Model guided design of advanced microalgae production systems. This project aims to improve the efficiency of advanced single-celled green algae (microalgae) production systems which can produce a wide range of high-value products including renewable fuels and animal feeds. Such systems are able to expand photosynthetic capacity onto non-arable land using carbon dioxide and saline water. However, production efficiencies and costs are currently limited by the ability to capture and distribute lig ....Model guided design of advanced microalgae production systems. This project aims to improve the efficiency of advanced single-celled green algae (microalgae) production systems which can produce a wide range of high-value products including renewable fuels and animal feeds. Such systems are able to expand photosynthetic capacity onto non-arable land using carbon dioxide and saline water. However, production efficiencies and costs are currently limited by the ability to capture and distribute light through these systems effectively. This project aims to optimise methods of light delivery and distribution through photo-bioreactors and high rate ponds. This knowledge is intended to be integrated into advanced modelling tools to enable model-guided design of next-generation high-efficiency systems.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100054
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
How plants respond to cell wall signals. This project aims to discover mechanisms of plant cell wall signalling and modify plant cell walls for improved food, textiles, building materials and renewable biofuels without inadvertently activating cell wall signalling. However, attempts to improve cell walls have been ineffective because it is not known how plants use cell wall signalling to sense and compensate for cell wall changes. This project expects to develop both a genetic screen to find mut ....How plants respond to cell wall signals. This project aims to discover mechanisms of plant cell wall signalling and modify plant cell walls for improved food, textiles, building materials and renewable biofuels without inadvertently activating cell wall signalling. However, attempts to improve cell walls have been ineffective because it is not known how plants use cell wall signalling to sense and compensate for cell wall changes. This project expects to develop both a genetic screen to find mutants defective in cell wall signal transduction and a bioinformatic tool to compare genomes across species and discover cell wall signalling components. Potential benefits include addressing Australian research priorities: Food, Environmental Change, and Energy.Read moreRead less
Molecular Resolution 3D Atlas of the Photosynthetic Machinery. The project aims to produce an atomic-resolution 3-D atlas of the photosynthetic machinery of single-cell green algae to guide the targeted engineering of high efficiency algae production cell lines and bio-inspired artificial solar fuel systems. Photosynthesis drives the first step of all algae production processes by capturing solar energy and converting it to chemical energy (for example sustainable fuels, food and high value prod ....Molecular Resolution 3D Atlas of the Photosynthetic Machinery. The project aims to produce an atomic-resolution 3-D atlas of the photosynthetic machinery of single-cell green algae to guide the targeted engineering of high efficiency algae production cell lines and bio-inspired artificial solar fuel systems. Photosynthesis drives the first step of all algae production processes by capturing solar energy and converting it to chemical energy (for example sustainable fuels, food and high value products), but excess light can cause photodamage. Microalgae have evolved intricate photo-protection mechanisms that can dissipate up to 90 per cent of the captured light energy. Fine-tuning the light harvesting complexes could considerably increase efficiency.Read moreRead less
Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. This project intends to research how complex metabolic pathways originate and evolve. This project will use cutting edge genome sequencing and molecular techniques to elucidate the heritable genetic basis of Baker’s yeast, which has been the selectively evolved to use xylose as a sole carbon source: something vital for second generation biofuel ....Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. This project intends to research how complex metabolic pathways originate and evolve. This project will use cutting edge genome sequencing and molecular techniques to elucidate the heritable genetic basis of Baker’s yeast, which has been the selectively evolved to use xylose as a sole carbon source: something vital for second generation biofuel production that wild yeast cannot do. This project will combine detailed molecular characterisation of highly adapted yeast strains with a novel "molecular palaeontology" approach to trace the evolutionary process and identify functionally significant loci under selection. Detailed characterisation of this trait will accelerate the development of future yeast strains and test fundamental evolutionary theories.Read moreRead less
Atomic scale information for the design of nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a new tool to measure the 3-D distribution of atoms within nanoparticles. For the rational design of nanoparticles, it is necessary to compare the atomic scale structure to the resulting performance. But this information is hard to access. This projects aims to develop new methods so that atom probe microscopy can be applied to experimentally measure the precise 3-D location and identity of the individual atom ....Atomic scale information for the design of nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a new tool to measure the 3-D distribution of atoms within nanoparticles. For the rational design of nanoparticles, it is necessary to compare the atomic scale structure to the resulting performance. But this information is hard to access. This projects aims to develop new methods so that atom probe microscopy can be applied to experimentally measure the precise 3-D location and identity of the individual atoms within nanoparticles, and apply them in the development of alloy catalyst nanoparticles that could make the sustainable production of liquid fuels from biomass commercially viable. These new tools would be useful across the wide range of engineering applications for which nanomaterials are currently being developed.Read moreRead less
