Democratisation of Deep Learning: Neural Architecture Search at Low Cost. The need to manually design Deep Learning-based Neural Networks (DNNs) limits their usage to AI experts and hinders the exploitation of their true potential more broadly, e.g., in farming, humanities. We aim to replace this tedious process through novel AI methods capable of generating DNNs that can perform significantly better and at a lower computational cost than manually designed DNNs. We further expand this idea to so ....Democratisation of Deep Learning: Neural Architecture Search at Low Cost. The need to manually design Deep Learning-based Neural Networks (DNNs) limits their usage to AI experts and hinders the exploitation of their true potential more broadly, e.g., in farming, humanities. We aim to replace this tedious process through novel AI methods capable of generating DNNs that can perform significantly better and at a lower computational cost than manually designed DNNs. We further expand this idea to solve complex real-world problems with both labelled and unlabelled data found in various applications including energy and climate change. The expected outcomes include the novel AI methods, highly trained AI researchers and a number of critical applications that will bring significant benefits to Australia and the world.Read moreRead less
Taming the intruders: the domestication of Tigger transposable elements in mammals. It has become apparent that most of the DNA that makes us what we are is actually comprised of the remnants of invading parasitic DNA acquired over time. A continual battle exists between host which tries to silence or remove this DNA, and the parasite that tries to multiply and spread. We are currently investigating an intriguing aspect of this process that involves host genomes 'domesticating' parasitic DNA to ....Taming the intruders: the domestication of Tigger transposable elements in mammals. It has become apparent that most of the DNA that makes us what we are is actually comprised of the remnants of invading parasitic DNA acquired over time. A continual battle exists between host which tries to silence or remove this DNA, and the parasite that tries to multiply and spread. We are currently investigating an intriguing aspect of this process that involves host genomes 'domesticating' parasitic DNA to provide novel functions, thereby facilitating the evolution of specific characteristics within species.Read moreRead less
A novel and efficient approach for optimisation involving iterative solvers. Computationally expensive simulations involving iterative solvers are increasingly being used in industry to assess performance of products and processes. Repeated use of such simulations is necessary to identify optimum solutions. Even with today's computing power, many such tasks remain computationally prohibitive. This project presents a novel approach to solve optimisation problems involving iterative solvers with l ....A novel and efficient approach for optimisation involving iterative solvers. Computationally expensive simulations involving iterative solvers are increasingly being used in industry to assess performance of products and processes. Repeated use of such simulations is necessary to identify optimum solutions. Even with today's computing power, many such tasks remain computationally prohibitive. This project presents a novel approach to solve optimisation problems involving iterative solvers with limited computing budget. A wide range of industries involved in product and process design would gain a significant competitive advantage from this unique technical innovation. In addition, this technology will be invaluable to uncover and understand complex natural phenomena.Read moreRead less
Adaptive modelling of human responses in complex interaction. This project aims to combine strengths of human cognition and evolutionary computing to efficiently solve problems which neither can do alone. The project will develop techniques combining advanced non-intrusive sensor measures of behaviour and emotional reaction in interaction tasks to enable high level computer support for human goal seeking, in complex data and design environments. This project will allow non-expert users to use to ....Adaptive modelling of human responses in complex interaction. This project aims to combine strengths of human cognition and evolutionary computing to efficiently solve problems which neither can do alone. The project will develop techniques combining advanced non-intrusive sensor measures of behaviour and emotional reaction in interaction tasks to enable high level computer support for human goal seeking, in complex data and design environments. This project will allow non-expert users to use tools normally requiring extensive training in settings where the user can 'see' when they get something they like but do not know how to instruct a computer system to show or do it. Applications of the project will include visualisation for bespoke manufacturing or for high dimensional data, generating abstract art, or improving teleconferencing systems.Read moreRead less
Discovering mechanisms of primary embryonic tissue migration through live cell imaging and novel genetic approaches. The studies proposed here will provide concepts and knowledge about the molecular basis of cell migration that will impact on diverse aspects of human health, such as the causes and nature of tumour metastasis and our understanding of the developmental basis of birth defects. In addition, understanding cell migration mechanisms will allow us to better predict or control the behav ....Discovering mechanisms of primary embryonic tissue migration through live cell imaging and novel genetic approaches. The studies proposed here will provide concepts and knowledge about the molecular basis of cell migration that will impact on diverse aspects of human health, such as the causes and nature of tumour metastasis and our understanding of the developmental basis of birth defects. In addition, understanding cell migration mechanisms will allow us to better predict or control the behaviour of therapeutic stem cells introduced into the body.Read moreRead less
