Nonlinear near-field nanophotonics. This project aims to develop nanostructures which employ both high intrinsic nonlinearities and high indices of refraction to create nanophotonic devices. Silicon photonics promises a technological leap forward through efficient photon-photon interactions within lossless dielectric nanoparticles. Light-controlling-light devices open new ways to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, which form the basis for many applications from all-optical inform ....Nonlinear near-field nanophotonics. This project aims to develop nanostructures which employ both high intrinsic nonlinearities and high indices of refraction to create nanophotonic devices. Silicon photonics promises a technological leap forward through efficient photon-photon interactions within lossless dielectric nanoparticles. Light-controlling-light devices open new ways to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, which form the basis for many applications from all-optical information processing to biomedical sensing. The expected outcomes will provide Australia with advanced technologies of integrated optical circuits with applications in optical communication networks, bioimaging, solar cells and quantum information technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100592
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Fabrication strategies for nanophotonic devices. The project will develop novel strategies to engineer nanophotonic entities to control and guide light at the nanoscale. These nanostructures will open up new avenues for integrated multifunctional devices spanning sensing, light emission and quantum communications, positioning Australia at the frontier of nanoscience and quantum technologies.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100487
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Thermal hotspots detection in nanoscale two-dimensional electronics. The emergence of flexible nanoelectronics holds the promise to impact the way we live—from smart wearables to foldable smartphones. However, heat dissipation in the atomically-thin materials used for their conception has remained poorly understood due to their planar structures. This project aims at the detection and mapping of nanoscale thermal hotspots in flexible nanoelectronics devices using a two-dimensional-based optical ....Thermal hotspots detection in nanoscale two-dimensional electronics. The emergence of flexible nanoelectronics holds the promise to impact the way we live—from smart wearables to foldable smartphones. However, heat dissipation in the atomically-thin materials used for their conception has remained poorly understood due to their planar structures. This project aims at the detection and mapping of nanoscale thermal hotspots in flexible nanoelectronics devices using a two-dimensional-based optical thermometer. The expected outcome of this project is the development of a non-invasive thermometric technology that enables locating these critical nanoscale hotspots with nanoscale precision. This will lead to better design and manufacturing strategies for heat dissipation in these devices.Read moreRead less
Role Of IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) And IGFBP-5 As Modulators Of Nuclear Hormone Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,750.00
Summary
The insulin-like growth factors are small proteins involved in the growth of most tissues. Their actions are regulated by binding to larger proteins (known as IGFBPs) in the bloodstream and outside the cell. However, some IGFBPs are also found inside cells, where they seem to carry out other functions. We believe that two of these binding proteins, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5, change the way cells respond to vitamin A and vitamin D. These two vitamins are important in cell growth and in the way certain ....The insulin-like growth factors are small proteins involved in the growth of most tissues. Their actions are regulated by binding to larger proteins (known as IGFBPs) in the bloodstream and outside the cell. However, some IGFBPs are also found inside cells, where they seem to carry out other functions. We believe that two of these binding proteins, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5, change the way cells respond to vitamin A and vitamin D. These two vitamins are important in cell growth and in the way certain cells perform specialised functions. In test-tube experiments, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 interact directly with the receptors that regulate the effects of these hormones. If the same thing happens inside the cell, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 could change the way these receptors respond to signals from outside the cell. We will investigate what effect these IGFBPs have in living cells and in whole animals and how this may relate to human disease. If we are able to understand how IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 affect the way cells respond to vitamin A and D, then we may be able to develop new ways to treat certain human diseases.Read moreRead less
Quantum Nanophotonics with Atomically Thin Materials . This project aims to deliver new hardware for scalable integrated quantum photonics based on fluorescent defects in hexagonal boron nitride. The project will generate new knowledge in advanced manufacturing of two-dimensional systems, to pivot towards engineering of new optical qubits. Expected outcomes include a solid-state platform for on-chip quantum technologies and development of sovereign quantum capabilities. The results will constitu ....Quantum Nanophotonics with Atomically Thin Materials . This project aims to deliver new hardware for scalable integrated quantum photonics based on fluorescent defects in hexagonal boron nitride. The project will generate new knowledge in advanced manufacturing of two-dimensional systems, to pivot towards engineering of new optical qubits. Expected outcomes include a solid-state platform for on-chip quantum technologies and development of sovereign quantum capabilities. The results will constitute an important step towards implementation of secure communications and quantum information protocols. Benefits include advances in emerging manufacturing capabilities, training of young Australians, generation of intellectual property and securing major economic benefits to all Australians.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100752
