High Temperature, Piezoelectric Polymer Membranes. This project aims to acquire new knowledge about the preparation of flexible polymer membranes that can convert mechanical energy into electricity (“piezoelectric” conversion) stably at high temperature (e.g. 200-500 °C). This will solve the current problem where only inorganic ceramic materials can be used for high-temperature piezoelectric conversion. The expected outcomes include a new approach to prepare polymer membranes capable of high-tem ....High Temperature, Piezoelectric Polymer Membranes. This project aims to acquire new knowledge about the preparation of flexible polymer membranes that can convert mechanical energy into electricity (“piezoelectric” conversion) stably at high temperature (e.g. 200-500 °C). This will solve the current problem where only inorganic ceramic materials can be used for high-temperature piezoelectric conversion. The expected outcomes include a new approach to prepare polymer membranes capable of high-temperature piezoelectric conversion using an electrostatic spinning technology. The new breakthrough materials will not only enhance performance and reliability at high temperature, but also offer novel applications in diverse fields such as “smart” protective clothing for firefighters. Read moreRead less
High-Performance Polymer Composites for Electrical Discharging. This project aims to address the problem of electrostatic discharge by developing new industry-compatible processing techniques and taking advantage of the synergy between graphene and carbon nanotubes and fibres. Electrostatic discharge due to accumulation of static electricity is a significant problem for lightweight polymer composites used in hazard environments, such as pumps for underground mining, oil and gas storage and satel ....High-Performance Polymer Composites for Electrical Discharging. This project aims to address the problem of electrostatic discharge by developing new industry-compatible processing techniques and taking advantage of the synergy between graphene and carbon nanotubes and fibres. Electrostatic discharge due to accumulation of static electricity is a significant problem for lightweight polymer composites used in hazard environments, such as pumps for underground mining, oil and gas storage and satellites. The outcomes will potentially transform the current manufacturing practice of anti-static composites for industry applications including mining, energy, space and agriculture. Read moreRead less
Stereolithographic Additive Manufacturing of Semicrystalline Thermoplastics. This project aims to advance the development of high-throughput stereolithographic additive manufacturing of thermoplastic polymers and composites by employing a multi-colour irradiation schemes in conjunction with photopolymerisable, ring-opening monomer resin formulations. The fundamental scientific understanding, engineering expertise, and concomitant technology advances generated by this project are anticipated to e ....Stereolithographic Additive Manufacturing of Semicrystalline Thermoplastics. This project aims to advance the development of high-throughput stereolithographic additive manufacturing of thermoplastic polymers and composites by employing a multi-colour irradiation schemes in conjunction with photopolymerisable, ring-opening monomer resin formulations. The fundamental scientific understanding, engineering expertise, and concomitant technology advances generated by this project are anticipated to enable additive manufacturing to transition from the rapid prototyping of individual, unique items to the high volume production of robust, reprocessable plastic parts. By obviating the large capital expense of conventional fabrication, this developed technology should provide a path to reinvigorate Australian manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Microbial junk food: developing synthetic platforms for plastic degradation. This project aims to establish the genetic basis of polyethelene biodegradation (PED) by microbes from the gut microbiome of plastic-eating caterpillars. It will transform the active microbial PED genes into carefully designed synthetic microbes for efficient, safe and large-scale PED. The project will combine innovative functional microbial genetic tools and synthetic biology techniques with solid biochemistry and bioi ....Microbial junk food: developing synthetic platforms for plastic degradation. This project aims to establish the genetic basis of polyethelene biodegradation (PED) by microbes from the gut microbiome of plastic-eating caterpillars. It will transform the active microbial PED genes into carefully designed synthetic microbes for efficient, safe and large-scale PED. The project will combine innovative functional microbial genetic tools and synthetic biology techniques with solid biochemistry and bioinformatics to produce translatable synthetic platforms containing key genes optimised for efficient PE waste removal. The outcomes will have the potential to transform the relative ineffective and expensive current methods for PE disposal into flexible, cost-effective and sustainable solutions applicable to multiple sectors.Read moreRead less
