Our projects
The Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence at Macquarie University (AI@MQ) has established strong industry partnerships, securing over $40 million in research grants within a short period. These grants have supported MRes and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral researchers, enabling them to work under world-class academic supervision. Our collaborations empower organizations to integrate Artificial Intelligence and Data at the core of their operations, transforming their processes for value creation, capture, and sharing. Below is a summary of our centre’s research funding.
Research Grants (Total Research Funding: $40,623,282.58):
Beheshti, A. (Primary CI), Muller, S. (CI), Yang, J. (CI), Sheng, M. (CI), Di Ieva, A. (CI), Hart, N. (CI), Haynes, P. (CI), Lee, A. (CI), Davidson, J. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), Zhang, X. (CI), Qi, Y. (CI), Naseem, U. (CI), Mirzaei, M. (CI), Gupta, V. (CI), Jin, Z. (CI), Marrone, M. (CI), O'Brien, T. (CI), Lopez Escamez, A. (CI), "Advancing Bioinnovation through Foundation Models to Transform Biological Research and Applications", BioInnovation-MQ, 2025-2026
Huang S. (Primary CI), Kim J. (CI), Veettil B.P. (CI), Payne D. (CI), Beheshti A. (CI), "GreenWave: Accelerated Perovskite Solar Cell Production with Machine Learning and Eco-Solvents", Department of Education under Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) and Halocell, 2025-2026.
Romero Suarez, D. (Primary CI), Thaysen-Andersen, M. (CI), Graham, P. (CI), Jaschke, P. (CI), Paulsen, I. (CI), Siu, K. (CI), Sofronov, G. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), Yang, J. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), "Machine learning models for designing and predicting biological system function", BioInnovation-MQ, 2025-2026
Qi, Y. (Primary CI), Deng, Y. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), Dras, M. (CI), Yang, J. (CI), Ke, Y. (CI), Ittner, L. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), "Developing Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Discovering and Quantifing New Protein Expression Patterns of Alzheimer's Disease on Mouse Brain Immunohistochemical Images", BioInnovation-MQ, 2025-2026
Xu, Q. (Primary CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), and Zhu, Z. (AI), "Legal Compliant and Secure Smart Contract Generation with LLMs", MQ and Digital Finance CRC, 2025-2029.
Huang S. (Lead CI), Kim J. (CI), Veettil B (CI), Beheshti A. (CI), "Advanced Green Manufacturing and Automation Technology for Next-Generation Solar Cells", Department of Industry, Global Science & Technology Diplomacy Fund (GSTDF), 2026-2028
Abbassi, R. (Lead CI), Asadnia, M. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), "Predictive Analytics for Biomaterials through Advanced Machine Learning Models", Investment NSW, 2026-2028
Matulionyte R. (Primary CI), Magrabi F. (Chief Investigator), Beheshti A. (Chief Investigator), Lee J. (PI), Kim D. (PI), "'No' to Black Box: Towards Transparent and Safe AI in Healthcare", Australian Research Council DP (ARC DP250100184), 2025 to 2027.
Taghizadeh F. (Primary CI), Deilami S. (CI), Callegaro L. (CI), Oo A. (CI), Beheshti A (CI), "AI-Driven Modular Energy System Revolutionizing Home Storage and Maximizing Green Investments", NSW Decarbonization Innovation Hub and Smartizer Pty Ltd, 2025-2026.
Beheshti A (Primary CI), Xue E. (CI), Taghizadeh F. (CI), Asadnia M. (CI), Abbassi R. (CI), "Optimizing Residential Electricity Usage through Artificial Intelligence enabled Behavioural Modelling", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Smartizer Pty Ltd, 2025-2029.
Beheshti A. (Principle CI), Clark AM J. (PI), Mukherjee P. (CI), Qi Y. (CI), Gupta V. (CI), "AI-Enhanced CT Image Analysis for Precise Measurement of Bone Union and Healing in Jaw Reconstruction", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, 2024-2025.
Beheshti A. (Principle CI), Sheng M. (CI), "Revolutionizing Dynamic Pricing and Management Optimization through Synergizing Generative AI, Predictive Analytics, and Game Theory", MQ Enterprise Partnership with IntelliSoftware Pty Ltd, 2024-2028.
