Heavy atoms and ions and precision tests of fundamental physics. This project aims to further the understanding of the structure of heavy atoms through development and application of state-of-the-art many-electron methods. Atomic physics is undergoing a period of rapid growth with a new generation of experiments underway across different areas in fundamental physics. This includes testing particle physics at low energies, opening a new realm of discovery with the synthesis and interrogation of s ....Heavy atoms and ions and precision tests of fundamental physics. This project aims to further the understanding of the structure of heavy atoms through development and application of state-of-the-art many-electron methods. Atomic physics is undergoing a period of rapid growth with a new generation of experiments underway across different areas in fundamental physics. This includes testing particle physics at low energies, opening a new realm of discovery with the synthesis and interrogation of superheavy elements, and the development of atomic clocks of ever-increasing precision. The expected benefit will be to increase capability in fundamental physics tests and in the development of precision atomic instruments.Read moreRead less
Understanding physics through flexible calculations. This project aims to explore and interpret physics at the high energy frontier with calculations and computational techniques. It will develop and apply techniques and software to arbitrary physics models and make predictions in models. This will expand the set of ideas that can be rigorously scrutinised using data from collider and astrophysical experiments. This may shed light on the origin of dark matter and why the Higgs mass is so light, ....Understanding physics through flexible calculations. This project aims to explore and interpret physics at the high energy frontier with calculations and computational techniques. It will develop and apply techniques and software to arbitrary physics models and make predictions in models. This will expand the set of ideas that can be rigorously scrutinised using data from collider and astrophysical experiments. This may shed light on the origin of dark matter and why the Higgs mass is so light, and expand understanding of nature at the most foundational level.Read moreRead less
Discovering new physics with the Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to apply and develop new methods of machine learning to particle physics beyond the Standard Model. The project will develop high-end analytical and computational techniques necessary to analyse particle physics results from the Large Hadron Collider. These techniques should enable exciting new measurements to be carried out, enhance the likelihood of discovering new phenomena in current and future particle colliders, and ....Discovering new physics with the Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to apply and develop new methods of machine learning to particle physics beyond the Standard Model. The project will develop high-end analytical and computational techniques necessary to analyse particle physics results from the Large Hadron Collider. These techniques should enable exciting new measurements to be carried out, enhance the likelihood of discovering new phenomena in current and future particle colliders, and rule out incorrect theories.Read moreRead less
Explaining the dark matter small-scale crisis with spectral distortions. This project aims to explain the nature of dark matter and provide a solution to the so-called small-scale crisis. The "cold dark matter" model provides an excellent fit to observations of the universe on the largest scales. Yet, it appears to be in conflict with current understanding of how small structures such as dwarf galaxies form. This project expects to determine the distortions to the blackbody spectrum of the cosmi ....Explaining the dark matter small-scale crisis with spectral distortions. This project aims to explain the nature of dark matter and provide a solution to the so-called small-scale crisis. The "cold dark matter" model provides an excellent fit to observations of the universe on the largest scales. Yet, it appears to be in conflict with current understanding of how small structures such as dwarf galaxies form. This project expects to determine the distortions to the blackbody spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons due to different solutions to this small-scale crisis. The expected outcome is to open an observational pathway to test these solutions with the future CMB observations. This project will provide significant contribution to both particle physics and astrophysics/astronomy, and will advance Australia’s knowledge base in fundamental science beyond the immediate goal of clarifying small-scale problems of cold dark matter.Read moreRead less
Converging on new particles and fundamental symmetries. The goal of this project is to test theories for new particles and fundamental symmetries. By using advanced computational and statistical methods to combine all relevant data from many different experiments with a large number of different theoretical predictions, it expects to reveal just how well different theories actually describe reality. This will help us to understand what new particles and fundamental symmetries exist beyond thos ....Converging on new particles and fundamental symmetries. The goal of this project is to test theories for new particles and fundamental symmetries. By using advanced computational and statistical methods to combine all relevant data from many different experiments with a large number of different theoretical predictions, it expects to reveal just how well different theories actually describe reality. This will help us to understand what new particles and fundamental symmetries exist beyond those we already know. It will lead to new algorithms and computational methods in machine learning and statistical sampling, and will train a cohort of graduates highly skilled in statistical data science and research computing.Read moreRead less
Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broa ....Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broadly addressing biological questions across multiple disciplines (e.g. from health to food production). This project intends to provide significant benefits, such as enhanced biological knowledge, multidisciplinary training opportunities and will build Australia’s capability in this rapidly expanding field.Read moreRead less
Breaking through the Gram-negative cell barrier. This project aims to develop fundamental knowledge of the cell envelope in Gram-negative bacteria, which functions as a permeability barrier to small molecules. Combining innovative functional genomics with biochemistry, this project will determine how small molecules can pass across the cell envelope, and the chemical properties that they need to do so. Some Gram-negative bacteria are human pathogens and cause serious infections, whereas others a ....Breaking through the Gram-negative cell barrier. This project aims to develop fundamental knowledge of the cell envelope in Gram-negative bacteria, which functions as a permeability barrier to small molecules. Combining innovative functional genomics with biochemistry, this project will determine how small molecules can pass across the cell envelope, and the chemical properties that they need to do so. Some Gram-negative bacteria are human pathogens and cause serious infections, whereas others are used in biotechnology for biosynthetic chemical production or bioremediation. This project expects to help the future development of new antibiotics and assist in the design of strains to be used in biotechnological applications.Read moreRead less
Sensing biomechanical forces in the heart. Mechanosensitive ion channels are key molecules that define how each heart cell interacts with their physical environment. Yet how they enable cells to decode biomechanical cues remains poorly understood. At the heart of this problem is a lack of tools to quantify the force required for activation. This project aims to develop novel technologies to record the activity of these essential channels in a critical cell type within the heart, and use this inf ....Sensing biomechanical forces in the heart. Mechanosensitive ion channels are key molecules that define how each heart cell interacts with their physical environment. Yet how they enable cells to decode biomechanical cues remains poorly understood. At the heart of this problem is a lack of tools to quantify the force required for activation. This project aims to develop novel technologies to record the activity of these essential channels in a critical cell type within the heart, and use this information in addition to micro-engineering approaches to fully understand the role of these channels in force sensing and generation, at both the single cell and micro-tissue levels. This knowledge and technology has broad utility that extends far beyond cardiac biology into multiple fields.Read moreRead less
The molecular basis for efficacy at G protein coupled receptors. This project aims to investigate the molecular steps underlying the relationship between sensing by signal-transmitting proteins on the cell surface called G protein-coupled receptors and cellular response. The project aims to build on studies that have sought to understand the primary, molecular basis for this cellular volume control. This project seeks to use these novel approaches to fill this knowledge gap, providing a deeper u ....The molecular basis for efficacy at G protein coupled receptors. This project aims to investigate the molecular steps underlying the relationship between sensing by signal-transmitting proteins on the cell surface called G protein-coupled receptors and cellular response. The project aims to build on studies that have sought to understand the primary, molecular basis for this cellular volume control. This project seeks to use these novel approaches to fill this knowledge gap, providing a deeper understanding of how physiology and medicines work. The project expects to expand fundamental understanding of signal transmission at this receptor class. This project will deliver benefits including expanded basic knowledge and a contribution to future improvements in drug development.Read moreRead less
New Frontiers in Innate Immunity. This program aims to define how the immune system senses and responds to environmental cues. By combining interdisciplinary approaches with cutting-edge imaging and spatial biology technologies, this program expects to reveal how immune sensor proteins are regulated at the molecular, cellular and tissue level. Outcomes of this program include unparalleled insights into molecular mechanisms that underpin effective functioning of the immune system, training of fut ....New Frontiers in Innate Immunity. This program aims to define how the immune system senses and responds to environmental cues. By combining interdisciplinary approaches with cutting-edge imaging and spatial biology technologies, this program expects to reveal how immune sensor proteins are regulated at the molecular, cellular and tissue level. Outcomes of this program include unparalleled insights into molecular mechanisms that underpin effective functioning of the immune system, training of future scientists, and strengthening international collaborations across academia and industry. This will contribute to a high-quality workforce for research and innovation, and secure Australia’s position at the forefront of immunology research driven by cutting-edge technologies. Read moreRead less