A longitudinal study of the interaction of home and school language in three Aboriginal communities. The importance of language skills cannot be underestimated, and contribute to 'a healthy start to life'. In multilingual Indigenous communities, children must negotiate the complexities of different languages used for different purposes. This project will provide detailed insights into how children manage differences between home and school language, the kinds of problems they encounter when the ....A longitudinal study of the interaction of home and school language in three Aboriginal communities. The importance of language skills cannot be underestimated, and contribute to 'a healthy start to life'. In multilingual Indigenous communities, children must negotiate the complexities of different languages used for different purposes. This project will provide detailed insights into how children manage differences between home and school language, the kinds of problems they encounter when they enter the school system, and how their languages develop over the first four crucial years of school which provide the foundation for the children's future education. Their ability to manage the language of school underpins their ability to lead successful and engaged lives as adults. Read moreRead less
Genetic control of floral architecture. Different flowers have different designs, and so the design must ultimately be controlled by genes. We have identified a gene that keeps sepals separate, and promotes the initiation of petals. We think it does this by a novel growth suppression mechanism, and will now deduce its molecular and cellular basis. This will help maintain Australia's strength in fundamental plant biology. Also, by understanding how sepals and petals arise in a model laboratory sp ....Genetic control of floral architecture. Different flowers have different designs, and so the design must ultimately be controlled by genes. We have identified a gene that keeps sepals separate, and promotes the initiation of petals. We think it does this by a novel growth suppression mechanism, and will now deduce its molecular and cellular basis. This will help maintain Australia's strength in fundamental plant biology. Also, by understanding how sepals and petals arise in a model laboratory species, we can generalise for many species, including economic plants. Thus it may be possible to make designer crops through targeted genetic changes to their floral structure.Read moreRead less
Understanding the Factors which Underlie Successful Refugee Integration in the Australian Workplace. There is general agreement that more needs to be done to integrate refugees into the Australian workplace. This project aims to: identify psychological predictors that enable refugee workers to succeed in maintaining their employment and perform at a higher level; examine the importance of workplace and social support to refugee workplace integration, and the groups for which it may have the grea ....Understanding the Factors which Underlie Successful Refugee Integration in the Australian Workplace. There is general agreement that more needs to be done to integrate refugees into the Australian workplace. This project aims to: identify psychological predictors that enable refugee workers to succeed in maintaining their employment and perform at a higher level; examine the importance of workplace and social support to refugee workplace integration, and the groups for which it may have the greatest benefit; and, investigate the effectiveness of a training program as an intervention to enhance refugee job performance and retention. Results will have significant benefits for refugees, their employers and their communities, and will provide a road-map to improve integration of refugees into Australian society.Read moreRead less
Control of plant organ development by the PETAL LOSS gene of Arabidopsis. We have discovered a new gene in the model laboratory plant Arabidopsis thaliana that is involved in sepal and petal development. It encodes a transcription factor that apparently acts by repressing growth in the inter-sepal zone of flowers where petals arise. We now aim to determine how this growth suppression occurs, and whether it extends to leaves where the gene is also expressed. Control of the initiation and sculptur ....Control of plant organ development by the PETAL LOSS gene of Arabidopsis. We have discovered a new gene in the model laboratory plant Arabidopsis thaliana that is involved in sepal and petal development. It encodes a transcription factor that apparently acts by repressing growth in the inter-sepal zone of flowers where petals arise. We now aim to determine how this growth suppression occurs, and whether it extends to leaves where the gene is also expressed. Control of the initiation and sculpturing of plant organs by site-specific inhibition of growth is a newly discovered mechanism that may be useful in manipulating plant architecture.Read moreRead less
Understanding how auxin and dorsoventral patterning are coordinated in plants. This study will help reveal for the first time how the outgrowth of leaves, flowers and floral organs is coordinated by tissue patterning genes and the plant growth hormone auxin. All plants grow in this way, and our findings, made using a model laboratory plant, will be applicable to crop species as well. Thus we will both expand our core knowledge of how multicellular organisms are constructed, and also generate pos ....Understanding how auxin and dorsoventral patterning are coordinated in plants. This study will help reveal for the first time how the outgrowth of leaves, flowers and floral organs is coordinated by tissue patterning genes and the plant growth hormone auxin. All plants grow in this way, and our findings, made using a model laboratory plant, will be applicable to crop species as well. Thus we will both expand our core knowledge of how multicellular organisms are constructed, and also generate possibilities for modifying the patterns of leaf and flower development in agricultural and horticultural species. Crops with larger leaves, or flowers of different structure, may result.Read moreRead less