Mixed Methods

Learning Anatomy Differently: Innovative Approaches to Support Neurodivergent Students

Primary Supervisor: Dr Claudia M. Diaz
Co-Supervisor: Dr Adam Brett
Location: All campuses/Online, Albury
Keywords: innovation, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD,
Tourette’s, dyslexia, cPTSD, OCD
Type of Project: Quantitative and qualitative
Project availability: Until December, 2026

Australian Universities are currently attracting large and extremely diverse student populations, including an increase in neurodivergent students. Neurodivergent individuals have brain functioning and processing styles that are different from what is considered typical or neurotypical. Neurodivergence includes a variety of divergences in the brain which includes, but is not limited to, Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia, dyspraxia, auditory processing disorder, cPTSD, OCD and sensory processing disorder. It is estimated that 15-20% of the world’s population is neurodivergent. In Australia it is estimated that 15-20% of students, 11% of Australian employees are neurodivergent. In Australia neurodivergent people are not as likely to attend university compared to neurotypical people and they face many challenges such as sensory overload, social and emotional challenges, academic difficulties and often a lack of appropriate support.

This research project aims to investigate the experiences and perceptions of neurodivergent students using innovative approaches to learn anatomy, including assessment, in several subjects using surveys (quantitative), focus groups and interviews (qualitative). Furthermore, we will explore approaches to enhance the peer interactions between neurodivergent and neurotypical students for better recognition and understanding of neurodivergence to help create a more inclusive learning environment and support systems for these individuals. This project will promote acceptance and understanding of neurological differences that are not necessarily deficits, and that may present as strengths using these different ways of learning.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Claudia M. Diaz

The role of malaria in physiological response to co-occurring diseases in Southeast Asia’s past and present

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, palaeoepidemiology, paleopathology, infectious disease, pathophysiology, immune response

Project availability: Semester 30, 2026, Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

This project aims to review archaeological and modern data sets to explore interactions between malaria and other tropically significant infectious diseases. The research will focus on reconstructing epidemiological patterns in the present and the past, as well as physiological explanations for differential disease severity of malaria and co-occurring infectious diseases.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Reconstructing infant palaeodemography using proteomic approaches

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: biochemistry, demography, mortality, bioarchaeology, proteomics

Project availability: Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

Southeast Asian prehistoric archaeological human skeletal assemblages typically have excellent infant preservation. Biological sex is well known to factor into infant mortality with males presenting a higher risk of death in early life. Traditional osteological techniques, however, cannot determine the biological sex of archaeological infants as the methods rely on the development of secondary sex characteristics that emerge during puberty. This project applies the use of proteomic methods on determining sex from an early agricultural site in mainland Southeast Asia to assess whether this sex bias in mortality is represented in ancient cemetery populations.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Puberty and stress during the agricultural transition of Southeast Asia

Primary Supervisor:Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, endocrinology, growth and development, osteology

Project availability: Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

Assessment of pubertal timing and bone age has been well established in the field of bioarchaeology for a decade. Southeast Asian prehistoric cemetery assemblages represent some of the richest preservation of children and young adults in the world. By combining pre-documented literature with new analysis, this project aims to assess changes in the pubertal timings over the agricultural transition in Mainland Southeast Asia. The project will consider how pubertal timings may have been affected by changes in environment, physiological stress, societal changes and shifts in fertility.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Bone marrow conversion and reconversion timings in childhood anaemia and thalassaemia in ancient Southeast Asia

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, anaemia, osteology, palaeopathology, genetic disease

Project availability: Semester 30, 2026, Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

This project aims to review the timings of the development of skeletal pathological features that have been attributed to anaemia. Specifically, this project will review the potential role of various forms of anaemia in causing skeletal pathology, biomechanical and age-related factors that interplay with lesion development, and the potential role of marrow reconversion in delaying marrow conversion windows. The timing of skeletal lesion development in bioarchaeological cases of generalized anaemia and thalassemia in ancient Southeast Asia will be re-evaluated.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Micronutrient Deficiency during the Metal Period Philippines

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, nutritional disease

Project availability: Semester 30, 2026, Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

In 2025, an individual with disability from the Metal Period in the Philippines (~2000 years ago) was identified to have suffered from scurvy. This project aims to assess whether scurvy was unique to this individual’s circumstances or whether the condition was ubiquitous in the community. The project will involve paleopathological diagnosis and assessment of the impacts of mortality related to the disease in a cemetery sample.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Measuring the utilisation of complementary medicine – A preliminary study

Primary Supervisor: A/Prof Sokcheon Pak
Location: All campuses/Online
Keywords: Complementary medicine; Questionnaire; Validity; Reliability
Project availability: Available currently

Synopsis:

Complementary medicine (CM) refers to a broad range of health practices and therapies that are not part of conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant healthcare system. The use of CM is high in Australia. Evidence suggests that CM usage can influence a patient’s response to subjective symptoms such as anxiety, pain, and fatigue, as well as outcomes related to emotional and physical functioning and quality of life during illness.

