Enhancing our understanding of metallochemistry in neurobiology with modern electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Many neurological diseases involve protein accumulation that appears causally linked to abnormal levels of metal ions in the brain. This project will use a special technique called electron paramagnetic resonance to uncover how these metals interact with specific proteins at the molecular level and how drug treatments can modify these interactions.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100061
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$710,000.00
Summary
Extending frontiers of structural chemistry and biology through high resolution pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance. Multifrequency high resolution pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) instrumentation will provide forefront technologies in identifying, characterising, quantifying and visualising free radicals and metal ions that are involved in fundamental chemical and biological processes in science and nature.
Photosynthesis under extreme conditions. The aim of this project is to characterise modifications to the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis of simple, single cell organisms that live under harsh environmental conditions including: i) elevated temperature; ii) low, variable and low energy (red) light; iii) arid and variable hydration; and iv) chemical stress e.g. low pH. In a changing biosphere brought about by anthropological climate change, a better understanding of existing adaptions ....Photosynthesis under extreme conditions. The aim of this project is to characterise modifications to the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis of simple, single cell organisms that live under harsh environmental conditions including: i) elevated temperature; ii) low, variable and low energy (red) light; iii) arid and variable hydration; and iv) chemical stress e.g. low pH. In a changing biosphere brought about by anthropological climate change, a better understanding of existing adaptions of bacterial photosynthetic organisms may allow more resilient crops and other essential plants to be developed in the future. The project brings together an international consortium of world renowned experts across key aspects of photosynthesis. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100057
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A diffractometer for small molecule structural elucidation by crystallographic analysis. X-ray diffractometry provides an unambiguous means of identifying the three-dimensional spatial arrangement of atoms within molecules affording important insights into the origins of chemical properties. A modern diffractometer will provide information to help develop new functional materials, therapeutic agents and environmentally sustainable processes.
Switchable molecules for molecular nanoscience. This project targets the development and exploration of switchable molecules for future nanoscale devices. Applications will include individual molecules as: units of magnetic memory for high density data storage, quantum bits in quantum computers, components in electronic devices and switching units in display media.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100144
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,000.00
Summary
Advanced X-ray facility for structural elucidation and photocrystallography. This project aims to establish an advanced photocrystallography X-ray facility. Accurately determining molecular structure and understanding how molecules interact with light is important to design and optimise new materials. Normally, measurements to elucidate these properties have to be done separately, making structure-property correlations difficult. The facility will allow the creation of new materials with applica ....Advanced X-ray facility for structural elucidation and photocrystallography. This project aims to establish an advanced photocrystallography X-ray facility. Accurately determining molecular structure and understanding how molecules interact with light is important to design and optimise new materials. Normally, measurements to elucidate these properties have to be done separately, making structure-property correlations difficult. The facility will allow the creation of new materials with application in pharmaceuticals, separation science, organic optoelectronics and magnetic materials. The facility will build capacity in X-ray techniques, create collaborations and provide a unique training ground for students and Early Career Researchers. The advances in materials innovation will strengthen the future viability of Australian industries and manufacturing innovation.Read moreRead less
The forgotten role of the ground state in atmospheric photochemistry. This project aims to provide novel solutions to two deficiencies in current atmospheric chemistry models. That is, molecular hydrogen (H2) is underestimated by up to a factor of two, and in polluted areas, HO2 concentrations are underestimated by up to a factor of ten. The project will investigate these solutions and assess their local and global atmospheric impact. By better characterising the atmospheric H2 budget, and the r ....The forgotten role of the ground state in atmospheric photochemistry. This project aims to provide novel solutions to two deficiencies in current atmospheric chemistry models. That is, molecular hydrogen (H2) is underestimated by up to a factor of two, and in polluted areas, HO2 concentrations are underestimated by up to a factor of ten. The project will investigate these solutions and assess their local and global atmospheric impact. By better characterising the atmospheric H2 budget, and the role of ground state reactions in general, the predictive ability of atmospheric models will be improved. This will allow, for example, the outcomes of any change in atmospheric H2 concentration, potentially as part of any future hydrogen economy, to be predicted before they occur. The benefits of this project are global: they allow us to better predict the impact of changes to atmospheric composition – before they occur, and local: Australia’s strengths in physical, theoretical and atmospheric chemistry are reinforced.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100060
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,390.00
Summary
Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers ....Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers will enable access to picosecond timescales and facilitate complex multi-laser experiments in a wide variety of projects including reaction dynamics, materials chemistry and photovoltaics.Read moreRead less
Microplastic infiltration of food webs: cells to ecosystem consequences. Using trophic ecological theory as a framework, this project aims to provide the first comprehensive assessment of the fate and effects of microplastics. Plastic pollution is a persistent and increasing problem. Plastics are degraded into small particles, called microplastics, which are ingested by animals. The project aims to develop much-needed techniques to measure microplastics in biological tissue and apply these techn ....Microplastic infiltration of food webs: cells to ecosystem consequences. Using trophic ecological theory as a framework, this project aims to provide the first comprehensive assessment of the fate and effects of microplastics. Plastic pollution is a persistent and increasing problem. Plastics are degraded into small particles, called microplastics, which are ingested by animals. The project aims to develop much-needed techniques to measure microplastics in biological tissue and apply these techniques in food web studies to determine the capacity of microplastics to transfer from the environment into animals, and how microplastics move through a food web to affect biological diversity and animal health. This information will be used to complete the first risk assessment for microplastics in a major coastal habitat.Read moreRead less
Chemistry at the threshold: unusual mechanisms and unexpected products. The chemical processes in combustion and in the atmosphere are complex and understood incompletely; for example 30-60 million tonnes of acids in the atmosphere are unaccounted for. The project will measure and model three new chemical processes that may account for the atmospheric acids, and other unexplained occurrences in combustion chemistry.