The cognitive neuroscience of motor skill learning. The capacity to produce skilled motor behaviour is essential for success in almost every aspect of our lives, whether it be playing sport, driving a car, operating machinery at work, or touch-typing. This project aims to establish the causal role of brain regions in motor skill learning by combining cutting-edge techniques in neuroimaging and brain stimulation. It is expected to lead to fundamental new knowledge on how new motor memories are cr ....The cognitive neuroscience of motor skill learning. The capacity to produce skilled motor behaviour is essential for success in almost every aspect of our lives, whether it be playing sport, driving a car, operating machinery at work, or touch-typing. This project aims to establish the causal role of brain regions in motor skill learning by combining cutting-edge techniques in neuroimaging and brain stimulation. It is expected to lead to fundamental new knowledge on how new motor memories are created to enable the expression of skilled motor behaviour. The knowledge gained from this project may identify new strategies for learning skills that are widely applicable to education, industry, sport, and health.Read moreRead less
The evolution of species traits and spread during biological invasions. Exotic species pose a dire threat to Australia's biodiversity and natural resources due to the speed at which non-indigenous pests spread and the ecological and environmental damage they are capable of causing. The proposed research, on identifying traits associated with the spread of exotic vertebrate species and modelling the reproductive and dispersal parameters among different populations, will provide new knowledge and ....The evolution of species traits and spread during biological invasions. Exotic species pose a dire threat to Australia's biodiversity and natural resources due to the speed at which non-indigenous pests spread and the ecological and environmental damage they are capable of causing. The proposed research, on identifying traits associated with the spread of exotic vertebrate species and modelling the reproductive and dispersal parameters among different populations, will provide new knowledge and aid in developing innovative solutions for arresting the spread of exotic species. The validation of current models of spread will represent a major and timely addition to the national research capability on exotic species, and add substantially to Australia's reputation as a global leader in evolutionary ecology.Read moreRead less
Towards a new understanding of the reproductive system. The proposed analysis of the reproductive system will provide important new knowledge of gene regulation driving organ development. The insights and technologies developed in this program will be widely applicable in biotechnological and pharmacogenomic research in Australia and worldwide, and assert Australia's leadership in this area of research.
The human mirror system and the perception of others' actions. This research will provide greater understanding of how the human mirror system operates for the perception of actions, a crucial first-step toward understanding disorders of action perception such as autism and apraxia. The research program will also contribute greatly to building national capacity in cognitive neuroscience research, using advanced brain imaging methods. The fellow actively encourages and mentors young scientists, o ....The human mirror system and the perception of others' actions. This research will provide greater understanding of how the human mirror system operates for the perception of actions, a crucial first-step toward understanding disorders of action perception such as autism and apraxia. The research program will also contribute greatly to building national capacity in cognitive neuroscience research, using advanced brain imaging methods. The fellow actively encourages and mentors young scientists, organises advanced workshops that bring brain imaging researchers around the world to Australia, and builds international collaborations based around high-field brain imaging. The Future Fellowship will substantially enhance these activities, building capacity and enhancing Australia's reputation in cognitive neurosciences.Read moreRead less
Microbe-produced repellents and their roles in marine pathogen behaviours. Economic losses caused by disease outbreaks in marine fisheries and aquaculture exceed US$6 billion per year globally. Decades of research in human and plant pathogens have revealed that the ability of pathogens to infect their host is governed by behaviours; however our understanding of the chemical cues affecting the behaviour of marine pathogens is very poor. This research program aims to combine new approaches in micr ....Microbe-produced repellents and their roles in marine pathogen behaviours. Economic losses caused by disease outbreaks in marine fisheries and aquaculture exceed US$6 billion per year globally. Decades of research in human and plant pathogens have revealed that the ability of pathogens to infect their host is governed by behaviours; however our understanding of the chemical cues affecting the behaviour of marine pathogens is very poor. This research program aims to combine new approaches in microfluidics and chemical imaging to identify the cues that govern the behaviour of marine pathogens. Expected outcomes include an improved capacity to predict, monitor and manage marine diseases, as well as novel strategies to prevent disease outbreaks, helping to protect Australia’s valuable marine estate.Read moreRead less
