Energy Conversion and Signal Transduction in Nanomechanical Systems. Miniaturization of materials and electronic devices is an important technological goal. In order to make smaller working devices,we need to understand how to create molecular scale devices such as valves, switches, pumps and motors. This Fellowship will explore ways to make smaller, portable devices that can be used for personal health monitoring,environmental sensing and the detection of disease and pathogens.
Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications. The rapidly rotating pulsars known as millisecond pulsars have period stabilities which rival that of the best terrestrial clocks. Observations of many millisecond pulsars spread across the sky should allow detection of the gravitational-wave background - likely to be the first direct detection of gravity waves. It will also enable establishment of a long-term time standard which is independent of and probably superior to that derived from terrestria ....Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications. The rapidly rotating pulsars known as millisecond pulsars have period stabilities which rival that of the best terrestrial clocks. Observations of many millisecond pulsars spread across the sky should allow detection of the gravitational-wave background - likely to be the first direct detection of gravity waves. It will also enable establishment of a long-term time standard which is independent of and probably superior to that derived from terrestrial clocks. New analysis techniques and establishment of an international observing network will be required. Investigation and application of techniques for overcoming radio interference will be an important part of the project.Read moreRead less
Biologically-Inspired Recognition and Processing in Colloidal Systems. The proposed research will enhance the understanding of forces and adsorption in biologically-inspired synthetic systems, and thereby create new strategies for improving selective adsorption, stabilization, coagulation, and separation. The expected outcomes are: increased understanding of chiral interactions at surfaces, a technique for rapid measurement of surface selectivity, new and better agents for chiral separation, a ....Biologically-Inspired Recognition and Processing in Colloidal Systems. The proposed research will enhance the understanding of forces and adsorption in biologically-inspired synthetic systems, and thereby create new strategies for improving selective adsorption, stabilization, coagulation, and separation. The expected outcomes are: increased understanding of chiral interactions at surfaces, a technique for rapid measurement of surface selectivity, new and better agents for chiral separation, a reduction in the use of organic pollutants, new methods for colloidal processing that will enable the preparation of new materials, and new surface coatings for increasing the useful life-time of medical implants.Read moreRead less
Building Molecularly Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials. The development of new technologies at the interface between nano- and biotechnology promises to revolutionise healthcare and medicine. This research program will involve the design and synthesis of responsive and programmable polymers and their assembly to form next-generation, engineered materials. The nanomaterials prepared are expected to lead to the development of techniques that enable new types of minimally invasive diagnostics and th ....Building Molecularly Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials. The development of new technologies at the interface between nano- and biotechnology promises to revolutionise healthcare and medicine. This research program will involve the design and synthesis of responsive and programmable polymers and their assembly to form next-generation, engineered materials. The nanomaterials prepared are expected to lead to the development of techniques that enable new types of minimally invasive diagnostics and therapeutics as well as smaller devices. The interdisciplinary research program will cement Australia's position as a leading country in nanobiotechnology research and development.Read moreRead less
Band-Gap Engineered Visible Light Photocatalysts: Enabling Technologies for Sustainable Energy and the Environment. This program will contribute significantly to knowledge advancement in colloid chemistry, nanomaterials and electrochemistry, and is firmly embedded in the National Research Priorities of Frontier Science and an Environmentally Sustainable Australia. In particular, it addresses the goals of water and low emission energy supply. The outcomes of this research will advance a new class ....Band-Gap Engineered Visible Light Photocatalysts: Enabling Technologies for Sustainable Energy and the Environment. This program will contribute significantly to knowledge advancement in colloid chemistry, nanomaterials and electrochemistry, and is firmly embedded in the National Research Priorities of Frontier Science and an Environmentally Sustainable Australia. In particular, it addresses the goals of water and low emission energy supply. The outcomes of this research will advance a new class of visible-light active photocatalysts that underpin the development of hydrogen generation, low cost solar cells and water purification using sunlight. Such technologies will transform the Australian energy and environmental industries and speed up the transition from a fossil fuel economy to a renewable energy economy.Read moreRead less
New Methods for Structural Biology in Solution. It is proposed to establish a new research group that focuses on the development of new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technologies and applications to problems concerning protein structure and function. This includes
- the exploitation of new NMR parameters;
- optimization of an inexpensive in vitro protein expression system;
- development of experimental strategies for the identification of protein-ligand surfaces by chemical modificatio ....New Methods for Structural Biology in Solution. It is proposed to establish a new research group that focuses on the development of new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technologies and applications to problems concerning protein structure and function. This includes
