Understanding the evolution of the alternation of generations in the land plant life cycle. This project will investigate the genetic basis and evolution of the land plant life cycle, in which both haploid and diploid phases consist of complex multicellular bodies. The project's findings, which will be made using two model laboratory plants, will be applicable to all plants and will help understand important processes such as pollen and seed production.
Novel mechanisms integrating the central and autonomic nervous system. This project aims to define molecular mechanisms controlling the exquisite connectivity of neurons in different parts of the body. The ability of higher-vertebrates to respond to different environmental conditions is essential for life, evolution, health, reproduction and growth, and is reliant on the autonomic nervous system. However, how the autonomic nervous system is integrated with the central nervous system to control h ....Novel mechanisms integrating the central and autonomic nervous system. This project aims to define molecular mechanisms controlling the exquisite connectivity of neurons in different parts of the body. The ability of higher-vertebrates to respond to different environmental conditions is essential for life, evolution, health, reproduction and growth, and is reliant on the autonomic nervous system. However, how the autonomic nervous system is integrated with the central nervous system to control holistic physiological responses is largely unknown. By deciphering how neural networks are formed this project aims to provide broad biological insight to wiring of the entire nervous system which is likely to have significant implications for the formation of synthetic neural networks and for regeneration.Read moreRead less
Speed of Information Processing Across the Ages: the Structure of Cognitive Abilities in Children, Adults, and the Elderly. Does speed information processing determine intelligence? The study addresses this question by examining the structure of cognitive abilities and speed of processing in children, adults, and the elderly. The project will advance theory by testing whether speed of processing mediates developmental cognitive change during childhood and old age. Outcomes include contributing t ....Speed of Information Processing Across the Ages: the Structure of Cognitive Abilities in Children, Adults, and the Elderly. Does speed information processing determine intelligence? The study addresses this question by examining the structure of cognitive abilities and speed of processing in children, adults, and the elderly. The project will advance theory by testing whether speed of processing mediates developmental cognitive change during childhood and old age. Outcomes include contributing to a complete model of cognition, laying the foundations for a future major longitudinal study which will provide evidence on the direction of causality between speed of processing measures and cognitive abilities, and provide norms for a computerised, commercial test battery.Read moreRead less
Post-translational control of cell fate decision. Deciphering the multi-layered regulation of cell fate decisions is challenging. While progress has been made in understanding the role of transcriptional regulation, the influence of post-translational modification is poorly understood. Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 (NEDD4)-mediated ubiquitination is absolute necessary for sex determination, a unique model of cell fate decision where gonadal cell precurs ....Post-translational control of cell fate decision. Deciphering the multi-layered regulation of cell fate decisions is challenging. While progress has been made in understanding the role of transcriptional regulation, the influence of post-translational modification is poorly understood. Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 (NEDD4)-mediated ubiquitination is absolute necessary for sex determination, a unique model of cell fate decision where gonadal cell precursors differentiate either along the male or the female pathway. Thus, this project aims to analyse in detail at which stage NEDD4 action is required and what are the crucial target proteins. This project could provide a deeper understanding of how post-translational modifications influence cell fate decisions during embryogenesis.Read moreRead less
Activating the female germline during plant development. This project aims to investigate the mechanistic basis for female germline formation in two plant species including barley, which is of agricultural relevance to Australia. This project’s approach will integrate novel regulatory genes and data from Arabidopsis and barley. This knowledge will provide significant benefits, such as novel reproductive strategies for crop improvement.
