Investigating Near-Threshold Atomic and Molecular Collision Processes with Multiparameter Detection Techniques. We are proposing to perform state-of-the-art, electron impact excitation and ionization measurements on a range of atoms and molecules. The combination of new detector technology and innovative experimental design will enable measurements of near-threshold excitation and ionization in a number of important atomic and molecular systems. The measurements will have implications for the ....Investigating Near-Threshold Atomic and Molecular Collision Processes with Multiparameter Detection Techniques. We are proposing to perform state-of-the-art, electron impact excitation and ionization measurements on a range of atoms and molecules. The combination of new detector technology and innovative experimental design will enable measurements of near-threshold excitation and ionization in a number of important atomic and molecular systems. The measurements will have implications for the further development of atomic scattering theory, particularly the role of electron-electron correlations, and provide much needed absolute scattering information on the excitation of molecules which are of relevance to our atmosphere and various technological devices.Read moreRead less
Statistical methods for detection of non-coding RNAs in eukaryote genomes. Understanding how eukaryotic cells work is a major goal of 21st century biology. A crucial step will be to catalogue the functional components of eukaryotic genomes. Australian researchers must be involved in this process at an early stage, in order to maximise commercial opportunities, attract quality researchers and position ourselves for further advances. This project will make major contributions to international effo ....Statistical methods for detection of non-coding RNAs in eukaryote genomes. Understanding how eukaryotic cells work is a major goal of 21st century biology. A crucial step will be to catalogue the functional components of eukaryotic genomes. Australian researchers must be involved in this process at an early stage, in order to maximise commercial opportunities, attract quality researchers and position ourselves for further advances. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area, via the development of statistical methods for segmenting genomes, classification of those segments, and study of the resulting classes. In the long term, enhanced understanding of eukaryotic cells will lead to breakthroughs in biology, and to medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural and scientific advances.Read moreRead less
Dynamics and correlations of many-body systems. The proposed program will greatly enhance Australian science through linking innovative
theoretical techniques with the successful ongoing Australian experimental program in atom
lasers, atom chip interferometry and ultra-cold fermions. Pioneering theoretical methods in
quantum phase-space are internationally recognized, and will be extended into new areas relevant
to Australia. These have fundamental significance to fields ranging from nanotec ....Dynamics and correlations of many-body systems. The proposed program will greatly enhance Australian science through linking innovative
theoretical techniques with the successful ongoing Australian experimental program in atom
lasers, atom chip interferometry and ultra-cold fermions. Pioneering theoretical methods in
quantum phase-space are internationally recognized, and will be extended into new areas relevant
to Australia. These have fundamental significance to fields ranging from nanotechnology to
astrophysics, as well as providing a route to improved atomic clocks and other instruments.
Combining these theoretical and computational methods from the physical sciences with biology
and genetics will provide future cross-disciplinary benefits to Australian biomedical science.Read moreRead less
Quantum Simulations with Dilute Gas Bose Einstein Condensates. Fundamental scientific research, such as we propose, is an important contributor to the long term wealth and well being of the Nation. It shapes our culture, our ways of thinking, and our beliefs. It also contributes directly, and in the shorter term, through the technology development that accompanies scientific research at the frontiers of knowledge. The students participating in this research will develop skills in innovation, int ....Quantum Simulations with Dilute Gas Bose Einstein Condensates. Fundamental scientific research, such as we propose, is an important contributor to the long term wealth and well being of the Nation. It shapes our culture, our ways of thinking, and our beliefs. It also contributes directly, and in the shorter term, through the technology development that accompanies scientific research at the frontiers of knowledge. The students participating in this research will develop skills in innovation, intellectual property management, and commercialisation - all of which are critical to the Nation's future.Read moreRead less
Mutagenesis and combinatorial algorithms for sequencing problematic genomic regions. This project will develop a remarkable and original approach to DNA sequencing with potential to radically improve the speed, accuracy and effectiveness of existing sequencing technologies. It is especially useful for dealing with difficult-to-sequence genomic regions and has implications for all sequencing projects, including completion of the Human Genome Project. The approach involves generating, and wholly o ....Mutagenesis and combinatorial algorithms for sequencing problematic genomic regions. This project will develop a remarkable and original approach to DNA sequencing with potential to radically improve the speed, accuracy and effectiveness of existing sequencing technologies. It is especially useful for dealing with difficult-to-sequence genomic regions and has implications for all sequencing projects, including completion of the Human Genome Project. The approach involves generating, and wholly or partially sequencing, mutated copies of problematic regions of the target genome. Advanced combinatorial algorithms are then used to form highly probable alignments between strings and determine the unknown sequence. The approach has additional benefits in detecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms and sequencing errors.Read moreRead less
