Take part in important research projects
Griffith is one of Australia's leading research universities. Our staff and students undertake research projects to better understand the world, improve people's lives and make a societal impact.
Each month, we publish a list of open research projects or surveys and ask our staff, student and alumni community to participate.
If you want to invite Griffith staff, students, alumni or HDR candidates to take part in your research, please submit an application to conduct research.
Current research projects
The Volunteer for Important Research Projects broadcast is released monthly from January to December.
If you are interested in participating in one of the following studies, please read through the eligibility requirements and apply using the relevant link in the study.
Filter research projects
Research |
Qualitative exploration of caregiver decision making related to non prescription medicine use in children |
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Types of volunteers |
To be eligible for this study you must be over 18 years old, be the primary caregiver of a child under 18 years old (without chronic disease), have decided to use or not to use any non-prescription medicines in the past 6 months, and be able to speak and read English. |
Description |
Non-prescription medicines are medicines that can be bought without a prescription from pharmacies or supermarkets. These included over-the-counter products such as pain relief, vitamins, and herbal remedies. Many caregivers use these medicines for common childhood symptoms, but little is known about how they decide what to use or what information they trust. This study aimed to understand how caregivers decided whether or not to use a non-prescription medicine for their child, what influenced their choices, and how they judged if the medicine worked. It also explored what happened when their child’s condition changed and whether they changed their decision. The findings will help healthcare professionals better support caregivers in making safe and informed choices. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants will be asked to complete a short screening questionnaire to determine eligibility. If eligible, they will be invited to complete a brief form to collect demographic information (such as age and education), and then take part in a one-to-one interview. The interview will last about 30 to 45 minutes via online (Microsoft Teams) or in-person (Griffith University Gold Coast Campus) at a time that suits them. |
Incentive |
To thank participants for their time, they will receive a $30 grocery gift card. This cannot be redeemed for cash. |
Apply |
To apply, contact Ho Tung(Silvia) Chan (research student) at hotung.chan@griffithuni.edu.au; Dr Sara McMillan (research supervisor) at s.mcmillan@griffith.edu.au; or A/Prof Fiona Kelly (research supervisor) at f.kelly@griffith.edu.au. |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/857 |
Research |
Pioneering roles for AI in gifted education programming: Leveraging gifted adolescents' creative out-of-school uses of generative artificial intelligence to support in-school talent development practices |
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Types of volunteers |
Target participants for the survey are gifted teens aged 12-19 years, who live in Australia. We would like to publicise this survey to parents/carers of gifted teens in the Griffith community so they may encourage their gifted teens to participate. |
Description |
This research aims to investigate cutting-edge applications of generative AI (GenAI) in gifted education, with the potential to transform learning environments for gifted and twice-/multi-exceptional teens (gifted learners with disability) aged 12-19 years. The project aims to bridge the gap between gifted adolescents' creative use of GenAI outside of school and its application in developing talent within educational settings. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Gifted teem participants (aged 12-19 years) will be asked to complete a short, anonymous, online survey exploring how they use generative AI (GenAI) in creative and innovative ways outside of school. The survey takes just 10 minutes to complete. |
Incentive |
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Apply |
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HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2024/915 |
Research |
Assessing the Relationship between Social Anxiety and Executive Functioning from Preadolescence to Early Adulthood |
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Types of volunteers |
The target population is children and adolescents aged 10-14 years. |
Description |
The study aims to further understand the link between social anxiety and the set of higher-order cognitive skills associated with goal directed behaviour, known as executive functions. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants aged 10-14 will be asked to complete a series of computerised tasks that measure their higher order thinking skills specifically, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition. These computer tasks involve looking at numbers, letters and shapes, and responding using the keyboard. In addition, the participants will need to complete pen-and-paper surveys including the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF), a measure of fluid intelligence, an online questionnaire for anxiety and mood, and a test of colour vision. The study will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and will be run at Griffith University. Consent will be required from a parent or guardian for children to complete the study. Consent will also be obtained from the child prior to study completion. |
Incentive |
Participants will have the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw to win one of three “Kids” vouchers. |
Apply |
For further information regarding the study, please contact the student researcher Allie Harrison: allie.harrison@griffithuni.edu.au. |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/001 |
Research |
VIRGo: Vaccine-induced Immune Responses against Gonorrhoea: Investigating the immune response induced by the 4CMenB vaccine against gonorrhoea |
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Types of volunteers |
To be eligible for this study, you will have never received the Meningitis B vaccine, are between 18-50 years old, have sex with people of the opposite sex and do not currently have any symptoms |
Description |
This study aims to investigate how the immune system responds after vaccination with the Meningococcal B vaccine (4CMenB), and if the immune responses can provide protection against gonorrhoea infection. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants will be asked to get two vaccine injections in the arm, with the second one given 2 months after the first. They will need to come for a total of 4 visits over 6 months. Each visit will take about 30 minutes. During the visits, participants will answer questions about medications, side effects, health, and sexual history. They will also have tests like swabs, urine, and blood samples taken to check for infections and immune response. Additional tests may be offered if clinically needed. |
Incentive |
A $20 voucher will be provided at each visit (total of 4 visits). |
Apply |