How SEP-like genes determine cereal inflorescence architecture. This project aims to understand the morphological diversity of inflorescence architecture between cereal crop species. To do so, this project will identify functions and analyse the regulatory networks of conserved SEPALLATA genes (SEPs). This will enable them to determine cereal inflorescence morphogenesis of rice (branching) and barley (non-branching), representing the most important cereals. Identifying and understanding rice and ....How SEP-like genes determine cereal inflorescence architecture. This project aims to understand the morphological diversity of inflorescence architecture between cereal crop species. To do so, this project will identify functions and analyse the regulatory networks of conserved SEPALLATA genes (SEPs). This will enable them to determine cereal inflorescence morphogenesis of rice (branching) and barley (non-branching), representing the most important cereals. Identifying and understanding rice and barley SEPs, their direct targets and interactors, and how they regulate inflorescence branches and spikelets in both species is expected to provide evolutionary and developmental insights and targets to improve for crop yield. A molecular understanding of the regulatory network that underpins inflorescence shape and grain number will advance fundamental biology, and could form the basis for significant yield improvements by manipulating key points in the developmental pathway.Read moreRead less
Transition from school to work: A longitudinal investigation of unemployment, underemployment, alienation, social exclusion and mental health in young people. This project will provide detailed insights into the early identification of young people most likely to experience poorer outcomes in the later years of school and in the transition to the workforce or higher education. The findings have implications for State and National policies relating to the healthy development of young Australians ....Transition from school to work: A longitudinal investigation of unemployment, underemployment, alienation, social exclusion and mental health in young people. This project will provide detailed insights into the early identification of young people most likely to experience poorer outcomes in the later years of school and in the transition to the workforce or higher education. The findings have implications for State and National policies relating to the healthy development of young Australians; the enhancement of school completion and retention rates, and school-based strategies to facilitate young people's transition to the workforce. The study will further gain comparative insights into the experiences of students in coeducational vs. single-sex environments, private vs. public schools, and in regional as opposed to metropolitan areas. Read moreRead less
Transition from school to work: A 10-year longitudinal study of unemployment, underemployment, social exclusion, and mental health in young people. This project will provide detailed insights into the early identification of young people most likely to experience poorer outcomes in later years of school, higher education and the workforce. The findings have implications for State and National policies relating to the healthy development of young Australians, the enhancement of school completion/ ....Transition from school to work: A 10-year longitudinal study of unemployment, underemployment, social exclusion, and mental health in young people. This project will provide detailed insights into the early identification of young people most likely to experience poorer outcomes in later years of school, higher education and the workforce. The findings have implications for State and National policies relating to the healthy development of young Australians, the enhancement of school completion/retention rates, and strategies to facilitate young people's transition to the workforce and management of unfavourable work experiences. The study will further gain comparative insights into the higher education and work outcomes of students from coeducational and single-sex environments, private and public schools, and from regional and metropolitan areas. Read moreRead less
Predicting health, well-being, and educational success in emerging adults: An 8 year longitudinal study. This project will inform the community about factors that affect the psychological, physical, academic, and employment outcomes of emerging adults. It will improve our knowledge of why some young people do not reach their full potential. The project will provide a comprehensive assessment of factors associated with well-being across several domains. It will better equip and assist professiona ....Predicting health, well-being, and educational success in emerging adults: An 8 year longitudinal study. This project will inform the community about factors that affect the psychological, physical, academic, and employment outcomes of emerging adults. It will improve our knowledge of why some young people do not reach their full potential. The project will provide a comprehensive assessment of factors associated with well-being across several domains. It will better equip and assist professionals to identify early those youth at risk of having poor psychological, health, and employment prospects post-school. The project will inform the development of intervention programs for young people and maximise their overall adjustment and well-being several years later.Read moreRead less
Growing up too quickly? Body objectification in adolescent and pre-adolescent girls (teens and tweens). The premature sexualisation of girls is seen as a major public health issue in Australia by government, welfare agencies and the general public alike. While the sexually objectified presentation of children in the media is well documented and unarguable, the consequences for individual psychological well-being are not. The empirical data base provided by the present project will allow the ide ....Growing up too quickly? Body objectification in adolescent and pre-adolescent girls (teens and tweens). The premature sexualisation of girls is seen as a major public health issue in Australia by government, welfare agencies and the general public alike. While the sexually objectified presentation of children in the media is well documented and unarguable, the consequences for individual psychological well-being are not. The empirical data base provided by the present project will allow the identification of girls who might be particularly vulnerable (or resilient) to the effects of objectification and sexualization, as well as suitable targets for intervention. Thus the research seeks to contribute to the well-being of adolescent and pre-adolescent girls (National Research Priority No. 2).
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