Beheshti, A. (Principle CI), Qi, Y. (CI), "Fujitsu AutoML Innovations: A Microcredential Journey Blending Research and Education", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Fujitsu, 2024-2025.
Wu J. (Principle CI) and Beheshti A. (CI), "Mitigating Generative Artificial Intelligence Deepfake Threats in Identity and Access Management Systems", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Locii Innovation Pty Ltd, 2024-2028.
Beheshti A. (Principle CI), Wu J. (Co-lead CI), Zhang X. (CI), Qi, Y. (CI), Alinejad H. (CI), Xue E. (CI), "Next-Gen Banking: Towards Customized and Personalized Banking Solutions through Generative AI Technologies", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Prospa Advance Pty Ltd, 2024-2029.
Jose A. Lopez-Escamez (Lead CI), Mosen Asadnia (CI), Amin Beheshti (CI), et. al. "Genomics and Epigenomics of Tinnitus Disorder", American Tinnitus Association Innovation Grant, 2024-2026.
Liu G. (Principle CI), Beheshti A. (CI) "Data-intensive Scheduling Optimisation in Database Systems", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Enmotech Data AU, 2024-2028.
Xue, E. (Principle CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Asadnia, M. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), "Enhancing Natural Disaster Response Networks with Advanced Graph-based Rescue Simulation", MQRAS, Macquarie University 2024-2025.
Naseem U (Principle CI), Dras M (CI), Behishti A (CI), Lau A (CI), Liu S (CI), "HealthGuard: Countering Malicious AI-Generated Health Disinformation Campaigns, MQRAS, Macquarie University 2024-2025.
Berkovsky S. (Co-Lead CI), Beheshti A. (Co-Lead CI), Coiera E. (CI), "Enhancing Human Reasoning with Generative AI: Personalized Digital Coach for Effective Feedback", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Fujitsu, 2024-2027. [Featured in News: LINK]
Abbassi, R. (Principle CI), Asadniaye Fard Jahromi, M. (CI), Inglis, D. (CI), Pastras, C. (CI), Payne, D. (CI), McAlpine, D. (CI), Mukhopadhyay, S. (CI), Narendra, A. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), P Veettil, B.(CI), Abolpour Moshizi, S. (CI), "Advancing Electronics and Biosensor Fabrication using Cutting-Edge Inkjet Printing", MQRIS, Macquarie University 2024.
Abbassi, R. (Principle CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Asadniaye, M. (CI), "MQEPS: Developing a Predictive Model for Reliability Assessment of Microcarriers", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Smart MCs Pty Ltd, 2023-2024.
Beheshti A. (Lead CI), Xue E. (CI), "Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) Development for Counter-Fraud Training", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Locii Innovation Pty Ltd, 2024-2025.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Zhang, X. (CI), Xue E. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), Guanfeng L. (CI), "Linking Cognitive Science and Data Science for Enhanced Therapeutic Interventions", MQ Enterprise Partnership with The Navigator Group Pty Ltd and Psyche-Commerce (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2023-2024.
Cao L. (Lead CI), Beheshti A. (CI), Davidson P. (CI), Varadharajan V. (CI), Kim J. (CI), Yu P. (CI), Nguyen Q. (CI), Khanna S. (PI), "Federated Omniverse Facilities for Smart Digital Futures", Australian Research Council (ARC) LIEF (LE240100131), 2024-2028.
Liu G. (Principal CI), Behsshti A. (CI), "Intelligent Health Data Analytics Platform", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Xiamen Lihan IT Service, 2023-2026.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "Generative AI-Driven Data Imputation for Enhanced Real Estate Data Analytics", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Domain Holdings Australia, 2023.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Zhang, X. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), "AI-Powered Enhancement of Security Against Identity Document Fraud", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Locii Innovation Pty Ltd, 2023.
Abedin, B. (Principal CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Selvadurai, N. (CI), and Marjanovic, O. (CI), "Research-based Guiding Framework Encompassing Relevant Principles of Responsible Artificial Intelligence", MQ Enterprise Partnership with AMP Services Limited, 2023.
