UTS staff honoured at annual research awards

Now in its sixteenth year, the awards have become a fixture on the UTS calendar, recognising research achievements across early career, leadership, research management, HDR supervision and more.

From pioneering breakthroughs in coral reef restoration to world-first discoveries in lung health, this year’s event showcased the depth and breadth of research at UTS and its real-world impact in multiple disciplines.

Professor Kate McGrath, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and host of the awards, reflected on the bigger picture.

“For everything that you saw tonight, you will have seen that there is an immediate or potential future context for changing people’s lives,” Professor McGrath said.

“And that is what UTS is all about: ensuring we do the best research, and that it is positioned to change people’s lives in the short, medium or long term.”

Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver from the School of Life Sciences took home this year’s top honour, the Chancellor’s Medal for Research Excellence, which recognises sustained research excellence at the highest level.

Read the full list of winners below.

2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence winners

Chancellor’s Medal for Research Excellence
Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver – Faculty of Science 

UTS Medal for Research and Teaching Integration
Dr. Parvez Mahmud – Faculty of Science

UTS Medal Research Impact
Distinguished Professor Tuan Van Nguyen – Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

Supervisor of the Year
Professor Juliet Willetts – Institute for Sustainable Futures

Research Leadership and Development Award
Professor Alexander Solntsev – Faculty of Science

Research Translation Award
Professor Shanlin Fu and Dr. Morgan Alonzo – Faculty of Science

Research Excellence through Collaboration Award
Associate Professor Maruf Hossan Chowdhury – UTS Business School, Associate Professor Timo Rissanen and Dr. Lisa Lake – Faculty of Design and Society, and Associate Professor Taylor Brydges – Institute for Sustainable Futures

Research Excellence through Partnership Award
Professor Michele Rumsey, Professor Di Brown, Professor Jacqui Webster, Professor James Buchan, Associate Professor Margaret Gatling, Dr. Michael Larui, Amanda Neill, Tasmin Goldsmith, Anna Yiasemides, Chris Rossiter and Soudabeh Niroomand – Faculty of Health

Early Career Research Excellence Award
Dr. Jen Matthews – Faculty of Science

Research Management and Development Award (Professional Staff)
Catherine McElhone – Research Office