The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 biorem ....Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 bioremediation and algal/bacterial systems for the bioremediation of contaminated soils. This will be achieved by applying research on photosynthetic light utilisation efficiency and carbon fixation, chlorophyll fluorescence, biochemistry of secondary metabolites, molecular biology and photobioreactor design and engineering, informed by an understanding of the ecology of these algae.Read moreRead less
Recovery and characterization of monooxygenases for biocatalysis and bioremediation through development of novel DNA- and protein-based technology. Australia contains hundreds of sites contaminated with toxic waste and judged to pose significant risk of harm to the public. This project will identify enzymes and organisms capable of remediating such contaminated sites by natural processes. It will also result in training of persons and development of techniques that will contribute to making bi ....Recovery and characterization of monooxygenases for biocatalysis and bioremediation through development of novel DNA- and protein-based technology. Australia contains hundreds of sites contaminated with toxic waste and judged to pose significant risk of harm to the public. This project will identify enzymes and organisms capable of remediating such contaminated sites by natural processes. It will also result in training of persons and development of techniques that will contribute to making bioremediation an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective technology. The environmental proteomics strategy is a frontier technology, expected to have broad applications in health, food science and the environment. Our development of this technology will create a wide range of opportunities for Australian scientists and companies.Read moreRead less
Multipurpose separation platforms for protein purification. Over the next decades, many new therapies and products will be needed to enhance the quality of human life. Biopharmaceuticals and other protein-based products will thus be increasingly in demand. This will require significant improvements in biotechnological procedures, particularly sophisticated purification technologies. Through the development of a novel technology, this project is anticipated to significantly contribute to these so ....Multipurpose separation platforms for protein purification. Over the next decades, many new therapies and products will be needed to enhance the quality of human life. Biopharmaceuticals and other protein-based products will thus be increasingly in demand. This will require significant improvements in biotechnological procedures, particularly sophisticated purification technologies. Through the development of a novel technology, this project is anticipated to significantly contribute to these societal needs and provide a new way to purify these important molecules. National and community benefits will accrue from this scientific innovation and from its application, which is expected to provide more efficient manufacturing opportunities for key biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Novel Technologies for the Purification of Recombinant Proteins. Availability of enabling technologies for the large-scale purification of recombinant proteins is an essential requirement of the biotechnology industry. This project aims to integrate two concepts in molecular biorecognition. New modalities of immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography will be linked with the selection of new types of peptide affinity handles that can be inserted by genetic engineering methods into proteins pro ....Novel Technologies for the Purification of Recombinant Proteins. Availability of enabling technologies for the large-scale purification of recombinant proteins is an essential requirement of the biotechnology industry. This project aims to integrate two concepts in molecular biorecognition. New modalities of immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography will be linked with the selection of new types of peptide affinity handles that can be inserted by genetic engineering methods into proteins produced by biotechnological procedures. The approach followed then allows these handles to be removed following isolation of the target protein. This project could thus lead to a considerable advance in the manufacture of recombinant proteins intended for human therapy.Read moreRead less
Biological Leaching of Low Grade Nickel Laterite Ores. Harnessing the capability of fungi to dissolve large quantities of nickel and cobalt from laterite ores will create a step change in the technology for processing nickel laterites and other oxide minerals. Using microorganisms and their metabolic products promises to be effective, energy saving, easily controlled and environmentally safe. The mechanistic investigation proposed in this study will generate fundamental innovations and technolo ....Biological Leaching of Low Grade Nickel Laterite Ores. Harnessing the capability of fungi to dissolve large quantities of nickel and cobalt from laterite ores will create a step change in the technology for processing nickel laterites and other oxide minerals. Using microorganisms and their metabolic products promises to be effective, energy saving, easily controlled and environmentally safe. The mechanistic investigation proposed in this study will generate fundamental innovations and technological advancement in bio-leaching of laterite ores. Such technologies can secure the sustainability of nickel production and provide unique ecological reform to the mineral extraction industry.Read moreRead less