Labani M (Principal CI), Beheshti A. (CI), "Data to Therapy (D2T): Revolutionizing the discovery of Targeted Therapy with Artificial Intelligence", Google PhD Fellowship, 2023.
Asadniaye M., Pastras C., Beheshti A., Narendra A., Cheng S., Boothalingam S., Curthoys, I., "Using low-coherence light to noninvasively probe dynamics and 3D fine structures". MQRIS, 2023.
Wu J. (Principal CI), Yang J. (CI), Sheng M. (CI), Beheshti A. (CI), McAlpine D. (CI) ; Sowman P. (CI), Wang B. (PI), "Deep Pattern Mining for Brain Graph Analysis: A Data Mining Perspective", Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage [LP210301259], 2023-2027.
Yang, J. (Principal CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Wu, J. (CI), Zhang, W. (CI), Yarom, Y. (CI), Huang, Y. (CI), Gu, T. (CI), Sheng, M. (CI), McKenzie, J. (CI), He, D. (CI), Sun, H. (CI), and O'Connell, P (CI). Transformation of Data to Data products for a Trusted Data-Driven Economy: Technology Innovation and Application; CSIRO Next Generation Graduate Program; partners: Resint Technology, EY, Westpac, Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR), ITIC, Truuth, and Yirigaa; 2023-2027.
Asadniaye M. (Principal CI), Abbassi R. (CI), Khamis H. (CI), & Beheshti, A. (CI), "Study the impact of temperature, moisture and mechanical vibration on drift and reliability of the Contactile’s tactile sensor", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Contactile Pty Ltd, 2023.
Beheshti A. (Principal CI), Sheng A. (CI), Wu J. (CI), Yang J. (CI), Zhang X. (CI), et al., "Intelligent Storytelling with Business Data", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Domain Holdings Australia, 2022-2026.
Beheshti A. (Principal CI), Zhang X. (CI), Mans B. (CI), Wu J. (CI), Liu G. (CI), Sheng M. (CI), Yang J. (CI), et al., "Scalable and Extensible Document Intelligence Platform", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Locii Innovation Pty Ltd, 2022-2026.
Bu, D. (Principal CI), Liao, Y. (CI), Smith, T. (CI), Linnenluecke, M. (CI), Cai, C. (CI), Mollica, V. (CI), Singh, A. (CI), Peng, C. (CI), Beheshti A. (CI), and Zhang X. (CI), "Educating Retail Investors for Impact Investing", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Futu Securities (Australia) Ltd, 2022-2023.
Beheshti A. (Principal CI), Lee Y. (CI), "Conversational Artificial Intelligence Powered Chatbot for Career Counselling", MQ Enterprise Partnership with Faethm Pty Ltd, 2022.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "Intelligence-led Teaching and Learning: Extending the Technology for Automated Exam Marking"; Linkage: ITIC Training and Resourcing and Macquarie University, 2022-2025.
Muller S. (Principal CI), Beheshti A. (CI), Farhood H. (CI), Moka S. (CI), "Estimating Number of Tyres in Stockpiles", Victorian Environmental Protection Authority, 2022-2023
Asadnia, M. (Principal CI), Abbassi R. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), "Novel Electrochemical Metal Ion Sensors for Wireless Water Quality Monitoring" 2022-2024.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Wu , J. (CI), Alinejad Rokny , H. (CI), Zhang , X. (CI), Jolfaei , A. (CI), "Intelligent Risk Assessment for Financial Services", MQ Linkage: Prospa Advance Pty Ltd and Macquarie University, 2021-2025.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Sheng, M. (CI), "Intelligent Data Science Pipelines", MQ Linkage: YIRIGAA Pty Ltd and Macquarie University, 2021-2025.
Asadnia M. (Principal CI), Abbassi R. (CI), Beheshti A. (CI), Clark S. (CI), Salehi F. (CI), Vimonsatit S. (MQ), (CI), "Embedded sensing system for continuous crack monitoring in concrete pavements", SMART CRETE CRC, 2021-2124,
Asadniay, M. (Principal CI), Heimlich, M. (CI), Abbassi, R. (CI), Beheshti, A (CI), "Intelligent Water Safety Bracelet", MQ Linkage: Macquarie University, Smile Like Drake Foundation, and NSW Office of Sport, 2021-2024.
