Dr Elizabeth Smyth ~ Research Officer

Elizabeth Smyth is a writer and researcher with a focus on literary representation and experience of place. Her creative-practice research engages with regionalism, ecocriticism, and the georgic to respond to contemporary social and environmental issues and concerns. She writes both long and short forms of narrative prose set in the Australian Wet Tropics.

Her current research explores creative-practice methodology, genre, magic realism, and the contribution of North Queensland literature to Australian society and culture. Prior to this, her PhD thesis was passed cum laude, and Elizabeth was awarded a Medal for Excellence for a Higher Degree by Research Thesis.

Elizabeth is now employed as a research officer in the Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing. Previously she worked as a research assistant on the 'To Be Continued' National Newspaper Fiction Database, an ARC-funded project administered by the Australian National University. 

Readers with aligned interests who are considering Honours, Masters and PhD studies, please send a brief email outlining a proposed research topic, why the topic is important, and a CV. Scholarship funding is available through James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships. 

Interests

Professional

• Book Reviews Editor, JASAL: Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature

Research

• Creative-practice research methodology
• Fictional representations of human-plant relationships
• Literary depictions of the Australian Wet Tropics
• The farm novel and georgic literature

Experience

• 2023 to present - Research Officer, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
• 2023 - Research Assistant, Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)
• 2020 to 2023 - PhD, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
• 2020 to 2023 - Academic Librarian, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
• 2017 to 2019 - Master of Information Studies (Librarianship), Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga)

Research Disciplines

• Literary studies (4705)
• Creative and professional writing (3602)
• Curriculum and pedagogy (3901)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Communication (1302)
• Learner and learning (1601)
• Arts (1301)

Awards

• 2024 - Medal for Excellence for a Higher Degree by Research Thesis
• 2022 - FALS + Viva La Novella Editor Stepping Stone Program
• 2020 - 3MT Finalist, James Cook University
• 2016 - Varuna Residential Fellowship
• 2016 - Maher Fellowship, Queensland Writers Centre
• 2016 - ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize longlist

Fellowships

• 2021 - Fellow, The Cairns Institute

Memberships

• Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP)
• Tropical Writers
• Varuna Alumni, The National Writers House
• Association for the study of Literature, Environment and Culture (ASLEC-ANZ)
• American Association of Australasian Literary Studies (AAALS)
• Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)
• Australian Society of Authors (ASA)
• Queensland Writers Centre (QWC)
• Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Glade-Wright R and Smyth E (2023) Metaphors for doctoral research: Fundamental tenets & creative courage. Text, 27 (1).
• Smyth E (2022) Writing an Australian Farm Novel: Connecting Regions via Magic Realism. Text, 26 (2). pp. 1-16
• Smyth E (2021) Sugarcane and the Wet Tropics: reading the Georgic mode and region in John Naish's farm novel The Cruel Field (1962). Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature, 21 (2).
• Smyth E and Lodge J (2012) Orientation online: introducing commencing students to university study. A practice report. International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 3 (1). pp. 83-90

Book Chapters

• Smyth E (2023) The Semi-Georgic Australian Sugarcane Novel. In: Georgic Literature and the Environment: Working Land, Reworking Genre. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, London, United Kingdom, pp. 184-198

Other research outputs

• Smyth E (2023) The Silence of Loss. In: On Butterfly Wings. Tropical Writers Anthology, 9. Tropical Writers, Cairns, QLD, Australia, pp. 100-105 [Creative Work - Book Chapter]
• Smyth E (2020) Will it Leave a Scar? In: Green Ant Dreaming. Tropical Writers Anthology, 8. Tropical Writers, Cairns, QLD, Australia, pp. 17-26 [Creative Work - Book Chapter]
• Smyth E (2017) Not the Boss, But Still a Man. In: Free Fall. Tropical Writers Anthology, 7. Tropical Writers, Cairns, QLD, Australia, pp. 92-94 [Creative Work - Book Chapter]
• Smyth E (2016) Sunday bldy Sunday: on the (regional) writing life. Meanjin, 75 (1). pp. 169-172
• Smyth E (2009) Orientation online: a new program at James Cook University to help commencing students prepare for university study. Proceedings of 12th First Year in Higher Education Conference. In: FYHE 2009 12th First Year in Higher Education Conference, 29 June - 1 July 2009, Townsville, QLD, Australia