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.
Identifying novel salinity tolerance mechanisms by spatial and temporal analysis of lipids in barley. Agrifood production faces the dual challenges of an increasing world population and the threats of abiotic stresses arising from climate change and the erosion of arable land. Cereals, the major food crops, are poorly adapted to tolerate most abiotic stresses, including salinity. This project applies new technologies investigating spatial and temporal biochemical mechanisms a model cereal, Horde ....Identifying novel salinity tolerance mechanisms by spatial and temporal analysis of lipids in barley. Agrifood production faces the dual challenges of an increasing world population and the threats of abiotic stresses arising from climate change and the erosion of arable land. Cereals, the major food crops, are poorly adapted to tolerate most abiotic stresses, including salinity. This project applies new technologies investigating spatial and temporal biochemical mechanisms a model cereal, Hordeum vulgare (barley), utilises to adapt and tolerate salinity. The aims are to investigate the role of specifically plasma membrane lipids modulating either signalling pathways or membrane fluidity that impacts on adaptation during salinity. The results will provide new leads for the development of cereal germplasm with increased salt tolerance.Read moreRead less
Structural studies of host-pathogen interactions. The host-pathogen interface represents a major frontier for biomedical and biotechnological applications. This project aims to understand at the atomic level two such interfaces. In the first instance, the project will elucidate the molecular basis for inhibition of premature host cell death by poxviruses, in particular vaccinia and variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox. In the second instance, the aim is to understand how defensins, a ....Structural studies of host-pathogen interactions. The host-pathogen interface represents a major frontier for biomedical and biotechnological applications. This project aims to understand at the atomic level two such interfaces. In the first instance, the project will elucidate the molecular basis for inhibition of premature host cell death by poxviruses, in particular vaccinia and variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox. In the second instance, the aim is to understand how defensins, a major class of host defence molecules, recognise microbial targets such as fungi, and exert a potent antimicrobial effect. Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms operating at both these host-pathogen interfaces this will provide novel avenues for the design of antiviral and antimicrobial agents.Read moreRead less
How plants produce their biomass. This project aims to investigate mechanisms that underpin the formation of secondary walls, the bulk of biomass in plant cells. Plant cell walls are essential for plant growth and provide great raw materials for many industrial products. Understanding how cell walls are made would enable tailored plant biomass production, but understanding remains poor. The project will induce secondary walls at will and outline a framework for how secondary walls are made. The ....How plants produce their biomass. This project aims to investigate mechanisms that underpin the formation of secondary walls, the bulk of biomass in plant cells. Plant cell walls are essential for plant growth and provide great raw materials for many industrial products. Understanding how cell walls are made would enable tailored plant biomass production, but understanding remains poor. The project will induce secondary walls at will and outline a framework for how secondary walls are made. The outcomes are expected to be relevant for the fuel, feed, food and construction sectors, and thus to Australia's future.Read moreRead less
Defining the molecular architecture of a lymphocyte-activating receptor complex. A robust immune response requires activation of sentinel T cells. This project will seek to understand the architecture of receptors at the T cell surface that allow these important immune cells to sense the presence of pathogens that react accordingly.
Structural analysis of poxviruses: advancing our understanding of complex DNA viruses and their in vivo crystals. This project will use innovative structural biology approaches to investigate two key particles of poxviruses, the largest viruses infecting humans. Advance in understanding of immature particles and natural crystals of poxviruses will provide the basis for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals and novel microparticles for vaccine-delivery.
The structural biology of trace metal trafficking across membranes. This project aims to investigate how essential trace element nutrients are recognised and specifically acquired and expelled by bacterial cells. Cells are surrounded by biomembranes that separate and protect them from their environments. Embedded within these membranes are proteins that perform essential functions. In bacteria, membrane proteins are responsible for the uptake and elimination of trace elements that are required f ....The structural biology of trace metal trafficking across membranes. This project aims to investigate how essential trace element nutrients are recognised and specifically acquired and expelled by bacterial cells. Cells are surrounded by biomembranes that separate and protect them from their environments. Embedded within these membranes are proteins that perform essential functions. In bacteria, membrane proteins are responsible for the uptake and elimination of trace elements that are required for survival. This project will investigate the features of integral membrane proteins that allow discrimination between cargo, by defining their three dimensional architectures using X-ray crystallography. This will contribute to the field of membrane protein structural biology and fundamental discoveries in the area of cellular trace element homeostasis and toxicity.Read moreRead less
Metabolite- and lipid-based immunity. This project aims to investigate T-cell immunity to lipids and metabolites. The immune system protects hosts from pathogens, and uses T-cells to recognise infected host cells. However, many facets of T-cell function are not understood. This project will unearth the evolutionary and molecular correlates of lipid- and metabolite-based immunity across diverse species. This will provide basic fundamental insights and conceptual advances into a poorly understood, ....Metabolite- and lipid-based immunity. This project aims to investigate T-cell immunity to lipids and metabolites. The immune system protects hosts from pathogens, and uses T-cells to recognise infected host cells. However, many facets of T-cell function are not understood. This project will unearth the evolutionary and molecular correlates of lipid- and metabolite-based immunity across diverse species. This will provide basic fundamental insights and conceptual advances into a poorly understood, but crucial, component of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Genomics of temperature response in plants. Climate change is predicted to have negative impacts on Australian agriculture. This project will use genomic tools to uncover biological mechanisms for plant response to temperature that will help design crop varieties that are more tolerant to higher temperatures.
How cells control autophagy during nutrient starvation and stress. This project aims to understand how human cells form autophagosomes during nutrient starvation and stress conditions, including bacterial invasion and mitochondrial dysfunction. Autophagy is a conserved intracellular degradation pathway which fungi, plants, insects and mammals use to respond to starvation and stress. Autophagy can provide nutrients by recycling cellular components, and protect cells from dysfunctional organelles ....How cells control autophagy during nutrient starvation and stress. This project aims to understand how human cells form autophagosomes during nutrient starvation and stress conditions, including bacterial invasion and mitochondrial dysfunction. Autophagy is a conserved intracellular degradation pathway which fungi, plants, insects and mammals use to respond to starvation and stress. Autophagy can provide nutrients by recycling cellular components, and protect cells from dysfunctional organelles and invading pathogens by mediating their removal. The autophagosome is a vesicular membrane structure important in autophagy by delivering material destined for degradation to the lysosome. Better understanding how plant and human cells protect themselves during starvation and stress is expected to benefit the environment and economy.Read moreRead less
Understanding pore formation by the complement membrane attack complex. The project aims to improve our understanding of the function of the membrane attack complex (MAC). MAC is a large protein complex used by the human immune system to target invading bacteria and parasites by punching holes in the lipid membranes of target cells. The MAC is part of a superfamily of proteins, the MACPF (membrane attack complex/perforin superfamily)/CDC (cholesterol-dependent cytolysins) superfamily, used by an ....Understanding pore formation by the complement membrane attack complex. The project aims to improve our understanding of the function of the membrane attack complex (MAC). MAC is a large protein complex used by the human immune system to target invading bacteria and parasites by punching holes in the lipid membranes of target cells. The MAC is part of a superfamily of proteins, the MACPF (membrane attack complex/perforin superfamily)/CDC (cholesterol-dependent cytolysins) superfamily, used by animals (in venoms and immunity), fungi (in defence) and pathogenic bacteria (in disease). The aim of this project is to image to the highest possible resolution how the MAC form pores in the context of bacterial cells and explore the way it inserts into cells in real time. Intended project outcomes may lay the foundation for applied future research into improved antibiotic delivery and novel pesticide development.Read moreRead less