JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Rocky de Nys

About

Professor Rocky de Nys has extensive research experience in aquaculture and marine biotechnology; algal biomass and bio-products; natural products and antifouling. He has a focus on applied research with an emphasis on commercialisation where there are direct and foreseeable outcomes for industry. He supports strong industry collaborations in the development and implementation of technologies for sustainable aquaculture, with a focus on the production of macroalgal biomass for bioremediation and bio-products. Applications for these technologies range from algal bioremediation of wastewaters from aquaculture and municipal water treatment through to algal biomass for human foods and bioenergy.

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

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

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

Fellowships

2017 - Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)

Memberships

Chartered chemist
MRACI - Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Publications

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

Kidgell J, Glasson C, Magnusson M, Vamvounis G, Sims I, Carnachan S, Hinkley S, Lopata A, de Nys R and Taki A (2020) Themolecular weight of ulvan affects the in vitro inflammatory response of a murine macrophage. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 150, pp. 839-848, DOI:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.02.071.
Neveux N, Nugroho A, Roberts D, Vucko M and de Nys R (in press) Selecting extraction conditions for the production of liquid biostimulants from the freshwater macroalga Oedogonium intermedium. Journal of Applied Phycology, , DOI:10.1007/s10811-019-01925-3.
Valero-Rodriguez J, Swearer S, Dempster T, de Nys R and Cole A (2020) Evaluating the performance of freshwater macroalgae in the bioremediation of nutrient-enriched water in temperate environments. Journal of Applied Phycology, 32, pp. 641-652, DOI:10.1007/s10811-019-01908-4.
Glasson C, Donnet L, Angell A, Vucko M, Lorbeer A, Vamvounis G, de Nys R and Magnusson M (2019) Multiple response optimisation of the aqueous extraction of high quality ulvan from Ulva ohnoi. Bioresource Technology Reports, 7, Article: 100262, DOI:10.1016/j.biteb.2019.100262.
Jiang J, Nuez Ortin W, Angell A, Zeng C, de Nys R and Vucko M (2019) Enhancing the colouration of the marine ornamental fish Pseudochromis fridmani using natural and synthetic sources of astaxanthin. Algal Research, 42, Article: 101596, DOI:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101596.
Kidgell J, Magnusson M, de Nys R and Glasson C (2019) Ulvan: a systematic review of extraction, composition and function. Algal Research, 39, Article: 101422, DOI:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101422.
Magnusson M, Glasson C, Vucko M, Angell A, Neoh T and de Nys R (2019) Enrichment processes for the production of high-protein feed from the green seaweed Ulva ohnoi. Algal Research, 41, Article: 101555, DOI:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101555.
Praeger C, Vucko M, de Nys R and Cole A (2019) Maximising the productivity of the attached cultivation of Ulva tepida in land-based systems. Algal Research, 40, Article: 101507, DOI:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101507.
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, DOI:10.1016/j.algal.2018.09.031.
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, DOI:10.1016/j.algal.2018.08.004.
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, DOI:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03125.
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, DOI:10.1071/AN15883.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 202+ research outputs authored by Prof Rocky de Nys from 2000 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Sea Forest Pty Ltd - Contract Research

Cultivation of Asparagopsis taxiformis

Indicative Funding: $90,573
Summary: This project aims to deliver the closed life cycle production of gametophytes from tetraspores of A. taxiforms. Specifically, it will develop the techniques for the mass formation of tetraspores of A. taxiformis and their subsequent germination and growth to multicellular erect gametophytes.
Investigators: Rocky de Nys (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: aquaculture; natural products; seaweed; methane emissions

Mainstream Aquaculture - Contract Research

Ongoing contract research until June 2021

Indicative Funding: $72,532
Summary: To conduct ongoing contract research with known industry partner at 1 day per week ~ 0.2 FTE.
Investigators: Rocky de Nys (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Aquaculture; Barramundi; Sustainability; Bioremediation

Australian Research Council - Linkage - Projects

Flavour enhancing functional feeds for farmed barramundi

Indicative Funding: $4,170 over 3 years (administered by Deakin University)
Summary: This project will develop novel functional feeds for improving the flavour quality of Australian farmed barramundi. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this Project expects to expand our fundamental knowledge of flavour enhancement, whilst providing significant practical benefits with respect to final product quality. The project's outcomes will enable industry to achieve higher product quality benchmarks, towards the ultimate goal of improving the marketability of barramundi both locally and overseas. This project is intended to provide significant benefits to the Australian barramundi industry by increasing product values, thereby facilitating an economically sustainable growth of this important regional industry.
Investigators: David Francis, Giovanni Turchini, Rocky de Nys, Damien Callahan, Xavier Conlan, Russell Keast and Vittorio Moretti in collaboration with Richard Smullen and Sue Poole (Deakin University, College of Science & Engineering, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Ridley AgriProducts, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry)
Keywords: aquaculture; Flavour; Barramundi; Food Chemistry; Seaweed; Animal Nutrition