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Rational Design of Hematite Photoanodes for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Hematite (iron oxide) is a promising electrode material for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from water. It has low cost, good long-term stability and absorbs light efficiently. However, its use is limited by its poor electrical conductivity. This project aims to develop a novel host-guest nanostructure that exploits the beneficial light-absorption properties of hematite (the guest) but shifts the charge transport fun ....Rational Design of Hematite Photoanodes for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Hematite (iron oxide) is a promising electrode material for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from water. It has low cost, good long-term stability and absorbs light efficiently. However, its use is limited by its poor electrical conductivity. This project aims to develop a novel host-guest nanostructure that exploits the beneficial light-absorption properties of hematite (the guest) but shifts the charge transport function to a nanostructured transparent conductive oxide host. The project aims to produce nanostructured hematite electrodes for efficient hydrogen production from water and sunlight, thus making a significant contribution to the goal of commercially-viable storage of solar energy in the form of hydrogen.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100172
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$270,000.00
Summary
Inductively-coupled plasma etching facility. Inductively-coupled plasma etching facility: The aim of this project is to bring together an inductively-coupled plasma etcher with a high resolution tool for optical lithography to create a facility capable of producing nano-structures in silicon surfaces. Such structures are the basis of high performance photonic, nano-electronic, and MicroElectroMechanical (MEM) devices. The lithography tool is a step-and-repeat system capable of exceptionally high ....Inductively-coupled plasma etching facility. Inductively-coupled plasma etching facility: The aim of this project is to bring together an inductively-coupled plasma etcher with a high resolution tool for optical lithography to create a facility capable of producing nano-structures in silicon surfaces. Such structures are the basis of high performance photonic, nano-electronic, and MicroElectroMechanical (MEM) devices. The lithography tool is a step-and-repeat system capable of exceptionally high rates of throughput so this etcher will be a crucial enabling tool for efficient fabrication of nano-devices for research into quantum computing, high bandwidth, quantum-secure optical communications, renewable energy, and for applications in medicine. The etcher will be available for national access.Read moreRead less
Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the r ....Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the receptor-ligand interactions using inexpensive miniature spectrometers - radically transforming these assays. This would generate fundamental and applied knowledge of materials sciences, photonic, and biointerfaces for label-free, ultra-sensitive, and selective assays to enable future drug and diagnostics target discovery. Read moreRead less
Pathways Of Neurosteroid-mediated Protection Following Compromised Pregnancy And Preterm Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,785.00
Summary
The hormonal environment of pregnancy is essential for normal development of the fetal brain. Levels of key hormones fall following premature birth and are further suppressed if the fetus is small or subjected to stress. This leads developmental problems in infants from the pregnancies. This project will examine effectiveness of replacement and supplementation treatments with critical neurosteroid hormones in reversing the adverse neurological effects of these complications of pregnancy.
Origins, evolution, and economic cost of gender norms. Gender norms are slow to change, and key drivers of economic development. This proposal leverages natural experiments to test their causal implications on two major channels of economic growth: the trust shared by individuals and the productivity of firms. It will use cutting-edge empirical techniques to generate novel measures of diversity and inclusion for Australian firms, and will conduct original fieldwork, matching experimental measure ....Origins, evolution, and economic cost of gender norms. Gender norms are slow to change, and key drivers of economic development. This proposal leverages natural experiments to test their causal implications on two major channels of economic growth: the trust shared by individuals and the productivity of firms. It will use cutting-edge empirical techniques to generate novel measures of diversity and inclusion for Australian firms, and will conduct original fieldwork, matching experimental measures of trust and cooperation with variation in traditional male versus female roles. This research aims at improving fundamental knowledge about how cultural norms shape economic outcomes and anticipates delivering practical policy recommendations for more efficient and inclusive economic growth. Read moreRead less