Carbon-based electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage and water desalination. Clean energy and water resource are two critical issues for an environmentally sustainable Australia. The research project will lead to the discovery of innovative carbon-based electrode materials with well-designed physical and chemical properties for clean energy storage and alternative water desalination technology.
Metals in biocatalysis. Metals and enzymes are essential for the chemistry of life. This project will aim to garner the potential of metal-dependent enzymes to develop new drugs against osteoporosis, combat the spread of antibiotics resistance and optimise some of these enzymes to detoxify pesticide-polluted environments, thus contributing to global health and food security.
The microbe factory: a novel approach to benign minerals processing. The purpose of this project is to reduce the environmental impact of current mining practices. The anticipated outcome of this project is the replacement of toxic chemicals used in the separation of minerals with the novel use of environmentally benign microbes.
Using ancient fish ear bones to overcome the shifting baseline syndrome in freshwater fish populations. Chemical tracers in fish ear bones from 5,500 years ago through to modern times will provide information on changes in fish ecology over centuries and identify why freshwater fish populations have declined. Outcomes will provide knowledge of how fish populations would react to altered fishing pressure and restoration of environments.
Developing a new class of RNA delivery vehicle using synthetic virology. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the empty shells of viruses, or capsids, to protect and deliver sensitive cargo such as RNA in agricultural settings. It will do so by directed evolution of non-infectious capsids in the lab. This will uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning the response of viruses to chemical and biological signals and create a new class of RNA delivery vehicle. This synt ....Developing a new class of RNA delivery vehicle using synthetic virology. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the empty shells of viruses, or capsids, to protect and deliver sensitive cargo such as RNA in agricultural settings. It will do so by directed evolution of non-infectious capsids in the lab. This will uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning the response of viruses to chemical and biological signals and create a new class of RNA delivery vehicle. This synthetic biology approach combines virology and protein engineering to establish a platform biotechnology for stable and effective delivery. The project expects to demonstrate the potential of nature’s nanoparticles, virus capsids, to enhance the efficacy of RNA technologies in a wide range of applications.Read moreRead less
Imaging the foundation of the nervous system. This Project aims to understand the formation of the neural tube; a fundamental tissue structure that generates the brain and the spinal cord. Using interdisciplinary approaches and exploiting recent advances in transgenic and imaging technologies, the Project expects to reveal the complex interplay of molecular, cellular and mechanical processes that direct neural tissue formation and cell fate specification. Outcomes from the Project include knowle ....Imaging the foundation of the nervous system. This Project aims to understand the formation of the neural tube; a fundamental tissue structure that generates the brain and the spinal cord. Using interdisciplinary approaches and exploiting recent advances in transgenic and imaging technologies, the Project expects to reveal the complex interplay of molecular, cellular and mechanical processes that direct neural tissue formation and cell fate specification. Outcomes from the Project include knowledge of previously intractable developmental processes, training of future scientists and development of international collaborations. This should provide enhanced imaging capacity, a higher quality scientific workforce and position Australia at the forefront of developmental biology.
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Regulation of 3D Cell Migration by Microtubule-Dependent Processes. The overarching aim of this research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that cells use to move in 3D environments: a basic biological function essential to development and homeostasis. During these processes, cells interact with their surroundings where they translate biophysical forces into biochemical signals to adapt their shape to move. This requires distinct signalling, controlled in space and time, to regulate the cr ....Regulation of 3D Cell Migration by Microtubule-Dependent Processes. The overarching aim of this research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that cells use to move in 3D environments: a basic biological function essential to development and homeostasis. During these processes, cells interact with their surroundings where they translate biophysical forces into biochemical signals to adapt their shape to move. This requires distinct signalling, controlled in space and time, to regulate the crosstalk between organelles and the cytoskeleton. To date, the role of microtubules remains elusive. Using interdisciplinary approaches combining advanced imaging technology with novel cell biology methods, the project aims to uncover fundamental knowledge about how cells interact with their environment.Read moreRead less
Antimony geochemistry and Earth's dynamic near-surface iron cycle. This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding on the geochemistry of antimony – a critical mineral resource and environmental pollutant of growing concern. This will be achieved by pioneering an innovative combination of advanced synchrotron-based tools and sophisticated isotopic approaches to unravel important interactions between antimony geochemistry and the iron cycle in soils, sediments and aquatic systems. The ....Antimony geochemistry and Earth's dynamic near-surface iron cycle. This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding on the geochemistry of antimony – a critical mineral resource and environmental pollutant of growing concern. This will be achieved by pioneering an innovative combination of advanced synchrotron-based tools and sophisticated isotopic approaches to unravel important interactions between antimony geochemistry and the iron cycle in soils, sediments and aquatic systems. The expected outcomes will provide novel insights into refined strategies to manipulate coupling between antimony mobility and iron cycling for improved rehabilitation of degraded landscapes, safe disposal of hazardous wastes and sustainable exploitation of Australia’s valuable antimony reserves.Read moreRead less
Kagome metals: From Japanese basket to next generation electronic devices. This project aims to investigate a new material that is very promising for electronic devices that can operate faster, and be more energy efficient than today’s silicon-based technology. Kagome metals have topological non-trivial nature and can pass current without resistance, making them ideal for next-generation electronic devices. This project aims to grow Kagome metals in the ultra-thin layers needed to realise this p ....Kagome metals: From Japanese basket to next generation electronic devices. This project aims to investigate a new material that is very promising for electronic devices that can operate faster, and be more energy efficient than today’s silicon-based technology. Kagome metals have topological non-trivial nature and can pass current without resistance, making them ideal for next-generation electronic devices. This project aims to grow Kagome metals in the ultra-thin layers needed to realise this potential, make devices and study their electronic properties. Expected outcomes of the project will include showing Kagome metals can form the basis of ultra-low energy electronic devices, as well as having future applications in high-temperature fault-tolerant quantum computing.Read moreRead less
Unravelling how liquids wet surfaces with new dynamic measurements. This project aims to transform our understanding of how liquids wet surfaces in order to provide a step-change in advanced material design. This will be achieved by developing a unifying theory of surface wetting by integrating new microscale models of dynamic wetting with new macroscale automated measurement techniques capable of rapidly generating large datasets, to determine precisely how surface chemistry and surface roughne ....Unravelling how liquids wet surfaces with new dynamic measurements. This project aims to transform our understanding of how liquids wet surfaces in order to provide a step-change in advanced material design. This will be achieved by developing a unifying theory of surface wetting by integrating new microscale models of dynamic wetting with new macroscale automated measurement techniques capable of rapidly generating large datasets, to determine precisely how surface chemistry and surface roughness influence wetting. Expected outcomes include predictive models of surface wetting across multiple scales, and robust high-throughput measurement methods informing optimal design of next-generation materials for all applications where liquids and surfaces interact.Read moreRead less