Cryo atom probe tomography: an atomic-scale view of life. This project aims to develop workflows that allow the microscopy technique of atom-probe tomography to be applied to specimens that have been cryogenically cooled during preparation. The project will open up this powerful method, which has made an enormous impact in materials science over the last few decades, to new disciplines such as chemistry and the life sciences. The new types of specimens that can be analysed include vitrified biol ....Cryo atom probe tomography: an atomic-scale view of life. This project aims to develop workflows that allow the microscopy technique of atom-probe tomography to be applied to specimens that have been cryogenically cooled during preparation. The project will open up this powerful method, which has made an enormous impact in materials science over the last few decades, to new disciplines such as chemistry and the life sciences. The new types of specimens that can be analysed include vitrified biological matter, liquids (solutions), surface molecules (ligands), and hydrogen. In the long term, this project has the potential to lead to radical new discoveries in fields such as health and medicine, chemical processing and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Breaking it down: Dissecting the mechanism and exploring new inhibition strategies for polysaccharide cleaving enzymes. Mannose, a common carbohydrate building block, is present in a wide variety of complex polysaccharides including energy storage polymers and glycans attached to proteins. The enzymes that degrade these mannose-rich polymers, termed mannosidases, are important in biofuel production and human health and disease. This project will study a range of mannosidases to chemically and st ....Breaking it down: Dissecting the mechanism and exploring new inhibition strategies for polysaccharide cleaving enzymes. Mannose, a common carbohydrate building block, is present in a wide variety of complex polysaccharides including energy storage polymers and glycans attached to proteins. The enzymes that degrade these mannose-rich polymers, termed mannosidases, are important in biofuel production and human health and disease. This project will study a range of mannosidases to chemically and structurally define their mechanisms and establish strategies to allow intervention in mannosidase-specific disease processes. This work will inform strategies to engineer new enzymes for future biotechnology and industrial applications including sustainable chemical manufacturing, and underpin the development of innovative drugs for treating fungal infections and cancer.Read moreRead less
Sustainable wastewater management. This project aims to extract high-value liquid products (medium-chain fatty acids) from wastewater with minimised greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, in addition to clean water. Traditional wastewater treatment removes organic carbon and nutrients by using vast amounts of energy and releasing greenhouse gas. However, wastewater is a substantial but largely untapped renewable resource. The intended outcome is to transform wastewater from a troubleso ....Sustainable wastewater management. This project aims to extract high-value liquid products (medium-chain fatty acids) from wastewater with minimised greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, in addition to clean water. Traditional wastewater treatment removes organic carbon and nutrients by using vast amounts of energy and releasing greenhouse gas. However, wastewater is a substantial but largely untapped renewable resource. The intended outcome is to transform wastewater from a troublesome pollutant to a valuable resource and reduce carbon footprints.Read moreRead less
Enhanced algal biofuel production: optimising photosynthesis in Australian strains of marine algae. Algal biofuel produces a sustainable liquid fuel to help meet our future energy needs. This project will pioneer a multifaceted approach in molecular biology and photophysiology to engineer the best biofuel producers from Australian marine algae and will advance innovation in Australia's biofuel biotechnology development.
The cell wall substrate delivery mechanisms in plants. This project aims to study the delivery of substrates plants need to biosynthesise sugar polymers. Sugar polymers play key structural and functional roles in plant development and determine quality for all plant-based products including food, textile fibres, building materials and renewable biomass. However, unknown mechanisms regulate and control the transport mechanisms that deliver the building blocks for polysaccharide biosynthesis. This ....The cell wall substrate delivery mechanisms in plants. This project aims to study the delivery of substrates plants need to biosynthesise sugar polymers. Sugar polymers play key structural and functional roles in plant development and determine quality for all plant-based products including food, textile fibres, building materials and renewable biomass. However, unknown mechanisms regulate and control the transport mechanisms that deliver the building blocks for polysaccharide biosynthesis. This project is expected to increase understanding of nucleotide sugar transport and develop and enhance the biological toolbox for applications involving modelling and engineering of plants, synthesis of industrial biopolymers and production of functional foods.Read moreRead less
Breaching membrane barriers. This project will endeavour to develop novel molecular transporters to deliver macromolecules inside cells or microorganisms. Cell membranes are barriers to macromolecules. The ability to cross these barriers and deliver biological macromolecules into cells represents a major achievement with endless opportunities to modulate pathways and to introduce biomarkers, therapeutics and research tools. The project’s novel platform technology would be based on stable cyclic ....Breaching membrane barriers. This project will endeavour to develop novel molecular transporters to deliver macromolecules inside cells or microorganisms. Cell membranes are barriers to macromolecules. The ability to cross these barriers and deliver biological macromolecules into cells represents a major achievement with endless opportunities to modulate pathways and to introduce biomarkers, therapeutics and research tools. The project’s novel platform technology would be based on stable cyclic peptides to deliver genes, proteins, probes or biomarkers into distinct cell types that can monitor or modulate specific pathways and be translated into new knowledge and specific industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Hierarchically structured carbon nanotube catalysts for the conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals. Australia has significant biomass resources, which can be used to produce industrial chemicals and transport fuels. This project will develop a new family of carbon-nanotube-supported catalysts that will lead to improvements in process efficiency and performance for biofuels production.
Accelerating clean automotive innovation: fundamental insights into alternative fuel combustion. To achieve the maximum efficiency from alternatively fuelled engines, better understanding and predictive models are needed for the major limiting factor in spark-ignition engine efficiency: knock. The project will address this gap, thereby accelerating development of better engines and strengthening national capacity in clean engine technology.