Mining venture risk: novel econometric methods to integrate joint financial and geological uncertainty into dynamic risk forecasting measures. The mining industry is nationally important: it contributed $33,927M to Australia's GDP in 2002-3. This project's outcomes - sophisticated statistical and econometric tools - will significantly improve capability for forecasting overall risk to mining projects requiring vast upfront, irreversible investments, and contribute to its efficiency and internati ....Mining venture risk: novel econometric methods to integrate joint financial and geological uncertainty into dynamic risk forecasting measures. The mining industry is nationally important: it contributed $33,927M to Australia's GDP in 2002-3. This project's outcomes - sophisticated statistical and econometric tools - will significantly improve capability for forecasting overall risk to mining projects requiring vast upfront, irreversible investments, and contribute to its efficiency and international competitiveness. Innovative methods driven by data from complex financial and geological systems will integrate price volatility risk and orebody uncertainty in a real options framework, providing holistic, rigorous measurement of mining venture risk. Xstrata Queensland Ltd will strongly support and participate in research training of an identified candidate to deliver discoveries to the wider industry.Read moreRead less
Retracing the Early Evolution of Metazoa using Novel Methods and Strategies. Metazoa is one of the best-characterised groups of species in terms of its morphology, fossil record, development, and genetic make-up, but the phylogeny remains obscure because the fossil record is incomplete and because molecular phylogenetic methods have not yet been developed with the complexity of genomic data in mind. We will develop methods and strategies for the analysis of whole genomes, and use them in studies ....Retracing the Early Evolution of Metazoa using Novel Methods and Strategies. Metazoa is one of the best-characterised groups of species in terms of its morphology, fossil record, development, and genetic make-up, but the phylogeny remains obscure because the fossil record is incomplete and because molecular phylogenetic methods have not yet been developed with the complexity of genomic data in mind. We will develop methods and strategies for the analysis of whole genomes, and use them in studies of the mitochondrial genome. We will infer the animal phylogeny, and use it to chart the evolution of animal morphology and development, and the evolution of mitochondrial genetic codes, gene order, and nucleotide content.Read moreRead less
New Approaches to the Analysis of Count Time Series. The focus of this proposal is on the analysis of data that enumerate events over time. Occurrences of such count data abound in economics and business, examples being observations on insurance claims, loan defaults and individual product demand. This project develops a suite of innovative methods for modelling and predicting event counts. The methods explicitly accommodate both the discreteness of the data and possible complexities in its evo ....New Approaches to the Analysis of Count Time Series. The focus of this proposal is on the analysis of data that enumerate events over time. Occurrences of such count data abound in economics and business, examples being observations on insurance claims, loan defaults and individual product demand. This project develops a suite of innovative methods for modelling and predicting event counts. The methods explicitly accommodate both the discreteness of the data and possible complexities in its evolution over time. In so doing, they enable both accurate inferences regarding the dynamic structure of the data to be drawn and accurate forecasts of future event counts to be produced.Read moreRead less
The mathematics of cold quantum matter. Ongoing advances in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum matter play a leading role in the international effort towards the eventual realisation of quantum technology. This research project aims to build on and develop Australia's mathematical research strengths to explore and describe the enabling physics of cold quantum matter. This approach will further consolidate and enhance Australia's leadership in quantum science. The program of fundam ....The mathematics of cold quantum matter. Ongoing advances in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum matter play a leading role in the international effort towards the eventual realisation of quantum technology. This research project aims to build on and develop Australia's mathematical research strengths to explore and describe the enabling physics of cold quantum matter. This approach will further consolidate and enhance Australia's leadership in quantum science. The program of fundamental research will also contribute to training mathematically talented students in a rapidly advancing area with the capacity to contribute to a wide range of problems, including the emerging technology of quantum devices.Read moreRead less
Quantum correlations in ultra-cold Fermi gases. The field of ultra-cold Fermi gases provides a unique opportunity to develop and test theoretical methods for novel experimental environments of exceptional purity and simplicity. This improved understanding will have potential applications in many fields, ranging from the astrophysics of neutron stars to condensed matter systems such as superconductors or nanostructures. Just as importantly, the project will develop linkages with world leading the ....Quantum correlations in ultra-cold Fermi gases. The field of ultra-cold Fermi gases provides a unique opportunity to develop and test theoretical methods for novel experimental environments of exceptional purity and simplicity. This improved understanding will have potential applications in many fields, ranging from the astrophysics of neutron stars to condensed matter systems such as superconductors or nanostructures. Just as importantly, the project will develop linkages with world leading theoretical groups, which will greatly aid research student education. There are direct applications to experiments on molecule formation with ultra-cold fermions in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics.Read moreRead less