CRC for Developing Northern Australia Scheme - Expressions of Interest

Northern Aquaculture Industry Situational Analysis

Indicative Funding: $202,117 over 2 years
Summary: This project will identify key challenges and opportunities facing the North Australian aquaculture sector and explore potential solutions and/or identify the most strategic research projects for further investment. This will include and not be limited to: infrastructure, policy, investment, environmental, production, knoweldge, training and human capital gaps and the research or alternative solutions to address them. The project will be delivered through a literature review, development of the 'Northern aquaculture industry vision 2028' in consultation with indigenous and non-indigenous stakholders, desktop study and SWOT analysis, and the situational analysis report.
Investigators: Dean Jerry, Jennifer Cobcroft, Kyall Zenger, Jan Strugnell, Amy Diedrich, Chaoshu Zeng, Rocky de Nys and Sandra Hughes in collaboration with Matthew Cook, Robert Bell, Jane Lovell, Wayne Hutchinson, Kim Hooper and Jo-Anne Ruscoe (College of Science & Engineering, JCU Singapore, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Blueshift Consulting, Seafood Industry Australia, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Australian Prawn Farmers Association and Australian Barramundi Farmers Association)
Keywords: Northern Australia; Aquaculture

Department of Industry - Global Innovation Linkages Programme

Algae technology aiding aquaculture sustainability and food security

Indicative Funding: $548,010 over 3 years (administered by Pacific Biotechnologies Ltd)
Summary: The first targeted outcome of this project will be to clean incoming and waste water to improve walter quality and provide increased bio-security from bacterial pathogens in intensive aquaculture. The second targeted outcome will be to test the efficacy of functional algae in shrimp feed to improve disease resistance and product quality. Overall these outcome will deliver a sustainable platform for aquaculture in Vietnam.
Investigators: Arnold Mangott, Rocky de Nys, Dan Mulder, Thomas Torsten and Dinh Lam (Pacific Biotechnologies Ltd, College of Science & Engineering, The University of New South Wales and Viet-Uc)
Keywords: Aquaculture; Aquatic Animal Health; Bioremediation; Food Security; Biosecurity; Sustainability

QLD Department of Science, Information, Technology and Innovation - Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships

Health products from Queensland algae

Indicative Funding: $53,559 over 2 years (administered by University of Southern Queensland)
Summary: The overarching aim of the project is to generate the evidence required to create new health products from algae produced in Queensland by the industry partner MBD. The project team has recently demonstrated the potential therapeutic benefits of using algae in diets to deliver nutrients and minerals. This work shows that algae are functional foods, that is, foods that could reverse or prevent disease and deliver health benefits. We will now test whether a range of products can be developed from different algae to decrease or prevent obesity, improve muscle tone especially in the elderly, and prebiotics for gut health.
Investigators: Rocky de Nys, David Roberts, Lindsay Brown, Sunil Panchal and Arnold Mangott (College of Science & Engineering and University of Southern Queensland)
Keywords: Algae; Metabolic Syndrome; Minerals; Health; Pigments; Seaweed

Department of Industry - Innovation Connections - Entrepreneurs' Programme

Translating research and development into best practice aquaculture through wastewater service and new product development

Indicative Funding: $50,000 over 2 years, in partnership with Pacific Biotechnologies Ltd ($50,000)
Summary: This project will deliver research and development capability to MBD Energy Ltd through the placement of Dr Nicholas Paul in the business in order to develop and implement new ideas with commercial potential in products and services.
Investigators: Rocky de Nys and Nicholas Paul (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Seaweed; Algae; Aquaculture; Business; Products; Services

Supervision

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

The structure and bioactivity of ulvan, a sulfated polysaccharide from Ulva (chlorophyta) (PhD , Advisor Mentor)

Completed

Seaweeds as an alternative crop for the production of protein (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Evaluation of canola meal as an aquafeed ingredient for barramundi (Asian seabass; Lates calcarifer) (2015, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Oil Content and Quality In Tropical Seaweeds (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Tropical Macroalgae as a Natural Alternative for the Mitigation of Methane Emissions in Ruminant Livestock Systems (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Macroalgae as feedstock for the production of liquid biofuels (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Effect of culture environmental conditions on sex inversion of Asian seabass (barramundi), Lates calcarifer (Bloch) (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Quorum sensing in Australian soft corals (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Data

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

Collaboration

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.