The origins, global spread and evolution of novel honey bee parasites. This project aims to study how emergent diseases arise, spread and evolve, studying varroa mites – a parasite of honey bees that will inevitably arrive in Australia and is expected to damage agriculture and the environment. As the mites have a well-characterised native range, independent host switches and a well-documented history of spread, they make good models. Mites have evolved after invasion, although without significan ....The origins, global spread and evolution of novel honey bee parasites. This project aims to study how emergent diseases arise, spread and evolve, studying varroa mites – a parasite of honey bees that will inevitably arrive in Australia and is expected to damage agriculture and the environment. As the mites have a well-characterised native range, independent host switches and a well-documented history of spread, they make good models. Mites have evolved after invasion, although without significant genetic differentiation at neutral markers. This project aims to identify genetic mechanisms associated with the host switches; reconstruct the pattern and demography of varroa’s global spread; and determine how selection acted on the mites after the host switch.Read moreRead less
Control and learning for enhancing capabilities of quantum sensors. This project aims to develop new theories and algorithms to enhance capabilities in engineering quantum sensors from the perspective of systems and control. The project is significant because it is anticipated to advance key knowledge and provide systematic methods to enable achievement of high-precision sensing for wide applications, e.g., early disease detection, medical research, discovery of ore deposits and groundwater moni ....Control and learning for enhancing capabilities of quantum sensors. This project aims to develop new theories and algorithms to enhance capabilities in engineering quantum sensors from the perspective of systems and control. The project is significant because it is anticipated to advance key knowledge and provide systematic methods to enable achievement of high-precision sensing for wide applications, e.g., early disease detection, medical research, discovery of ore deposits and groundwater monitoring. The intended outcomes are fundamental theories, effective control and learning algorithms for achieving highly-sensitive sensors. These outcomes should make important contributions to and deliver new knowledge and skills for Australia's sensing industries, which could benefit Australia's economic growth.Read moreRead less
Peptides and Proteins for Fighting Pests and Protecting the Environment. This project aims to use peptides and proteins to fight pests and protect the environment, which is significant because current practices have unintended harmful effects and are unsustainable. Achieving these aims must first involve scientific development of ecofriendly lead molecules. This project will develop platform technologies for the design of bioactive peptides or proteins based on molecules used naturally for highl ....Peptides and Proteins for Fighting Pests and Protecting the Environment. This project aims to use peptides and proteins to fight pests and protect the environment, which is significant because current practices have unintended harmful effects and are unsustainable. Achieving these aims must first involve scientific development of ecofriendly lead molecules. This project will develop platform technologies for the design of bioactive peptides or proteins based on molecules used naturally for highly selective functions in communication and defence. Expected outcomes include novel peptide and protein leads and improved strategies for developing them, which will lead to new and safer ways of protecting biodiversity and food security that are expected to reduce our environmental footprint and bring economic benefits.Read moreRead less
From individuals to mass organisation: aggregation, synchronisation and collective movement in locusts. By combining field biology, robotics and mathematics, this project will determine how animals flock or swarm and, in particular, how locust nymphs control their collective movement over their lifetime. The mathematical models derived during the project will be directly applied to controlling outbreaks of locusts in Australia, South and North Africa.
Be(e) friendly venomous spiders! Novel biopesticides from arachnid venoms. The overall aim of this project is to improve global honeybee health by developing novel bee-friendly bioinsecticides as well as treatments against honeybee parasites such as varroa mites and small hive beetles. This project seeks to significantly improve existing insecticidal lead peptides from spider venoms to increase their oral toxicity and make them more pest-specific. Expected outcomes of this project include a pane ....Be(e) friendly venomous spiders! Novel biopesticides from arachnid venoms. The overall aim of this project is to improve global honeybee health by developing novel bee-friendly bioinsecticides as well as treatments against honeybee parasites such as varroa mites and small hive beetles. This project seeks to significantly improve existing insecticidal lead peptides from spider venoms to increase their oral toxicity and make them more pest-specific. Expected outcomes of this project include a panel of biologically degradable venom peptides that are active against selected pest and parasite species and that can be economically produced in large scale. This would not only provide significant environmental, social and economical benefits on a global scale, but also boost the Australian agrochemical research sector.Read moreRead less