Sustainable Minerals Institute

Dr Mandana Shaygan

Research Fellow
CWiMI
+61 7 3346 4052
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Mandana Shaygan

Soil physics and numerical modelling

Mandana Shaygan is a soil physicist who works across disciplines to understand the effect and interaction of chemical processes on soil physical structure and transport properties.

Mandana’s research focuses on rehabilitation of degraded landscapes, quantification and modelling of water flow and solute and nutrient transport in porous media, characterisation of soil hydrological and mechanical properties and soil salinity management. Since the completion of her PhD, Mandana has been involved in various research projects on soil, mine wastes, waste rocks and mine waste cover design. Her research interest includes but is not limited to: (i) rehabilitation of degraded landscapes, (ii) salinity, (iii) water flow and solute and nutrient transport, (iv) evaporation from porous media, (v) estimation of water balance parameters.

Biography

Mandana obtained both BSc and MSc degrees in Agronomy from The University of Tehran. She also has Master of Environmental Management from The University of Queensland (UQ). Mandana completed her PhD in Soil Science at UQ. Before joining SMI as a postdoctoral research fellow, she worked with NSW Department of Primary Industries on amelioration of subsoil constraints. Mandana is a reviewer of high ranking journals, and she is a member of Soil Science Australia.

Industry

  • Centennial Coal-Swamp hydrology modelling for advancing rehabilitation planning and management
  • Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd-Improving the timing of deposition for red mud in waste disposal sites
  • NSW Department of Primary Industries-Amelioration of subsoil sodicity using soil amendments
  • Beach Energy Ltd-Evaluating rehabilitation potential of brine affected soil

Collaborations

Mandana’s research has led to collaborations with other universities such as Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Federation University and Monash University as well as industry organisations such as Centennial Coal, South32, Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd (KCB) and Beach Energy Ltd. 

Funding

Mandana’s research has been supported by an innovation connections grant, Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd and Australian Coal Association Research Program.

Publications

Journal Articles (11)
Conference Papers (6)
Thesis (1)
Research Reports (7)

Journal Articles

Shaygan, Mandana and Baumgartl, Thomas (2022). Reclamation of salt-affected land: a review. Soil Systems, 6 (3) 61, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/soilsystems6030061
Shaygan, Mandana, Baumgartl, Thomas and McIntyre, Neil (2022). Characterising soil physical properties of selected Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone in the Sydney Basin Bioregion. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 40 101006, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101006
Shaygan, Mandana, Usher, Brent and Baumgartl, Thomas (2020). Modelling hydrological performance of a bauxite residue profile for deposition management of a storage facility. Water, 12 (7) 1988, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/w12071988
Shaygan, Mandana and Baumgartl, Thomas (2020). Simulation of the effect of climate variability on reclamation success of brine-affected soil in semi-arid environments. Sustainability, 12 (1) 5515, 371. doi: 10.3390/su12010371
Hilton, Melinda, Shaygan, Mandana, McIntyre, Neil, Baumgartl, Thomas and Edraki, Mansour (2019). The effect of weathering on salt release from coal mine spoils. Minerals, 9 (12) 760. doi: 10.3390/min9120760
Shaygan, Mandana, Baumgartl, Thomas, Arnold, Sven and Reading, Lucy Pamela (2018). The effect of soil physical amendments on reclamation of a saline-sodic soil: simulation of salt leaching using HYDRUS-1D. Soil Research, 56 (8), 829-845. doi: 10.1071/sr18047
Shaygan, Mandana , Reading, Lucy Pamela , Arnold, Sven and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). Modeling the effect of soil physical amendments on reclamation and revegetation success of a saline-sodic soil in a semi-arid environment. Arid Land Research and Management, 32 (4), 1-28. doi: 10.1080/15324982.2018.1510439
Shaygan, Mandana, Mulligan, David and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). The potential of three halophytes (Tecticornia pergranulata, Sclerolaena longicuspis, and Frankenia serpyllifolia) for the rehabilitation of brine‐affected soils. Land Degradation and Development, 29 (6), 2002-2014. doi: 10.1002/ldr.2954
Shaygan, Mandana, Baumgartl, Thomas and Arnold, Sven (2017). Germination of Atriplex halimus seeds under salinity and water stress. Ecological Engineering, 102, 636-640. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.02.050
Shaygan, Mandana, Reading, Lucy Pamela and Baumgartl, Thomas (2017). Effect of physical amendments on salt leaching characteristics for reclamation. Geoderma, 292, 96-110. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.01.007
Shaygan, Mandana, Mazaheri, Daryoush, Mashhadi, Hamid Rahimian and Peyghambari, Seyed Ali (2008). Effect of planting date and intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) on their grain yield and weeds control. Iranian Journal of Crop Science, 10 (1), 31-46.