Currently, the most widely used questionnaire for measuring CM use is the International Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (I-CAM-Q), which was developed by an international workgroup of CM researchers and practitioners in 2006. A key strength of I-CAM-Q is its suitability for cross-cultural adaptations. However, I-CAM-Q is primarily designed for population-based cross-sectional studies and does not provide a scale or scoring mechanism to quantify individual CAM usage. Additionally, I-CAM-Q has been criticised as unsuitable for non-CM users, as they tend to leave the questionnaire blank or generate high rates of missing data.

To complement I-CAM-Q, the Complementary Medicine Utilisation Scales (CMUS) was developed as a self-administered instrument that provides measurable scales for use in clinical practice and research to assess and quantify CM use and beliefs. CMUS consists of four multi-item scales that measure a respondent’s level of CM utilisation and beliefs: Service (SS), Product (PS), Self-Help (HS), and Belief (BS). These scales assess the frequency of CM use over the past three months, allowing CMUS to track changes in CM usage and beliefs on a quarterly basis. All items use a Likert scale (4-points or 7-points) to gauge the respondent’s level of agreement. A scoring procedure (CMUS Scoring Manual Version 1.0) converts item scores into standardised scale scores, ranging from 0 to 25 for each scale. A higher scale score indicates a greater level of CM utilisation or belief. A global score (GS) for CM utilisation is derived by summing the four scale scores: GS = SS + PS + HS + BS, with a possible range of 0 to 100. Like I-CAM-Q, CMUS is designed with openness for cross-cultural adaptation. Items can be modified or replaced with more culturally relevant therapies or modalities. Optional items allow respondents to specify additional CM therapies or products not covered by the standard items, without affecting the scoring of the scales.

The research question is as follows: Is CMUS a valid and reliable tool for measuring CM use and beliefs? Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument is essential for its scientific application. Validity refers to the accuracy of the instrument in measuring what it is intended to measure, whereas reliability indicates the consistency of measurement across repeated trials.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting A/Prof Sokcheon Pak

Radiological imaging techniques and protocols

Primary Supervisor: Dr Xiaoming Zheng
Location: Wagga Wagga
Keywords: X-ray CT; Radiographic imaging; Imaging techniques; Image quality; Radiation dose.

Synopsis:

This project is aimed at development of imaging techniques and optimization of clinical imaging protocols in X-ray CT and radiographic imaging. Current work includes optimal selection of imaging parameters such as kVp and mAs considering body sizes, best patient positioning, and radiation dose and image quality optimizations. Experimental measurements and theoretical analysis are employed in radiation dose and image quality optimization to reduce radiation dose to patients whilst maintaining diagnostic image quality in clinical X-ray imaging including MDCT/CBCT, DR/CR, dental imaging and mammography.

URL link to relevant journal articles or website:

1. Zheng, X., Gutsche, L., Al-Hayek, Y., Stanton, J., Elshami, W., Jensen, K. (2021). Impacts of phantom off-centre positioning on CT numbers and dose index CTDIv: An evaluation of two CT scanners from GE. Journal of Imaging, 7(11), 235.

2. Zheng, X., Al-Hayek, Y., Cummins, C., Li, X., Nardi, L., Albari, K., Evans, J., Roworth, E., Seaton, T. (2020). Body size and tube voltage dependent corrections for Hounsfield Unit in medical X-ray computed tomography: Theory and experiments. Scientific Reports, 10, 15696.

3. Zheng, X., Chiang, H-W., Lee, J-H., Chiang, H-J., Lin, L-H. (2018). Personal exposure prescription method reduce dose in radiography. Radiologic Technology, 89 (5), 435-440.

4. Zheng, X. (2018). Patient size and tube voltage dependent guiding equations for optimal selection of image acquisition parameters in clinical X-ray imaging. Radiological Physics and Technology, 11(2), 212-218.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Xiaoming Zheng

The interplay between hEDS, MCAS, POTS and fibromyalgia

Primary Supervisor: Dr Boris Budiono
Location: All campuses
Keywords: ehlers-danlos syndrome, inflammation, mast cell activation, syndrome, POTS, fibromyalgia
Research Group: Food as Medicine (FAM) Research Group

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a condition where mast cells inappropriately and excessively release chemical mediators, namely histamine, that result in inflammatory responses and symptoms such as hives or flushing, to anaphylaxis. This project aims to determine the linkages between three distinct syndromes (MCAS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS), and fibromyalgia) that are commonly found in certain individuals with connective tissue disorder, hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). We will investigate the literature to find current evidence of linkage, and to determine future directions in research in an evidence-based manner.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Boris Budiono

The Psychology of AI in Diagnostic Imaging

Primary Supervisor: Mr Shayne Chau
Location: All campuses/Online
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Diagnostic Imaging, Patient Perception
Type of Project: Mixed-Methods Research (Quantitative and Qualitative)
Study Availability: Available until December 2026

Synopsis:
This project explores how both patients and radiography practitioners perceive and adapt to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostic imaging. It investigates psychological factors such as trust, acceptance, and concerns related to AI-assisted interpretations. The study will use surveys to assess attitudes and trust levels and conduct interviews to gain deeper insights into personal experiences and adaptation strategies.

URL link to relevant journal articles or website:10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101733

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Mr Shayne Chau

School of Dentistry & Medical Sciences 2025. Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. Charles Sturt University CRICOS Provider 00005F.