In vitro expression and crystallization of proteins from the thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. The project proposal is to develop enabling state-of-the-art protein technologies for biotechnology. We will for the first time develop a rapid and high throughput technique for the expression, purification and crystallisation of proteins from the extreme thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. This important break through in protein technology will assist in determining structure and function ....In vitro expression and crystallization of proteins from the thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. The project proposal is to develop enabling state-of-the-art protein technologies for biotechnology. We will for the first time develop a rapid and high throughput technique for the expression, purification and crystallisation of proteins from the extreme thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. This important break through in protein technology will assist in determining structure and function relationships of thermohalophilic proteins. It is expected that such an understanding together with comparative bioinformatics will assist researchers to develop "designer proteins" with improved functions for different uses in biotechnology. It is also expected that this technology will be amenable for use with other thermohalophilic microbes.Read moreRead less
Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipm ....Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipment suffering EAC, by developing and testing a mitigation measure reasonably independent of the EAC mechanisms. The task includes development of a consolidated strategy based on: accurate determination of the fundamental parameters for crack propagation, and in-situ thermomechnical treatment for local manipulation of material at and ahead of crack-tip, in order to retard/stop crack propagation.Read moreRead less
A functional genomic approach for understanding metal ion adaptation in marine cyanobacteria. Unicellular marine cyanobacteria constitute 20-40% of total marine chlorophyll biomass and carbon fixation, and hence significantly impact the global carbon cycle and are very relevant to combating global warming. This research will reveal some of the major mechanisms by which marine cyanobacteria have adapted to metal levels in coastal and oligotrophic environments. Thus these results will help us und ....A functional genomic approach for understanding metal ion adaptation in marine cyanobacteria. Unicellular marine cyanobacteria constitute 20-40% of total marine chlorophyll biomass and carbon fixation, and hence significantly impact the global carbon cycle and are very relevant to combating global warming. This research will reveal some of the major mechanisms by which marine cyanobacteria have adapted to metal levels in coastal and oligotrophic environments. Thus these results will help us understand the distribution and diversity of these organisms in relation to global primary productivity. They will also lead to the development of more robust biomarkers for metal stress and pollution in coastal environments.Read moreRead less
Designer Surfactants for Creation of Emulsion Properties. We propose new approaches to the design of surfactants for stabilising water in oil emulsions. New block copolymer surfactants may be "tailored" for head group structure and a pre-chosen hydrophilic/lipophilic balance at the oil-water interface using the Australian developed RAFT polymer synthesis method and polymeric inorganic species. The proposers have an extensive background in these areas.
X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, de ....Designer Surfactants for Creation of Emulsion Properties. We propose new approaches to the design of surfactants for stabilising water in oil emulsions. New block copolymer surfactants may be "tailored" for head group structure and a pre-chosen hydrophilic/lipophilic balance at the oil-water interface using the Australian developed RAFT polymer synthesis method and polymeric inorganic species. The proposers have an extensive background in these areas.
X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, developed by us, allow the interfacial structure of the surfactant to be found and the intellectual "loop" closed in the design process. Preliminary screening will be done using the surface balance and bulk emulsion synthesis.Read moreRead less
High Internal Phase Emulsions - Structure and Rheology Control. Our first SPIRT Grant with ORICA Australia Ltd has successfully identified nanostructures in high internal phase emulsions which confer useful stability and robustness on these industrially important systems. The aim now is to ramify those discoveries both scientifically and technologically in the design of emulsion structure using our, now established, techniques. In particular, the objective is to control both nanoscale and mes ....High Internal Phase Emulsions - Structure and Rheology Control. Our first SPIRT Grant with ORICA Australia Ltd has successfully identified nanostructures in high internal phase emulsions which confer useful stability and robustness on these industrially important systems. The aim now is to ramify those discoveries both scientifically and technologically in the design of emulsion structure using our, now established, techniques. In particular, the objective is to control both nanoscale and mesoscale structure in emulsion formulation, as well as the rheology and stability of emulsion preparations. To do this we plan to use mixed surfactant systems and to study intersurfactant synergic effects on the structure and fluidity of the interfacial material. We believe that the proposed work is unique and that the outcomes will be scientifically novel and also valuable for Australian industry.Read moreRead less