VRES - A Guide for Faculty of Engineering VRES Scholars

Congratulations and welcome to the Faculty of Engineering Vacation Research Experience Scheme (VRES)!

If you've enjoyed working on scientific research projects in high school and are curious about what pursuing a research degree after university or a career in research might look like, the VRES program is a perfect opportunity to find out.

The VRES program is designed to immerse undergraduate students in formal research projects alongside our exceptional faculty researchers across a variety of engineering disciplines. You’ll gain hands-on experience in different stages of a research project, which may include conducting literature reviews, critically analysing the state of the art to identify gaps and opportunities, conceptualising solutions, formulating hypotheses, experimenting and collecting data, creating prototypes, and troubleshooting technical, scientific, regulatory, and logistical challenges, which are all critical aspects of research.

At the end of your VRES experience, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your findings and ideas in a scientific digital poster presentation, similar to those seen at professional conferences—a valuable and transferable skill that every research student develops.

While your time in the VRES program won’t encompass an entire project from start to finish, it will provide a unique insight into the research process in engineering and technology. More importantly, I hope you’ll find excitement and personal satisfaction in exploring a problem with meaningful industrial, social, or environmental impact and in contributing to innovative solutions.

To help you navigate the coming months, we’ve provided resources on the VRES Library Guide to support your journey.

Welcome aboard—your research adventure begins here!

Professor Yi-Chin Toh

Director, Research Training

QUT Faculty of Engineering