Southern Cross University joins QCIF as an Affiliate Member

Southern Cross University has joined QCIF as an Affiliate Member as of 1 May 2022.

Affiliate Membership is a new form of QCIF membership, enabling its holder access to all the benefits of a full QCIF Member, except without voting rights on the QCIF Board or part ownership of the organisation.

Southern Cross University research staff and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students will have access to the full suite of QCIF services, including our digital skills training program, bioinformatics and biostatistics, and cloud and high-performance computing services.

Professor Mary Spongberg, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at Southern Cross University, said she was excited to partner with QCIF to roll out the University’s new digital research strategy.

“Southern Cross University has invested in a new digital research strategy that strives for widespread best practice in digital research, enabling us to realise key research objectives within our Research Plan,” Professor Spongberg said.

“This new strategy is essential to realising the University’s research engagement, teaching and research integration, innovation, commercialisation and impact ambitions.

“Further, the University’s new digital research strategy will enhance our reputation as a data innovative research institution — across our campus communities, the higher education sector, the Regional University Network (RUN), industry research partners, nationally and internationally. We will be able to highlight our collaborative approaches by showcasing campaigns and open data as a default.

“eResearch targeted efforts on collaborative Research Cluster and innovation projects, supported using emerging technologies, are viewed as leading of sector advances. Southern Cross University is grateful to find a partner in QCIF that offers a way to achieve this.”

Professor Spongberg also emphasised that ultimately the University’s students will benefit from the QCIF partnership.

“Southern Cross University graduates will be able to demonstrate to future employers their hands-on experience with data science and research infrastructure approaches, along with digital competencies gained through training,” she said.

QCIF Business Development and Communications Manager Troy Lockett said QCIF is looking forward to working with Southern Cross University researchers and the University more broadly. “We’re excited about helping the University’s researchers — both staff and students — reach their full potential and assisting the University to achieve its goals,” he said.

SCU will employ an eResearch Analyst to help its researchers access QCIF services. QCIF is currently helping the University to recruit for this role.

Membership will also enable SCU to have access to QCIF’s network of other eResearch Analysts based at other QCIF Member universities.

At SCU’s request, QCIF has begun to port the University’s research data into QRIScloud, QCIF’s cloud computing service and the Queensland node of the ARDC Nectar Research Cloud.

“In becoming a QCIF Affiliate Member, Southern Cross University is assured of digital research capabilities that reduce the risk associated with research data and enhance compliance with our funding bodies and publishers’ requirements,” said Professor Spongberg.

“In addition, QCIF Affiliate Membership provides a path to enable increased reach of the University’s research data impacts; improve data collection and analysis; increase collaboration; and enhance our ability to conduct world-leading research.”

Professor Graham King, a Southern Cross University researcher of recombination and crop genomics, has already contacted the QCIF Bioinformatics team to enquire about accessing its expertise.

“I am excited that SCU has become a member of QCIF and will now benefit from the great portfolio of resources this opens up,” said Professor King.

“Having access to such a robust and fit-for-purpose infrastructure and range of expertise unlocks so many opportunities and ensures our multi-omics and bioinformatics R&D, that spans from plant-based Agriculture production to Food and Health, can reach national and international audiences.”

Southern Cross University has three main east coast campuses, one in Queensland in the Gold Coast Airport precinct, and two on the New South Wales north coast, at Lismore and Coffs Harbour. The latter is the location of the University’s National Marine Science Centre.

SCU has its Coomera Creative Campus, a partnership with TAFE Queensland, on the northern Gold Coast.

The University also has metropolitan campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. In partnership with Mulpha Australia, the University operates The Hotel School Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hayman Island.

QCIF Membership is open to research institutions, government departments, government-owned corporations and industry involved in research. 

If you would like to discuss QCIF Membership, please contact Troy Lockett: troy.lockett@qcif.edu.au.