineral carbonation for AMD mitigation of mine wastes.
• At the end of the project, the applicant will be expected to set-up and monitor carbonation experiments as well as collect and analyse data from the experiments.

Students may also be asked to produce a report or oral presentation at the end of their project..

Suitable for: Suitable for enthusiastic UQ enrolled 3rd-4th year undergraduates and master’s students with a background in mining engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering or environmental engineering.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Eric O. Ansah

Further information: Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Eric O. Ansah to discuss this project in more detail.