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
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
Attrition in longitudinal studies: advancing and evaluating statistical methods. Longitudinal studies are a vital tool for monitoring the health and well-being of Australians. They are uniquely placed to examine changes in diseases over time and prospectively collect data on exposure and disease onset. There have been many successful longitudinal studies in Australia that have lead to significant breakthroughs in evidence-based health (e.g. the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial). Unfortunatel ....Attrition in longitudinal studies: advancing and evaluating statistical methods. Longitudinal studies are a vital tool for monitoring the health and well-being of Australians. They are uniquely placed to examine changes in diseases over time and prospectively collect data on exposure and disease onset. There have been many successful longitudinal studies in Australia that have lead to significant breakthroughs in evidence-based health (e.g. the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial). Unfortunately all longitudinal studies suffer from attrition, or loss of participants, which leads to questions concerning their validity and generalisability. This project will investigate the causes of attrition, and the effect attrition has on longitudinal studies, in order to improve their design and analysis.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
Modelling and estimation techniques for the transmission and control of Tuberculosis with new and existing vaccines. Most Tuberculosis in Australia is seen in foreign-born people. Australia has an important role in providing leadership in the Asia-Pacific region in Tuberculosis control, which will have flow-on benefits to TB control in this country. Using mathematical models, this project will assess the use of vaccines for Tuberculosis in the developing world. Rising levels of extremely drug r ....Modelling and estimation techniques for the transmission and control of Tuberculosis with new and existing vaccines. Most Tuberculosis in Australia is seen in foreign-born people. Australia has an important role in providing leadership in the Asia-Pacific region in Tuberculosis control, which will have flow-on benefits to TB control in this country. Using mathematical models, this project will assess the use of vaccines for Tuberculosis in the developing world. Rising levels of extremely drug resistant infections make this a timely and important study with significant policy implications, both externally and in the Australian context. Read moreRead less
Stochastic methods for studying models of infection and abundance. The outcomes of this project will have immense benefit to Australia. They impact upon two areas of national importance, namely ensuring an environmentally sustainable Australia, and safeguarding Australia. In particular, the project will provide models, methodology and optimal strategies for sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity, for protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests, and for protecting Australia from te ....Stochastic methods for studying models of infection and abundance. The outcomes of this project will have immense benefit to Australia. They impact upon two areas of national importance, namely ensuring an environmentally sustainable Australia, and safeguarding Australia. In particular, the project will provide models, methodology and optimal strategies for sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity, for protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests, and for protecting Australia from terrorism and crime. Special focus will be given to the control of invasive species, the control of emerging infections, and the optimal allocation of resources. The current risks posed by invasive diseases and pests, and the alarming rate of destruction of biodiversity, warrant urgent funding of this project.Read moreRead less
Who acquires infection from whom across international borders? New approaches for control of emerging infections through understanding travel patterns. Mathematical modelling of data on travellers traversing Australia's borders and their contact patterns can be used to understand the pathways by which infectious diseases enter and spread in Australia. Currently available social contact data which informs models are inadequate and outdated. Gathering new data relevant to modern society will help ....Who acquires infection from whom across international borders? New approaches for control of emerging infections through understanding travel patterns. Mathematical modelling of data on travellers traversing Australia's borders and their contact patterns can be used to understand the pathways by which infectious diseases enter and spread in Australia. Currently available social contact data which informs models are inadequate and outdated. Gathering new data relevant to modern society will help control future infectious disease threats to our society. Our aim is to collect detailed, unique data on demography, behavioural and social patterns of travellers and residents, and use this to develop mathematical models to evaluate effective control measures for emerging infections in Australia. This study will make a unique contribution to national disease control policy.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
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