- the exploitation of new NMR parameters;
- optimization of an inexpensive in vitro protein expression system;
- development of experimental strategies for the identification of protein-ligand surfaces by chemical modification, as a basis for high-throughput mass spectrometrical analyses;
- development of an algorithm for rapid resonance assignment of 15N-labelled proteins which is of importance for the pharmaceutical industry;
- 3D structure determinations of proteins and protein domains.Read moreRead less
Beyond Microarrays: Nano-Scaled Devices for High Throughput Biomolecular Sensing. Current developments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology hold many promises in terms of revolutionising our industrial base, transforming biology, medical science and practice. This project strives to achieve some of these aims by, for the first time, building and testing nano-scaled devices with the capability to 'read' massive amounts of biological information. With the recent completion of the Human Genome proje ....Beyond Microarrays: Nano-Scaled Devices for High Throughput Biomolecular Sensing. Current developments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology hold many promises in terms of revolutionising our industrial base, transforming biology, medical science and practice. This project strives to achieve some of these aims by, for the first time, building and testing nano-scaled devices with the capability to 'read' massive amounts of biological information. With the recent completion of the Human Genome project, major opportunities exist to provide spectacular advances in human health care (eg, via personalised medicine) provided that appropriate high-throughput biological reading devices can be developed. In developing such devices, this project also aims to substantially catalyse the Australian Nanotechnology/Biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
New approaches to functional and structural genomics. Genome sequencing has revealed complete sets of macromolecules that make up our cells. We now need to learn how these macromolecules work together in a coordinated fashion. The proposed research will lead to the discovery of new biological molecules, interactions and processes essential for the function of cells, identify new therapeutic targets and strategies to combat disease, identify new concepts in bio- and nanotechnology, and train new ....New approaches to functional and structural genomics. Genome sequencing has revealed complete sets of macromolecules that make up our cells. We now need to learn how these macromolecules work together in a coordinated fashion. The proposed research will lead to the discovery of new biological molecules, interactions and processes essential for the function of cells, identify new therapeutic targets and strategies to combat disease, identify new concepts in bio- and nanotechnology, and train new interdisciplinary researchers. It will underpin the National Research Priorities (Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, and Promoting and Maintaining Good Health) and help Australia capitalise on a plethora of opportunities for future economic and health benefits.Read moreRead less
Nanoengineered Colloids and thin films through self-assembly with potential applications in Bioscince and Nanotechnology. The proposed research program will focus on the preparation, characterisation and application of novel, small (nanometer size) particles and thin (micrometer thick)films derived from such particles. These new and advanced materials will be prepared by usinf a recently developed, highly versatile and facile technology to coat particles in solution. The strategy to be used en ....Nanoengineered Colloids and thin films through self-assembly with potential applications in Bioscince and Nanotechnology. The proposed research program will focus on the preparation, characterisation and application of novel, small (nanometer size) particles and thin (micrometer thick)films derived from such particles. These new and advanced materials will be prepared by usinf a recently developed, highly versatile and facile technology to coat particles in solution. The strategy to be used entails the step-by-step construction of well-defined layers of different composition on particles and flat surfaces, thereby allowing unprecendented control over the material properties and function. This will provide new avenues for the application of nanoscale materials in biotechnology and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Manipulation of Nano-Scale Assembly, Structure and Interaction: New Drug Delivery Vehicles and Energy Storage Devices for Miniaturised Portable Electronic Products. Nano-scale molecular and surface interactions will be manipulated to develop new nano-structured products. There will be two themes of research activity. In the first theme, newly discovered ionic liquids will be employed to better elucidate the role of hydrophobic interaction in molecular assembly processes. These findings wil ....Manipulation of Nano-Scale Assembly, Structure and Interaction: New Drug Delivery Vehicles and Energy Storage Devices for Miniaturised Portable Electronic Products. Nano-scale molecular and surface interactions will be manipulated to develop new nano-structured products. There will be two themes of research activity. In the first theme, newly discovered ionic liquids will be employed to better elucidate the role of hydrophobic interaction in molecular assembly processes. These findings will assist in the development of surfactant-drug conjugates that can self-assemble and can converge therapeutic, drug delivery and controlled release functions; allowing drugs to be administered in the therapeutic concentration range for prolonged periods of time with reduced side-effects. In the second theme, nano-materials will be used to converge capacitor and battery technologies to provide a dramatic performance boost to miniaturised portable electronic devices.Read moreRead less