From publishing historic bathymetry data, to working with data collected by autonomous underwater vehicles, five University of Tasmania (UTAS) students have kicked off their research careers by participating in the Centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technology (CAST) Undergraduate Engagement Program.
Their projects cover diverse disciplines and offer the students the chance to practise new skills in Antarctic and Southern Ocean engineering and technology, under the mentorship of industry experts.
Here’s a glimpse of what our students have been up to during the first couple of months of their 2025 placements at CSIRO’s Hobart site and how their CAST experiences are unfolding.
Ngoc Tuan Cao (Steve)
With a passion for engineering since childhood, Steve loves working with CSIRO’s Engineering and Technology team in Hobart.
During his placement, Steve is developing user interfaces for CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator’s data acquisition systems and electronic logbooks, creating a table to display data collected from the ship. He has already created a database to make instrument and sensor calibration data accessible and is now working on tracking RV Investigator’s current and historical instrument configurations to generate instrument metadata.
A highlight for Steve so far has been observing the team work on machines designed for large-scale marine exploration.
Ellyse Noy
Ellyse joined the CAST program to explore her passion for geology.
Her project is focussing on developing a workflow for processing and publishing backscatter data for the AusSeabed initiative, a complex task due to the lack of standardised methods across programs and organisations.
Working with CSIRO’s Geophysical Survey Mapping team, Ellyse said the studentship has deepened her interest in underwater geology, reinforcing her honours research on underwater volcanism.
Ellyse is quickly building expertise in backscatter software and gaining hands-on experience through training sessions and upcoming exposure aboard RV Investigator.
Haris Tulumovic
Haris’s passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) began in childhood with Lego and a curiosity for understanding how things work, from car engines to computers.
Inspired by his mum and a family friend working in STEM, he pursued engineering to answer the questions that fascinated him.
His interests naturally led him to a CAST studentship, where he could explore real-world applications of electronics and data science.
Haris’ project is to improve data collection tools like mini-loggers, which are deployed on moorings and buoys to measure wave height and other environmental parameters. His tasks include updating legacy code to accommodate new sensors, evaluating sensor performance, and exploring ways to increase power efficiency.
The placement at CSIRO is helping shape Haris’s career aspirations, confirming his interest in electronics engineering and opening his eyes to new possibilities in high-frequency printed circuit board design, embedded systems, and data science. He said he has especially enjoyed getting hands-on experience with the inner workings of underwater instruments, finding it rewarding to work alongside and learn from a diverse and knowledgeable team.
Haris is especially enjoying hands-on experience with the inner workings of underwater instruments.
“Studying STEM is a way to have positive impact on the environment and the ocean,” says Hayden.
Hayden Manfre
Hayden chose to study STEM at UTAS out of a strong passion for the environment and the ocean, and because he saw it was a way to make a positive impact.
Hayden is working in the Geophysical Survey Mapping team on a project to improve how CSIRO processes historic bathymetry data from its previous research vessel, Southern Surveyor, with data contributed to the AusSeabed initiative.
This experience has sparked a new interest in geophysical surveying, which Hayden hopes to combine with his background in marine biology. Hayden said he is grateful for the experience and has grown because of it.
Jaden Nguyen
During his CSIRO placement, Jaden is working with real oceanic data collected by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). His project involved gathering, cleaning, and visualising this data to monitor ocean conditions such as temperature and chemical concentrations. This work contributes to important efforts in ocean research, environmental protection, and ecological monitoring.
Supporting the Electronics Engineering team, Jaden works closely with his supervisor, taking part in meetings with other teams to review and discuss the technologies used in the project. One of the biggest challenges he has faced so far is learning new technical skills and tools that are specific to the project and were unfamiliar to him at the outset.
Jaden said the placement has motivated him to continue to pursue his career goals.
He encourages other students to apply for the CAST studentship to gain real-world experience in a professional setting. His advice to future students: come with a willingness to learn, ask lots of questions, and make the most of the support offered by mentors.
“I encourage other students to apply for the CAST studentship to gain real-world experience in a professional setting.”
Thank you to 2025 CAST Undergraduate Engagement Program participants!
Read more about past CAST students’ experiences here.
The Centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technology (CAST) is a collaboration of organisations in the fields of Antarctic and Southern Ocean technology and engineering. The core CAST partners are the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), CSIRO and the University of Tasmania (UTAS).