Ghezelbash, D. (Principal CI), Ross, R. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Levy, N. (CI), Dozer, A. (CI), Newhouse, G. (CI), Gallagher, R. (CI), and Dutta-Powell, R. (CI), "Counteracting cognitive and social biases experienced by First Nations People in the legal system", MQ Research Acceleration Scheme, 2021-2022.
Asadnia M. (Principal CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Abbassi, R. (CI), and Orr, B. (CI), "Artificial Intelligence enabled livestock transport", MQ Research Acceleration Scheme, 2021-2022.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Bower, M. (CI), Sheng, M. (CI), Yang, J. (CI), Asadnia, M. (CI), "Intelligent Educational Knowledge Lake"; MQ Linkage: Cinglevue International Pty Ltd and Macquarie University, 2020-2023.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Asadniaye, M. (CI), Sheng, M. (CI), Yang J. (CI), "AI-enabled Industry: extending the taxonomy of technologies"; Funded by Federal Innovation Connections Grant; Linkage: Faethm Pty Ltd. and Macquarie University, 2020-2021. [Featured in News: LINK]
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "Cognitive Recommender Systems"; MQ Linkage: dAIta Pty Ltd and Macquarie University, 2020-2024.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "AI-enabled Banking"; MQ Linkage: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Macquarie University, 2020-2023. [Featured in News: LINK]
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Asadniaye, M. (CI), "Linking Cognitive Technology and Sensory Systems to Support Personalized Learning", MQ Linkage: ITIC Training and Resourcing and Macquarie University, 2020-2021.
Beheshti A. (Principal CI), Hamey L. (CI), Jolfaei A. (CI), Asadnia M. (CI), AI-enabled Identity Verification, MQ Linkage: Locii Innovations Pty Ltd and Macquarie University, 2020-2022.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "Intelligence-led Teaching and Learning"; Linkage: ITIC Training and Resourcing and Macquarie University, 2019-2023.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Asadniaye, M. (CI), Sheng, M. (CI), Yang J. (CI), "AI-enabled Industry: Challenges and Opportunity Study"; Funded by Federal Innovation Connections Grant; Linkage: Faethm Pty Ltd and Macquarie University, 2019-2020.
Salehi, F. (Principal CI), Abbassi, R. (CI), Cheng, S. (CI), Diasinos, S. (CI), Nasiri, N. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Clark, S. (CI) Afonso, J. C. (CI), "144-core CFD processor"; MQRIS small, 2020.
Asadnia. M (Principal CI), Beheshti.A (CI), Razmjou. A. (CI), Sheng. M (CI), Mukhopadhyay, S. (CI), et al. "Micro-pattern generatorTrustworthiness system for photolithography and direct write experiments" MQRIS large, 2020.
Asadniaye, M. (Principal CI), Warkiani, M. (CI), Mukhopadhyay, S. (CI), George, B. (CI), Jatmiko, W. (CI), Kotapalli, A. (CI), Beheshti, A. (CI), Razmjou Chaharmahali, A. (CI), "A compact and portable electrochemical gas sensor array to spot explosives"; Australian Academy of Science, UTS and MQ, 2019-2021.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "Price optimisation using deep reinforcement learning"; Linkage: Intellify Pty Ltd. and Macquarie University, 2019-2022.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), "Linking Cognitive Science and Computer Science"; MQ FSE VRF Grant, Macquarie University, 2019.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI) & Yang, J. (CI), "Cognitive Social Network Analytics"; MQNS Grant, Macquarie University, 2018-2020.
Beheshti, A. (Principal CI), Ghafari, S., Joshi, A., "Trust prediction in online social networks"; CSIRO and Macquarie University, 2018-2019.
Industry Sponsorship Funding (for academic event organization): $350,750,00:
Program Chair, 21st IEEE International Conference on Data Science and Advanced Analytics (ADMA2025) Special Session on Private, Secure, and Trust Data Analytics (PSTDA2025), October 2025, Kyoto, Japan.