Sculpting a masterpiece: synthesis and evolution of minimal yeast genomes. This project aims to better understand genome complexity by engineering minimal yeast genomes that have fewer genes, and are therefore easier to characterise and engineer. Yeast is a model organism and industrial food, fuel, and chemical producer. This project expects to increase our basic understanding of yeast genomes, and develop new tools for engineering whole genomes. Expected outcomes of this project include the eng ....Sculpting a masterpiece: synthesis and evolution of minimal yeast genomes. This project aims to better understand genome complexity by engineering minimal yeast genomes that have fewer genes, and are therefore easier to characterise and engineer. Yeast is a model organism and industrial food, fuel, and chemical producer. This project expects to increase our basic understanding of yeast genomes, and develop new tools for engineering whole genomes. Expected outcomes of this project include the engineering and characterisation of the world's first minimal yeast genome, and the development of novel industrial yeast strains. This will provide significant benefits for both fundamental genetics and biochemistry research, and the industrial use of yeast for bio-manufacturing of sustainable foods, fuels, and chemicals.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101081
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,238.00
Summary
Developing CRISPR Prime Editing for highly efficient precise gene editing. This project will further develop a recent breakthrough in gene editing technology named CRISPR prime editing to improve its performance in generating specific genome modifications in cells and organisms. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding optimal strategies for its deployment as well as create novel enhanced versions of the technology. This would significantly enhance our ability to perform precise ....Developing CRISPR Prime Editing for highly efficient precise gene editing. This project will further develop a recent breakthrough in gene editing technology named CRISPR prime editing to improve its performance in generating specific genome modifications in cells and organisms. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding optimal strategies for its deployment as well as create novel enhanced versions of the technology. This would significantly enhance our ability to perform precise genome modification of organisms and lead to substantial benefits for a vast array of applications in fundamental and applied biology. Future applications will include generating mutations in cells and model organisms for basic research and creating genetically enhanced agricultural animals or plants.Read moreRead less
Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occu ....Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occur naturally via various microbial means and from insects, like Galleria mellonella larvae. The overall aim of this research project is to understand plastic biodegradation and translate nature’s solutions into flexible and efficient synthetic enzyme technologies that can sustainably recycle commonly used PU foams. Read moreRead less
Multilayered Safety Clothing for Personal Protective Equipment. This project aims to improve multilayered firefighting protective garments and their thermal comfort by utilizing aerogel microparticles containing thermal regulation materials and flame-retardant agents. This research will create new multifunctional fabric designs and engineering techniques to integrate improved heat and flame protection, comfort and smart features into optimized multilayered garments. It will create novel clothing ....Multilayered Safety Clothing for Personal Protective Equipment. This project aims to improve multilayered firefighting protective garments and their thermal comfort by utilizing aerogel microparticles containing thermal regulation materials and flame-retardant agents. This research will create new multifunctional fabric designs and engineering techniques to integrate improved heat and flame protection, comfort and smart features into optimized multilayered garments. It will create novel clothing systems that will better protect wearers and allow them to effectively combat bushfires and save lives and assets. The successful completion will enable industrial capability in next generation advanced protective garments and functional uniforms for broad occupational health safety and well-being applications.Read moreRead less
Advanced Materials from Automated Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Polymers. The project aims to develop industrially scalable and environmentally friendly methods for synthesis of sequence-defined multiblock copolymers (polymer chains containing segments of different polymer types) using automated synthesis methods. The materials to be explored will be largely based on renewable biomass-derived monomeric building blocks. Such polymers are able to undergo microphase separation into spatially period ....Advanced Materials from Automated Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Polymers. The project aims to develop industrially scalable and environmentally friendly methods for synthesis of sequence-defined multiblock copolymers (polymer chains containing segments of different polymer types) using automated synthesis methods. The materials to be explored will be largely based on renewable biomass-derived monomeric building blocks. Such polymers are able to undergo microphase separation into spatially periodic compositional patterns, thereby providing access to a vast range of nano-engineered materials. This would enable design and synthesis of new advanced materials, making use of renewable resources and supporting the circular economy, with diverse potential applications ranging from nanomedicine to materials science.Read moreRead less