Yeast cell-cell communication of overcrowding and nutrient limitation: novel signalling systems and their impact on fermentation. The project will investigate known and novel signalling molecules that allow communication between yeast cells and impact on fermentation dynamics, specifically in a nutrient-depleted environment. The mechanisms by which these molecules exert their effect will be defined using a systems biology approach that integrates many analyses and data sets.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100133
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
Expansion and Upgrade of the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. Expansion and upgrade of the Newcastle plant growth facility: The project will upgrade and expand the Newcastle plant growth facility to ensure a continuous supply of high quality plant material required for competitively-funded research programs. This outcome will be achieved by replacing plant growth cabinets that have passed their built-in 15 year redundancy by many years, and the addition of specialist cabinets for Arabidopsis res ....Expansion and Upgrade of the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. Expansion and upgrade of the Newcastle plant growth facility: The project will upgrade and expand the Newcastle plant growth facility to ensure a continuous supply of high quality plant material required for competitively-funded research programs. This outcome will be achieved by replacing plant growth cabinets that have passed their built-in 15 year redundancy by many years, and the addition of specialist cabinets for Arabidopsis research housed in a renovated PC2 space. Together, the infrastructure additions will enhance the productivity and excellence of core areas of plant biology research in plant development and nutrient transport, which are both areas of research that will be critical to address issues of food security in the future.Read moreRead less
Can we engineer plants to grow on salty soils? This project aims to answer questions about how plants can sustain their growth on salty soils. Plant-derived products constitute a pillar for our society. However, crop yields may be severely penalised due to unfavourable growth conditions, including soil salinity. This is particularly relevant for Australia as a large fraction of its arable land is affected by salt. This project aims to use molecular and cell biology techniques to resolve mechanis ....Can we engineer plants to grow on salty soils? This project aims to answer questions about how plants can sustain their growth on salty soils. Plant-derived products constitute a pillar for our society. However, crop yields may be severely penalised due to unfavourable growth conditions, including soil salinity. This is particularly relevant for Australia as a large fraction of its arable land is affected by salt. This project aims to use molecular and cell biology techniques to resolve mechanisms of how the synthesis of cellulose, which constitutes the bulk of a plant's biomass, is maintained in plants during salt stress. This project has potential for climate change mitigation, enhanced plant biomass production and improved fuel security.Read moreRead less
Phase stability of biomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil: behaviour and control. This project aims to carry out a systematic investigation into the phase behaviour and control of biomass fast pyrolysis into bio-oil and its derived fuels. The project addresses the major problem of fuel phase separation during processing and handling that cause significant operational challenges, for example pumping difficulties and line clogging, during storage, transport and applications of these fuels. The outcomes in ....Phase stability of biomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil: behaviour and control. This project aims to carry out a systematic investigation into the phase behaviour and control of biomass fast pyrolysis into bio-oil and its derived fuels. The project addresses the major problem of fuel phase separation during processing and handling that cause significant operational challenges, for example pumping difficulties and line clogging, during storage, transport and applications of these fuels. The outcomes include the discovery of fundamental knowledge on the phase structure, stability and behaviour of the products of biomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil and its derived fuels and the development of essential engineering tools for predicting and controlling phase behaviour and stability of these fuels.Read moreRead less
Reducing gas and ash corrosion in advanced power generation. Advanced power generation using new coal combustion technologies increases energy efficiency and makes carbon dioxide capture possible, but increases the corrosion problems. This project aims to determine the corrosion behaviour of chromia-scale forming iron- and nickel-base alloys in the presence of deposits (coal ashes and salts) under carbon dioxide rich gas atmospheres. The increased understanding of alloy behaviour in hot corrosiv ....Reducing gas and ash corrosion in advanced power generation. Advanced power generation using new coal combustion technologies increases energy efficiency and makes carbon dioxide capture possible, but increases the corrosion problems. This project aims to determine the corrosion behaviour of chromia-scale forming iron- and nickel-base alloys in the presence of deposits (coal ashes and salts) under carbon dioxide rich gas atmospheres. The increased understanding of alloy behaviour in hot corrosive ashes and gases, will permit more effective materials design and selection leading to more efficient and economic technologies for reliable and low cost carbon capture in energy production, waste-energy conversion and related industries.Read moreRead less