The Macroalgal Biofuels and Bioproducts research group provides research, development and implementation for cost-effective delivery of algal biomass to value-add to mining, mineral processing, power generation, aquaculture and agriculture.

The research group focuses on innovative applied research that can move quickly to commercial demonstration.  Industry partner MBD Energy uses the outcomes of this research to create innovative products and processes ranging from food products to biofuels, and biological carbon capture and storage using biochar.

As the leader of the Macroalgal Biofuels and Bioproducts project, 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, biofuels 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)
• Environmental Biotechnology (1002)
• Industrial Biotechnology (1003)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Land and Water Management (9609)
• Industrial Crops (8203)
• 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, 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
• Cole A, Paul N, De Nys R and Roberts D (2017) Good for sewage treatment and good for agriculture: algal based compost and biochar. Journal of Environmental Management, 200. pp. 105-113
• Glasson C, Sims I, Carnachan S, de Nys R and Magnusson M (2017) A cascading biorefinery process targeting sulfated polysaccharides (ulvan) from Ulva ohnoi. Algal Research, 27. pp. 383-391
• Guo P, Saw W, Van Eyk P, Stechel E, de Nys R, Ashman P and Nathan G (2017) Gasification reactivity and physicochemical properties of the chars from raw and torrefied wood, grape marc, and macroalgae. Energy & Fuels, 31 (3). pp. 2246-2259
• Lawton R, Cole A, Roberts D, Paul N and de Nys R (2017) The industrial ecology of freshwater macroalgae for biomass applications. Algal Research, 24 (B). pp. 486-491
• Magnusson M, Yuen A, Zhang R, Wright J, Taylor R, Maschmeyer T and de Nys R (2017) A comparative assessment of microwave assisted (MAE) and conventional solid-liquid (SLE) techniques for the extraction of phloroglucinol from brown seaweed. Algal Research, 23. pp. 28-36
• Mata L, Lawton R, Magnusson M, Andreakis N, de Nys R and Paul N (2017) Within-species and temperature-related variation in the growth and natural products of the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis. Journal of Applied Phycology, 29 (3). pp. 1437-1447
• Parker A, Goopy J, Callaghan M, Vermunt J and De Nys R (2017) Vitamin A deficiency in Bos indicus heifers fed a wheat straw diet cannot be corrected with algae lick blocks or intramuscular injectable retinyl palmitate treatments. Animal Production Science, 57. pp. 1079-1084
• Praeger C and de Nys R (2017) Seeding filamentous Ulva tepida on free-floating surfaces: a novel cultivation method. Algal Research, 24 (Part A). pp. 81-88
• Roberts D, Cole A, Whelan A, de Nys R and Paul N (2017) Slow pyrolysis enhances the recovery and reuse of phosphorus and reduces metal leaching from biosolids. Waste Management, 64. pp. 133-139
• Smith G, Poole A, King P, Battaglene S, Fitzgibbon Q and de Nys R (2017) The release and uptake of metals from potential biofilm inhibition products during spiny lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi, H. Milne Edwards 1851) culture. Aquaculture Research, 48 (2). pp. 608-617

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 183+ 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

• Assessment and characterization of bioactive polysaccharide derivatives from tropical red seaweed (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Ulvans From Ulva: Identifying Parameters for Structure-Activity Relationships (PhD , Advisor Mentor)

Completed

• Quorum sensing in Australian soft corals (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Oil Content and Quality In Tropical Seaweeds (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Macroalgae as feedstock for the production of liquid biofuels (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The improvement of copepods intensive culture protocols as live feeds for aquaculture hatcheries (2013, PhD , Associate 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)
• Bioremediation of coal-fired power station waste water using freshwater filamentous algae from the genus Oedogonium (2014, Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Nitrogen removal and reuse in land-based aquaculture (2013, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Green tide algae integrated aquaculture for nitrogen bioremediation (2013, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Competition and coexistence in tropical Australian shipworms (2013, 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.