Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101504
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,026.00
Summary
Crossing restrictive biobarriers with self-assembled lipid nanocarriers. This project aims to determine how nanoscale objects which mimic the surface of cells behave in biologically relevant environments. This project expects to generate new knowledge in physical chemistry by complementing innovative surface chemistry design and characterisation with data science approaches. The expected outcome of this project is identification of the mode of interaction of these biomimetic objects with cells, ....Crossing restrictive biobarriers with self-assembled lipid nanocarriers. This project aims to determine how nanoscale objects which mimic the surface of cells behave in biologically relevant environments. This project expects to generate new knowledge in physical chemistry by complementing innovative surface chemistry design and characterisation with data science approaches. The expected outcome of this project is identification of the mode of interaction of these biomimetic objects with cells, which may then reveal a new pathway for the delivery of pharmaceuticals. This could provide significant future benefits in the treatment of neurological diseases and bacterial infections, by overcoming the barrier that the cell surface presents to the uptake of many medicinal drugs.Read moreRead less
Congestion control in complex networks with higher-order interactions. Traffic congestion significantly costs the Australian economy and environment. This project aims to develop ground-breaking network models of urban traffic systems to build a new congestion control framework. The purpose of network modelling is to capture the interdependence between different parts of traffic systems, which facilitates studying congestion cascade within the network. The project expects to generate next genera ....Congestion control in complex networks with higher-order interactions. Traffic congestion significantly costs the Australian economy and environment. This project aims to develop ground-breaking network models of urban traffic systems to build a new congestion control framework. The purpose of network modelling is to capture the interdependence between different parts of traffic systems, which facilitates studying congestion cascade within the network. The project expects to generate next generation of network models for more effective congestion control. Expected outcomes include novel congestion control technologies that adjust traffic signals in real-time to optimally utilise the available road space. This should provide significant economic and environmental benefits to Australians by easing traffic jams.Read moreRead less
Uncovering the First Stars and Galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope. This project aims to find "First Light": the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. Understanding the astrophysics of the first galaxies, their explosive growth, and how they set ablaze the remaining gas in the Universe have long been among the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy. Decades in the making, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 marks a watershed moment. T ....Uncovering the First Stars and Galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope. This project aims to find "First Light": the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. Understanding the astrophysics of the first galaxies, their explosive growth, and how they set ablaze the remaining gas in the Universe have long been among the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy. Decades in the making, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 marks a watershed moment. This project uses privileged access to the revolutionary space telescope to find "First Light" and contribute to rewriting the first chapter of our cosmic history. The project is expected to significantly enhance Australia's international standing through leadership in use of the world's flagship scientific facility.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$433,219.00
Summary
Awakening giants in galaxies: Using stars to probe supermassive black holes. This project aims to understand the unexplored population of non-active or quiescent supermassive black holes (SMBHs) using tidal disruption events - the multi-wavelength outburst resulting from a star being ripped apart by the tidal forces of the SMBH. This project will increase our understanding of the transient and accretion properties of SMBHs in a broad range of galaxies, while the expected outcomes include novel t ....Awakening giants in galaxies: Using stars to probe supermassive black holes. This project aims to understand the unexplored population of non-active or quiescent supermassive black holes (SMBHs) using tidal disruption events - the multi-wavelength outburst resulting from a star being ripped apart by the tidal forces of the SMBH. This project will increase our understanding of the transient and accretion properties of SMBHs in a broad range of galaxies, while the expected outcomes include novel techniques for distinguishing different types of extreme SMBH emission and characterisation of the environments where these extreme transient events occur. These outcomes will facilitate the identification of transient SMBH events and enhance the scientific return of the next generation of international optical surveys.Read moreRead less
Unveiling the dead and dusty Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope. This project aims to find the earliest dead and dust obscured galaxies in the Universe. Understanding their astrophysics, explosive growth, and demise have long been among the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy. Decades in the making, the imminent availability of the James Webb Space Telescope mid-2022 marks a watershed moment. This project uses guaranteed access to the revolutionary space telescope to discove ....Unveiling the dead and dusty Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope. This project aims to find the earliest dead and dust obscured galaxies in the Universe. Understanding their astrophysics, explosive growth, and demise have long been among the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy. Decades in the making, the imminent availability of the James Webb Space Telescope mid-2022 marks a watershed moment. This project uses guaranteed access to the revolutionary space telescope to discover the first dead galaxies and unveil the previously hidden "dusty" galaxies and shed light on their suspected evolutionary link. The project is expected to significantly enhance Australia's international standing through leadership in use of the world's flagship scientific facility.Read moreRead less
Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected ....Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected outcomes will be novel cryoprotectants that are easy to synthesise, non-toxic and effective, opening up new possibilities for the cryopreservation of cells, organs and possibly even whole organisms. This will have broad impact in critical applications such as long-term blood storage, reproductive technology and stem cell therapy, as well as preservation of endangered species.Read moreRead less
Nanoengineered hybrid coatings that control inflammation to artificial bone. This project aims to develop novel biocompatible surfaces using nanotechnology approaches to understand how cells attach to and grow on artificial bone materials. This research is significant because it combines novel nanofabrication and surface modification strategies for unprecedented control and manipulation of inflammatory cell behaviour relevant to orthopaedic implants. The project will overcome current limitations ....Nanoengineered hybrid coatings that control inflammation to artificial bone. This project aims to develop novel biocompatible surfaces using nanotechnology approaches to understand how cells attach to and grow on artificial bone materials. This research is significant because it combines novel nanofabrication and surface modification strategies for unprecedented control and manipulation of inflammatory cell behaviour relevant to orthopaedic implants. The project will overcome current limitations of uncontrollable inflammatory reactions to surfaces. The multifunctional surfaces are expected to give the biomaterials field new tools to control and maintain bone cell functionality, in vitro. Potential long-term benefits include applications as coatings in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and medical implants.Read moreRead less
Imaging the youngest planets. Over 5000 exoplanets have been discovered, demonstrating that planet formation is a robust and widespread process. But we do not know how these planets, including those in our solar system, formed. Our group at Monash pioneered a new technique for detecting "baby" planets --- observed still embedded in the disc of gas and dust from which they are born. The project aims to characterise the youngest detected exoplanets with the world's largest telescopes, including ....Imaging the youngest planets. Over 5000 exoplanets have been discovered, demonstrating that planet formation is a robust and widespread process. But we do not know how these planets, including those in our solar system, formed. Our group at Monash pioneered a new technique for detecting "baby" planets --- observed still embedded in the disc of gas and dust from which they are born. The project aims to characterise the youngest detected exoplanets with the world's largest telescopes, including time already awarded on the James Webb Space Telescope. We will image these planets, and model their birth in 3D. The project will develop state of the art computer algorithms for simulating fluid flow and data analysis technics that can be applied to problems here on Earth. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100511
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Molecular-Scale Interaction of Nanomaterials with Biomembranes. This project aims to develop a holistic understanding of how nanoparticles, and nanomaterials in general, interact with cellular materials, via the cell membrane on a molecular level. To date, the precise mechanism by which nanomaterials, such as particles, colloids, and sheets, interact with cellular material is poorly understood.
This project expects to generate new, fundamental knowledge in the field, and establish a platform for ....Molecular-Scale Interaction of Nanomaterials with Biomembranes. This project aims to develop a holistic understanding of how nanoparticles, and nanomaterials in general, interact with cellular materials, via the cell membrane on a molecular level. To date, the precise mechanism by which nanomaterials, such as particles, colloids, and sheets, interact with cellular material is poorly understood.
This project expects to generate new, fundamental knowledge in the field, and establish a platform for high-resolution, in situ, molecular-scale imaging of nanoscale events at the biomembrane. This will develop a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of nanomaterial-cell interactions, and provide benefit in the development of next-generation nanomaterial-based therapeutics and diagnostic technologies.
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Electronic-vibrational spectroscopy: A new probe for structure and function. This project aims to solve a major challenge in ultrafast spectroscopy: to identify and quantify competing reaction pathways in complex photochemical systems. Ultrafast Spectroscopy provides information on excited-state processes of photochemical reactions, however, unravelling heterogeneous systems with competing parallel processes remains difficult. Multidimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopy, sensitive to el ....Electronic-vibrational spectroscopy: A new probe for structure and function. This project aims to solve a major challenge in ultrafast spectroscopy: to identify and quantify competing reaction pathways in complex photochemical systems. Ultrafast Spectroscopy provides information on excited-state processes of photochemical reactions, however, unravelling heterogeneous systems with competing parallel processes remains difficult. Multidimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopy, sensitive to electronic dynamics and molecular structure, is expected to overcome this barrier. This new level of detail will profoundly enhance our understanding of energy and chemical conversion in complex systems and will reveal design targets for optimising next-generation light-energy harvesting, conducting, and emitting materials.Read moreRead less