In support of their work tackling a range of challenges faced by the community, Flinders University has this year awarded Early Career Research Seed Funding grants to six emerging researchers.
Dr Chad Han, Dr Josh Holloway, Dr Michaela Johnson, Dr Madeleine Kelly, Dr Mia Pellizzer and Dr Haoze Zhang will each receive up to $10,000 to help them carry out a study as they work towards solving real-world issues.
The grants will support their research into cancer care, harassment in local government, genetic disorders, Aboriginal-led cultural heritage studies and identifying the link between bowel disease and eating disorders, among other projects.
Supported by donations from Flinders alumni, staff and community members, the university program provides an opportunity for recipients to facilitate their own research, mature their leadership capabilities and build their reputation both as supervisors and researchers.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Raymond Chan says researchers at Flinders are tackling real-world challenges and these Seed Funding projects are uncovering new approaches that will benefit the community.
“Congratulations to this year’s deserving recipients. It is always a challenge to select research projects from the large pool of deserving early career researchers but the number of high-quality applications we receive every year speaks to the quality of research undertaken at Flinders University,” says Professor Chan.
“Our early career researchers are the bedrock of the University’s research future, and it’s encouraging to see that future at Flinders is in capable hands. We look forward to seeing the impact of their research.”
The 2025 Early Career Research Seed Funding recipients include:
Dr Chad Han
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Voices of Older Individuals and their Primary Care Clinicians: a qualitative study on experiences and challenges in cancer care (Can-VOICE)
“Primary care providers are often the first point of contact for older adults with cancer, yet their role in delivering coordinated, supportive care to address complex needs remains poorly understood in the Australian health system. Through interviews, I will explore the complex, personal and context-dependent experience of the older adults affected by cancer and their caregivers, and primary care providers. This national project will improve our understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by older adults affected by cancer, their caregivers and their primary care providers across the cancer care continuum at diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, palliative and end-of-life phases. The study will also gather ideas and solutions for improving the cancer care experience.”
Dr Josh Holloway
College of Business, Government and Law
Safe to serve? Strengthening protections against abuse, harassment and intimidation in local government
“This project investigates the prevalence and impact of harassment and intimidation experienced by elected members and staff in South Australian local government. Though widely reported anecdotally, these behaviours remain under-researched and poorly understood – particularly at the subnational level. They risk undermining democratic participation, distorting representation, and deterring capable individuals from serving in public office. This pilot study will combine document analysis and in-depth interviews across a sample of councils to explore risk factors, institutional responses, and experience of abuse. Findings will contribute to scholarship on political violence, democratic resilience, and institutional dimensions of political representation.”
Dr Michaela Johnson
College of Medicine and Public Health
Using tiny worms to identify genetic drivers of Gaucher disease severity in children
“Gaucher disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by over 500 variants of the GBA1 gene. Children with the same mutation can experience vastly different outcomes, from rapid neurodegeneration and early death to mild symptoms in adolescence. I hypothesise that this variability is due to interactions with other proteins, and that secondary mutations in these proteins may influence disease severity. This project will use the tiny worm Caenorhabditis elegans, a powerful genetic model, to identify proteins that interact with the L444P GBA1 variant, which is strongly linked to neurological symptoms. Funding will support the creation of new worm strains and proteomic studies to uncover molecular pathways L444P GBA1 is involved with that contribute to disease progression.”
Dr Madeleine Kelly
College of Science and Engineering / College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary investigation of cultural heritage and First Nations sciences on Wardaman Country, NT
“Scientific research in settler-states is shifting to collaborative Aboriginal-led approaches, and with a wealth of ethical research methodologies developed in the humanities there is further opportunity to support and strengthen this change. This project will undertake an Aboriginal-led, interdisciplinary exploration of cultural heritage and sciences on Wardaman Country, Northern Territory. In partnership with the Wardaman IPA Aboriginal Corporation, I will work with Traditional Owners on Menngen Station to document the archaeological, ethnographic, and hydrological significance of rock art sites and local water sources. Together, we will assess site conservation needs, record Wardaman knowledge, and co-develop culturally grounded research protocols. Rock art sites are archives of ancestral presence but also places for intergenerational knowledge exchange and new knowledge-making. This project will support the development of culturally informed, Aboriginal-led interdisciplinary research following Wardaman ways of caring for Country.
Dr Mia Pellizzer
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Bidirectional and Complex: A qualitative exploration of the interaction between inflammatory bowel disease and eating disorders
“Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic conditions that cause inflammation in the bowel. IBD is commonly comorbid with eating disorders (EDs) and has been described as ‘bidirectional and complex’ but literature on the overlap is sparse. To the best of our knowledge, no study has qualitatively explored the connection between these two conditions. This project will recruit people with both IBD and a past or current eating disorder. Using interviews, I will ask participants about which condition they experienced first and subsequently, how the two interact with each other, interactions with health professionals and help-seeking experiences, and what is needed to raise awareness and help people experiencing both inflammatory bowel disease and eating disorders.”
Dr Haoze Zhang
College of Science and Engineering
Develop advanced photosensors and optomechanical devices using novel functional materials
“The aim of this study is to identify an advanced materials system for the development of photostrictive actuators and optically controlled sensors. These materials can directly convert light into mechanical vibrations and sound, or function as actuators in systems that require operation without electromagnetic interference. This technology holds significant industrial potential for applications in areas such as wireless actuation, precision sensing, and operation in environments where conventional electromagnetic devices may cause disturbances or be unsuitable.”
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