To apply, please contact Careana Moss at the sexual Health Clinic via careana.moss@health.qld.gov.au or at 07 5687 9200. |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2023/496 |
Research |
CARGo: Investigating the Efficacy of Carbamazepine for the treatment of gonorrhoea in women |
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Types of volunteers |
To be eligible for this study, you must be female, aged >18 years old, have been a sexual contact of someone with gonorrhoea and do not have any symptoms. |
Description |
The objective of the research is to investigate if carbamazepine, a non-antibiotic drug, can be used to treat gonorrhoea infections in women and to study how the immune system responds to gonorrhoea to help develop new treatments and prevention methods. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants will be asked to come for 2 to 3 visits over 2 weeks, with each visit lasting about 30 to 45 minutes. At the first visit, they will be tested for gonorrhoea and start taking carbamazepine tablets twice a day. At each visit, blood, urine, and swab tests will be done. Participants will also answer questions about their health, medicines, any side effects, and sexual history. At the second visit, about 5 days later, they will get their gonorrhoea test results. If they have gonorrhoea, they will get standard antibiotics and need a third visit to make sure the infection is cured. If they don’t have gonorrhoea, no further treatment is needed. Other tests might be offered if clinically needed. |
Incentive |
Participants will receive a gift voucher at each of the study visits (total of 2-3 visits) to reimburse you for your time, travel and participation in the study. $50-$100 each visit. |
Apply |
To apply, please contact Careana Moss at the sexual Health Clinic via careana.moss@health.qld.gov.au or at 07 5687 9200. |
HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2024/178 |
Research |
Empowering Veterans: Breathwork Wellbeing Program |
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Types of volunteers |
Participants must be a former ADF member (Veteran), over the age of 18 years and live in Queensland. |
Description |
The objective of this research is to determine the feasibility of a structured, evidenced-based breathwork program SKY for ADF Veterans. Additionally, we aim to assess the impact that this program has on improving wellbeing, PTSD, depression and suicide. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants will be asked to take part in a 5 day structured breathwork course by certified instructors, ~2.5-3 hours per day (15 hours total). They will also be asked to complete a pre-course, post-course and 1 month follow up survey. |
Incentive |
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Apply |
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HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2025/751 |
Research |
Examining the impact of engagement of a mental health advocacy intervention on personal growth in young people |
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Types of volunteers |
You will be identified as a potential participant if you are between 18 and 30 years of age, you are studying at a university or further education institution in Australia, you self-identify as having lived experience of mental ill-health and you have not previously participated in batyr’s Being Herd program. |
Description |
This study is being conducted to measure the extent of impacts emanating from mental health lived experience advocacy training upon participants’ personal and professional development. Although initial research indicates that sharing mental health experiences could have impacts on personal, emotional, spiritual, social and occupational domains, there has been little research to confirm these impacts. To validate these impacts, we are seeking a control group to answer the survey questions. This will then be compared to the intervention group to examine effect sizes. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Complete one survey now and complete one survey in 3 months. Each survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. |
Incentive |
Participants will be offered the opportunity to enter a prize draw for a $500 Prezzee gift voucher upon completion of both surveys. |
Apply |
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HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2024/434 |
Research |
Migraine Trial |
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Types of volunteers |
Aged between 18 and 65 years. Have had 2 to 8 migraine attacks with moderate or severe pain per month for the last 3 months. |
Description |
The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a potential at-home treatment for migraine. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
The study will last about 3 months. During the study, you will be required to attend at least 3 study centre visits. |
Incentive |
You will be reimbursed for your travel expenses associated with each study visit. |
Apply |
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HREC approval |
This trial has been approved by Bellberry HREC #2023-12-1518 and GU HREC #2025/698. |
Research |
Opinions about uncomfortable online situations |
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Types of volunteers |
This research is open to anyone who: a) uses any social media platform (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc.), b) is over 18 and c) speaks either English or Korean. |
Description |
Our online survey asks for your opinions about different uncomfortable situations that people may encounter when using social media. These situations may involve harassment or abusive behaviour, sometimes between people who know each other, such as ex-partners. We ask questions about what you would or would not do if you encountered these types of online interactions. |
What is required and how long will it take? |
Participants will be asked to take an online survey that will take most people less than 20 minutes to complete. |
Incentive |
You can enter a draw for a chance to win one of five AU$50 vouchers and one AU$250 voucher. Draw entry is open between 1 December 2025 and 31 December 2025. |
Apply |
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HREC approval |
GUHREC: 2024/701 |
Research ethics
Griffith is committed to the conduct of ethical research. Research is conducted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025). The research ethics and integrity service is managed by the Office for Research in conjunction with the Human Research Ethics Committee.
If you have any ethical questions or concerns about a project listed here, contact the Griffith University Research Ethics and Integrity team on 3735 5585 or research-ethics@griffith.edu.au. There is more information available on the Research Ethics, Integrity and Compliance website.
Broadcast schedule
The Volunteer for Important Research Projects webpage and a list of latest projects is sent out to all staff and all students at the end of each calendar month from February to November. There are no broadcasts in December or January.
The date of publishing varies depending on the schedule for Griffith Staff News. Dates for your research to be included in the broadcast will be confirmed when we reach out to you on the status of your application.
Be part of the broadcast
To have your study included in the broadcast, submit an application to conduct research.