Conference Papers

Côte, Claire Madeleine, Bolz, Pascal, Pagliero, Liliana, Shaygan, Mandana, Edraki, Mansour and Erskine, Peter (2023). Developing a regional data catalogue to support the technical assessment of post-mining land use. AusIMM Life of Mine Conference 2023, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2-4 August 2023. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Bulovic, N., McIntyre, N., Trancoso, R., Bolz, P. and Shaygan, M. (2023). Evaluating downscaled CMIP5 and CMIP6 for rainfall erosivity projections. MODSIM2023, 25th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Darwin, NT, Australia, 9-14 July 2023. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. doi: 10.36334/modsim.2023.bulovic428
Bulovic, N., McIntyre, N., Trancoso, R., Bolz, P. and Shaygan, M. (2023). Bias-correcting regional climate models for rainfall erosivity projections: How much does it matter?. MODSIM2023, 25th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Darwin, NT, Australia, 9-14 July 2023. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. doi: 10.36334/modsim.2023.bulovic618
Edraki, Mansour, Jain, Karan, McIntyre, Neil, Hilton, Melinda, Buamgartl, Thomas and Shaygan, Mandana (2021). Prediction of long-term salt generation from coal spoils. Life of Mine, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 28-30 April 2021.
Akesseh, Raphael, Shaygan, Mandana, Usher, Brent, Edraki, Mansour and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). Wetting and drying cycles as a means to determine the effect and consequences of tailings ageing. Life of Mine Conference 2018, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 25 - 27 July 2018. Victoria, Australia: The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Richards, B. G., Shaygan, M., Edraki, M. and Baumgartl, T. (2017). The impact of salinity on the calculation of evaporation from tailings. Enviromine Srmining 2017, Santiago, Chile, 8-10 November 2017. Santiago, Chile: Gecamin.

Thesis

Shaygan, Mandana (2016). Evaluating the leaching of salt affected soils for the purpose of reclamation and revegetation. PhD Thesis, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2016.241

Research Reports

Mandana Shaygan, Mansour Edraki and Monia Anzooman (2023). Investigating water quality of run-off from bauxite residue. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Mandana Shaygan, Monia Anzooman, Thomas Baumgartl, Phill McKenna and Natasha Ufer (2023). Fire resilience of temperate highland peat swamps on sandstone. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Australian Coal Research.
Shaygan, Mandana and Baumgartl, Thomas (2023). Swamp hydrology modelling for advancing rehabilitation planning and management. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Coal Research.
Chrystal, Robynne , Côte, Claire, Asmussen, Pascal and Shaygan, Mandana (2021). Erosion and sediment control framework for Queensland Mines. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Svobodova, Kamila, Worden, Sandy, Asmussen, Pascal, Shaygan, Mandana, Paz, Anat, Pagliero, Liliana, Edraki, Mansour and Erskine, Peter (2020). Moranbah post-mining land use collaborative project - Baseline Works. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Edraki, Mansour and Shaygan, Mandana (2019). Investigating water quality of run-off from bauxite residue. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry.
Shaygan, Mandana and Baumgartl, Thomas (2018). Improving the timing of deposition for red mud in waste disposal sites. Brisbane, QLD Australia : Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, The University of Queensland.