Topological data analysis for enhanced modelling of the physical properties of complex micro-structured materials. The way water flows through sandstone depends on the connectivity of its pores, the balance of forces in a grain silo on the contacts between individual grains, and the impact resistance of metal foam in a car door on the arrangement of its cells. These structural properties are described mathematically by topology. Advanced three-dimensional X-ray imaging can now reveal the interna ....Topological data analysis for enhanced modelling of the physical properties of complex micro-structured materials. The way water flows through sandstone depends on the connectivity of its pores, the balance of forces in a grain silo on the contacts between individual grains, and the impact resistance of metal foam in a car door on the arrangement of its cells. These structural properties are described mathematically by topology. Advanced three-dimensional X-ray imaging can now reveal the internal detail of micro-structured materials. Recent developments in image analysis mean it is possible to compute accurate topological information from such images. This project aims to investigate how fundamental measures of shape influence the physical properties of complex materials and clarifies the mathematics that underpins these relationships.Read moreRead less
Towards the prime power conjecture. This project attacks a famous and long standing conjecture in pure mathematics that has important ramifications in many applied areas. The project aims to determine when it is possible to produce more efficient codes for electronic communication and statistically balanced designs for experiments in areas as diverse as agriculture and psychology.
Evolution and functional impact of gene silencing by hairpin derived RNAs. This project aims to study RNA-mediated gene silencing in genome evolution. RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely used as an experimental tool since its Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 1998, but little is known about endogenous RNAi or its evolution. This project uses bioinformatics, high-throughput sequencing and molecular approaches to study hpRNAs, a class of small interfering RNAs, their adaptive evolution across f ....Evolution and functional impact of gene silencing by hairpin derived RNAs. This project aims to study RNA-mediated gene silencing in genome evolution. RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely used as an experimental tool since its Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 1998, but little is known about endogenous RNAi or its evolution. This project uses bioinformatics, high-throughput sequencing and molecular approaches to study hpRNAs, a class of small interfering RNAs, their adaptive evolution across fly species and vertebrates, and their functional effect on testis morphogenesis and distortion of female/male sex-ratio. The project also studies splicing-dependent small RNAs and miRNA-target interaction. This research could have applications from animal development to human pathology.Read moreRead less
Gravitational-wave astronomy: detection and beyond. This project aims to detect ripples in the fabric of spacetime known as gravitational waves by using new data analysis techniques while developing technology to enable the next generation of gravitational-wave detectors. Detection of gravitational waves would constitute a revolution in astronomy, allowing us to probe the most dramatic events in the Universe with a new form of radiation. During the next five years, it is probable that gravitatio ....Gravitational-wave astronomy: detection and beyond. This project aims to detect ripples in the fabric of spacetime known as gravitational waves by using new data analysis techniques while developing technology to enable the next generation of gravitational-wave detectors. Detection of gravitational waves would constitute a revolution in astronomy, allowing us to probe the most dramatic events in the Universe with a new form of radiation. During the next five years, it is probable that gravitational waves will be detected. Terrestrial detectors, operating in the audio band, and pulsar timing arrays, operating in the nanohertz band, are both rapidly approaching the required sensitivity. This project is designed to make important contributions to gravitational-wave astronomy at a crucial time.Read moreRead less
Algorithms for hard graph problems based on auxiliary data. When solving computational problems, algorithms usually access only the data that is absolutely necessary to define the problem. However, much more data is often readily available. Especially for important or slowly evolving data, such as road networks, social graphs, company rankings, or molecules, more and more auxiliary data becomes available through computational processes, sensors, and simple user entries. This auxiliary data can g ....Algorithms for hard graph problems based on auxiliary data. When solving computational problems, algorithms usually access only the data that is absolutely necessary to define the problem. However, much more data is often readily available. Especially for important or slowly evolving data, such as road networks, social graphs, company rankings, or molecules, more and more auxiliary data becomes available through computational processes, sensors, and simple user entries. This auxiliary data can greatly speed up an algorithm and improve its accuracy. This project aims to design improved algorithms that harness auxiliary data to solve selected high-impact NP-hard graph problems, and will build a new empowering theory to discern when auxiliary data can be used to improve algorithms.Read moreRead less
Ancient stars: the origin of elements. The story of the origin of the elements fascinates mankind and touches many branches of science. This project combines new stellar population models of the oldest stars with new data from the Australian million-star GALactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey to address basic astrophysical problems: mixing in stars, mass transfer in binary stars and measurement of the masses of the first stars. Knowing how these ancient stars behave is crucial to unders ....Ancient stars: the origin of elements. The story of the origin of the elements fascinates mankind and touches many branches of science. This project combines new stellar population models of the oldest stars with new data from the Australian million-star GALactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey to address basic astrophysical problems: mixing in stars, mass transfer in binary stars and measurement of the masses of the first stars. Knowing how these ancient stars behave is crucial to understanding element production in the early Universe, both in our Milky Way and distant galaxies. By statistically comparing new models to the GALAH data, this project aims to measure the masses of the oldest galactic stars directly impacting branches of astrophysics from planets to galaxies.Read moreRead less
Defining disease: Addressing the problem of overdiagnosis. This project will investigate and define the limits of physical disease, to answer questions about when a presentation is a disease, and when it is simply a risk factor or mild condition. The ensuing account of disease will make a practical contribution to growing international concern about asymptomatic people being diagnosed and treated for conditions that will not cause any health problems ("overdiagnosis"). The research will provide ....Defining disease: Addressing the problem of overdiagnosis. This project will investigate and define the limits of physical disease, to answer questions about when a presentation is a disease, and when it is simply a risk factor or mild condition. The ensuing account of disease will make a practical contribution to growing international concern about asymptomatic people being diagnosed and treated for conditions that will not cause any health problems ("overdiagnosis"). The research will provide normative grounds for evaluating disease claims. Results will reduce the harm caused by people receiving treatment that they do not require, make a practical contribution to debates about the scope of health care, and yield findings that can help to reduce the cost-burdens associated with overdiagnosis.Read moreRead less
The role of moral sentiments and emotions in human nature: an interdisciplinary empirical approach. This project investigates the effects of moral sentiments and emotions on decision processes. It will identify states of physiological arousal, determine whether a significant genetic effect is present, assess the relevance of individuals' environment and inherited values, and provide a better biological micro-foundation for human behaviour.
Continuously learning to see. The ultimate goal of computer vision is to make a machine able to understand the world through analysis of images or videos. The new machine learning techniques developed in this project will enable previously impossible methods of computer vision and help strengthen Australia's competitiveness in this important area.
Frontiers in Data Science: Analysing Distributions as Data. This project aims to develop the statistical foundations of a new approach to analysing large and complex data, based on building distributional approximations of the data, which can then be analysed by standard statistical methods. The need to analyse very large and complex datasets has become a vital part of everyday life, particularly in the analysis of national problems in public health, environmental pollution, computer network sec ....Frontiers in Data Science: Analysing Distributions as Data. This project aims to develop the statistical foundations of a new approach to analysing large and complex data, based on building distributional approximations of the data, which can then be analysed by standard statistical methods. The need to analyse very large and complex datasets has become a vital part of everyday life, particularly in the analysis of national problems in public health, environmental pollution, computer network security and climate extremes. The project expects to change our way of thinking in how to be smarter about what data we use (and collect) for analysis, rather than relying on brute force analysis of large datasets. The project is expected to transform the knowledge base of the discipline, and the resulting techniques will enable across-the-board research advances for many industries and disciplines.Read moreRead less