Program Chair, IEEE International Conference on Web Services (IEEE ICWS 2025), July 2025, Helsinki, Finland.
Organizing Committee, Competition Chair, The Web Conference 2025, April 28 - 2 May, 2025, Sydney, Australia.
General co-Chair, 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Computer Science and Data Engineering, IEEE CSDE, 18th - 20th December, 2024, Perth, Australi.
Chair, The 5th International Workshop on AI-enabled Process Automation (AIPA), ICSOC Conference, Dec 3 , 2024. Tunis, Tunisia.
Program Chair, IEEE International Conference on Web Services (IEEE ICWS 2024)), July 7-13, 2024, ShenZhen, China.
Chair, "Generative AI and the Future of Teaching and Learning, Microdoft Hackathon, Dec 2023, Sydney, Australia.
Industrial Session Chair, Australasian Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AJCAI 2023)), 28th Nov - 1st Dec, 2023, Brisbane, Australia.
Chair, The 4th International Workshop on AI-enabled Process Automation (AIPA), ICSOC Conference, Nov 28 – Dec 1, 2023. Rome, Italy.
General Chair, AI-Enabled Health Hackathon (Sponsors: NavigatorGroup, DataX, AI Centre), September 2023
Special Session Chair, 10th IEEE International Conference on Data Science and Advanced Analytics (DSAA' 2023), Special Session, DSAA, 9-13 October 2023, Thessaloniki, Greece
Special Session Chair, Social Network Computation for Online Intelligence, Special Session, IJCNN, 18-23 June 2023, Gold Coast, Australia
General Chair, TechAthon: Exploring Future Technology Trends and Telstra Academy Opportunities Workshop,
Chair, Online Intelligence and Trust Computation in Large-scale Dynamic Networks, IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (WCCI), 18-23 July 2022. Padua, Italy
General Chair, The 3rd International Workshop on AI-enabled Process Automation (AIPA), ICSOC Conference, Nov 29 – Dec 2, 2022. Sevilla, Spain
General Chair, AI-Enabled Security Hackathon and Tech Summit (Sponsors: IBM, Illumio, AIP Research Centre), September 2022
Chair, The 2nd International Workshop on AI-enabled Process Automation (AIPA), ICSOC Conference, Nov 22-25 2021, Dubai, UAE
Chair, The 1st International Workshop on AI-enabled Policing and Law Enforcement (AI-PLE), IEEE EDOC Conference, Oct 25-26 2021, Gold Coast, Australia
General Chair, AI-Enabled Assessment Marking Hackathon (Sponsors: Microsoft, ITIC, Yirigaa), July 2021
Chair, The 1st International Workshop on AI-enabled Process Automation (AIPA), ICSOC Conference, December 14-17 2020, Dubai, UAE
General Chair,, Microsoft Hackathon and Workshop AI-enabled Assessment Marking, Big Data Society, Juky 2021
General Chair,, AWS Hackathon and Workshop AI-enabled Banking Big Data Society, Dec 2020
General Chair, IBM Hackathon and Workshop AI-enabled Education Big Data Society, March 2020
Special Session Chair, "Knowledge Graphs in Digitalization Era (KGDE)" in the 34th International Conference on Industrial, Engineering & Other Applications of Applied Intelligent Systems (IEA/AIE 2021), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2020
Chair, The 1st International Workshop on AI-enabled Process Automation (AI-PA 20) December 14-17 2020, ICSOC, Dubai, UAE
General Chair, Big Data Society Cloud and Data Centers Workshop, 2019
Sponsorship Chair, Australasian Computer Science Week (ACSW), 2019
General Chair, Big Data Society Intelligence-led Policing Hackathon Hackathon and Workshop, Sep 2018
General Chair, Eight Australasian Symposium on Service Research and Innovation (ASSRI), 2018
General Chair,, AWS Hackathon and Workshop Blockchain Big Data Society, Sep 2018
General Chair,, SAS Hackathon and Workshop BigData Big Data Society, July 2018
Organization and Web Chair, Business Process Management (BPM) Conference, 2018
Program Chair, Seventh Australasian Symposium on Service Research and Innovation (ASSRI), 2017
Publicity Chair, Business Process Management (BPM) Conference, 2015