The MACRO research group (the Centre for Macroalgal Resources and Biotechnology) provides research, development and implementation for cost-effective delivery of algal biomass to value-add to the treatment of discharge water for aquaculture, municipal waste water treatment,agriculture, mining, mineral processing and energy generation.

The research group focuses on innovative applied research that can move quickly to commercial demonstration with industry  partner MBD Industries.  MBD uses the outcomes of this research to create innovative processes for bioremediation and subsequent end-use of the algal biomass ranging from food products to fertilisers and biostimulants.to.

As the leader of MACRO, Rocky’s role focuses on the planning, organisational and management requirements for the successful delivery of multi-disciplinary research and its application.

 

Interests

Professional

• Innovative applications for macroalgal resources and biotechnologies

Research

• Macroalgal biomass and bioproducts
• Bioremediation of aquatic waste waters
• Bioremediation of industrial waste waters and carbon capture

Experience

• 2011 to present - Professor and Research Leader, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2005 to 2011 - Professor and Head of Discipline - Aquaculture, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2002 to 2005 - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 1994 to 2002 - ARC Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia)
• 2000 - Graduate Diploma of Technical Management, Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia)
• 1993 to 1994 - Postdoctoral Fellow, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (Zurich, Switzerland)
• 1992 - PhD, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 1988 - MSc, University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand)
• 1985 - BSc, University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand)

Research Disciplines

• Fisheries Sciences (0704)
• Industrial Biotechnology (1003)
• Plant Biology (0607)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Industrial Crops (8203)
• Land and Water Management (9609)
• Renewable Energy (8505)

Awards

• 2006 - CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship Fellowship
• 2002 - JCU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Entrepreneurial Research
• 2001 - Young Tall Poppy NSW (Australian Institute of Political Science), Recognising the achievements of Australia's outstanding younf researchers

Memberships

• Chartered chemist
• MRACI - Royal Australian Chemical Institute

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

• Angell A, de Nys R, Mangott A and Vucko M (2018) The effects of concentration and supplementation time of natural and synthetic sources of astaxanthin on the colouration of the prawn Penaeus monodon. Algal Research, 35. pp. 577-585
• Cole A, Praeger C, Mannering T, de Nys R and Magnusson M (2018) Hot and bright: thermal and light environments for the culture of Oedogonium intermedium and the geographical limits for large-scale cultivation in Australia. Algal Research, 34 (2018). pp. 209-216
• Lane D, Truong E, Larizza F, Chiew P, de Nys R and van Eyk P (2018) Effect of hydrothermal carbonization on the combustion and gasification behavior of agricultural residues and macroalgae: devolatilization characteristics and char reactivity. Energy & Fuels, 32 (4). pp. 4149-4159
• Li X, Norman H, Kinley R, Laurence M, Wilmot M, Bender H, de Nys R and Tomkins N (2018) Asparagopsis taxiformis decreases enteric methane production from sheep. Animal Production Science, 58 (4). pp. 681-688
• Machado L, Tomkins N, Magnusson M, Midgley D, de Nys R and Rosewarne C (2018) In vitro response of rumen microbiota to the antimethanogenic red acroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis. Microbial Ecology, 75 (3). pp. 811-818
• Praeger C and de Nys R (2018) A new dimension in algal cultivation – 3D printed structures with a range of buoyancies. Algal Research, 36. pp. 209-216
• Praeger C and de Nys R (2018) Improvement of the seeding of filamentous Ulva tepida on free-floating surfaces. Algal Research, 30. pp. 73-78
• Roberts D, Shiels L, Tickle J, de Nys R and Paul N (2018) Bioremediation of aluminium from the waste water of a conventional water treatment plant using the freshwater macroalga Oedogonium. Water, 10 (5).
• Zhang R, Yuen A, Magnusson M, Wright J, de Nys R, Masters A and Maschmeyer T (2018) A comparative assessment of the activity and structure of phlorotannins from the brown seaweed Carpophyllum flexuosum. Algal Research, 29. pp. 130-141
• Zhu Y, Van Eyk P, Boman C, Brostrom M, Kirtania K, Piotrowska P, Bostrom D, de Nys R, Bhattacharya S, Gentili F and Ashman P (2018) Preliminary understanding on the ash behavior of algae during cogasification in an entrained flow reactor. Fuel Processing Technology, 175. pp. 26-34
• Angell A, Paul N and de Nys R (2017) A comparison of protocols for isolating and concentrating protein from the green seaweed Ulva ohnoi. Journal of Applied Phycology, 29 (2). pp. 1011-1026
• Cole A, Vucko M and de Nys R (2017) A comparative assessment on how molasses and CO2 gas prevent carbon limitation in the large-scale culture of freshwater macroalgae. Algal Research, 27. pp. 215-222

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 194+ research outputs authored by Prof Rocky de Nys from 2000 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Ulvans from Ulva: Optimisation of ulvan-based hydrogels for applications in biotechnology (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Sulfated polysaccharides (ulvan) from Ulva ohnoi (Chlorophyta): Identifying parameters for structure­activity relationships (PhD , Advisor Mentor)

Completed

• Quorum sensing in Australian soft corals (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Bioremediation of coal-fired power station waste water using freshwater filamentous algae from the genus Oedogonium (2014, Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Macroalgae as feedstock for the production of liquid biofuels (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Oil Content and Quality In Tropical Seaweeds (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Evaluation of canola meal as an aquafeed ingredient for barramundi (Asian seabass; Lates calcarifer) (2015, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• Innovative antifouling technologies: microtexture and metal (2014, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• A holistic approach towards understanding population dynamics of a coral reef sponge (2014, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Seaweeds as an alternative crop for the production of protein (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Effect of culture environmental conditions on sex inversion of Asian seabass (barramundi), Lates calcarifer (Bloch) (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Tropical Macroalgae as a Natural Alternative for the Mitigation of Methane Emissions in Ruminant Livestock Systems (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

• Angell, A. (2015) The nitrogen, protein and amino acid content of seaweeds. James Cook University
• Bird, M. (2012) Algal biochar: effects and applications data. James Cook University

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.