Testing our knowledge on the dawn of animal life: evidence from the fossil record against modern ecological and morphological analogues. The Cambrian 'Explosion', half a billion years ago, is regarded as one of the most important events in the history of the Earth, when most major animal groups first appear in the rock record, and for which South Australia has recently become a significant source of spectacular fossils. However, important questions remain regarding their Ediacaran roots, the spe ....Testing our knowledge on the dawn of animal life: evidence from the fossil record against modern ecological and morphological analogues. The Cambrian 'Explosion', half a billion years ago, is regarded as one of the most important events in the history of the Earth, when most major animal groups first appear in the rock record, and for which South Australia has recently become a significant source of spectacular fossils. However, important questions remain regarding their Ediacaran roots, the speed of evolution at the time, and the environments in which the radiation took place. Studying the fossil evidence in the light of present-day ecological frameworks, and in comparison with modern behavioural and morphological analogues, as well as living relatives, can help us better assess our understanding of this first radiation of animals.Read moreRead less
Adaptive Morphology and Evolution of Invasive Rabbits and Hares. This project aims to uncover the morphological variation that allows rapid adaptive evolution in two invasive species, the rabbit and hare. This project expects to generate new knowledge at the interface between invasion biology and evolutionary biology, using cutting-edge methods to phenotype widespread populations. This project will address key inter-related hypotheses of rapid adaptive evolution at temporal, spatial and phylogen ....Adaptive Morphology and Evolution of Invasive Rabbits and Hares. This project aims to uncover the morphological variation that allows rapid adaptive evolution in two invasive species, the rabbit and hare. This project expects to generate new knowledge at the interface between invasion biology and evolutionary biology, using cutting-edge methods to phenotype widespread populations. This project will address key inter-related hypotheses of rapid adaptive evolution at temporal, spatial and phylogenetic scales, particularly about changing morphologies involved role in locomotion and dispersal ability. Expected outcomes of this project include a comprehensive phenotypic database of these two species and identifying how these invasive species are adapting to the Australian landscape.Read moreRead less
Interplay of the forces of nature: electroweak and strong interactions. The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland will search for new physics by smashing protons together at the highest energies ever created in the laboratory. This project will focus on complementary searches for new physics by investigating novel phenomena associated with the mutual interactions of the strong and weak forces of nature.
Going beyond genetics: the shape of marsupial evolution and conservation. This project aims to explain the past and protect the present biodiversity of endangered marsupial mammals such as bilbies and koalas. It will generate new knowledge using an interdisciplinary combination of 3D analysis of skull shape, reflecting a mammal’s ability to feed and sense its surrounds, with the fast-moving fields of marsupial conservation and evolutionary genetics. This will help to anticipate if, and how, chan ....Going beyond genetics: the shape of marsupial evolution and conservation. This project aims to explain the past and protect the present biodiversity of endangered marsupial mammals such as bilbies and koalas. It will generate new knowledge using an interdisciplinary combination of 3D analysis of skull shape, reflecting a mammal’s ability to feed and sense its surrounds, with the fast-moving fields of marsupial conservation and evolutionary genetics. This will help to anticipate if, and how, changing environments and declining numbers reduce these species’ ability to adapt. Benefits include better information to support improved conservation decisions and identification of genes underlying the evolution of marsupial skull diversity.Read moreRead less
A comprehensive approach to dark matter searches: the Cherenkov Telescope Array, IceCube and the Large Hadron Collider. Following the recent discovery of the Higgs boson, the greatest outstanding mystery in physics, it is now time to identify the nature of the dark matter that fills much of our Universe. This project aims to invent new data mining techniques to test the viability of a wide class of theoretical dark matter models, using an extensive range of particle physics and astrophysics data ....A comprehensive approach to dark matter searches: the Cherenkov Telescope Array, IceCube and the Large Hadron Collider. Following the recent discovery of the Higgs boson, the greatest outstanding mystery in physics, it is now time to identify the nature of the dark matter that fills much of our Universe. This project aims to invent new data mining techniques to test the viability of a wide class of theoretical dark matter models, using an extensive range of particle physics and astrophysics data. It will use these models to help design the next generation of dark matter searches in gamma ray and neutrino astronomy, using the Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to put Australia at the forefront of international particle astrophysics research and potential new discoveries will change the future direction of international particle research.Read moreRead less
Probing the experimental frontier of particle physics with high-precision and high-energy collisions. Analysis of data from the high-energy collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, and B-physics observables, will provide a new precision by which to interrogate our picture of the Universe. The interplay between these two novel and complementary approaches will unveil the fundamental nature of the particles that make up all known matter. Technological advances in high precision data analysis, and ....Probing the experimental frontier of particle physics with high-precision and high-energy collisions. Analysis of data from the high-energy collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, and B-physics observables, will provide a new precision by which to interrogate our picture of the Universe. The interplay between these two novel and complementary approaches will unveil the fundamental nature of the particles that make up all known matter. Technological advances in high precision data analysis, and experimental data readout, will result in significant advances in the global knowledge of particle detector performance and operation. New techniques in data analysis will arise from this work. In going beyond the Standard Model and discovering extensions to the theory, the ultimate outcome of this project will define new directions for the field.Read moreRead less
The top quark: a portal to new physics in particle colliders. This project aims to address fundamental questions of particle physics by studying the top quark, the most elementary particle known. The project will generate new knowledge about the top quark and the recently discovered Higgs boson, explore dark matter production in particle collisions, and potentially discover and study new phenomena. The project will develop data analysis techniques that could be used in big data contexts beyond f ....The top quark: a portal to new physics in particle colliders. This project aims to address fundamental questions of particle physics by studying the top quark, the most elementary particle known. The project will generate new knowledge about the top quark and the recently discovered Higgs boson, explore dark matter production in particle collisions, and potentially discover and study new phenomena. The project will develop data analysis techniques that could be used in big data contexts beyond fundamental research. The expected outcome of the project is to expand in a substantial way our understanding of the smallest components of matter and potentially, also of the largest structures of the Universe.Read moreRead less
The Standard Model and beyond on supercomputers. Using the latest advances in supercomputing, the researcher will confront some of the most challenging problems facing nuclear and particle physicists.
Social relations and social engagement in older adulthood: implications for health, well being and cognition. This project will examine the nature of changes in peoples social networks that occur with age and the effects of these changes on health and well being in later life. The project will use information collected as part of several ongoing Australian studies of ageing and will have implications for social policy.
Reconceptualising urban planning and the built form: comparative international policies and evidence to reduce health inequities and social exclusion. Where people live affects their opportunities to lead productive lives and feel socially included. This project explores how different aspects of urban planning, rebuilding housing and neighbourhoods, shapes residents' health and wellbeing. The findings will assist Australian government and aims to strengthen socio-economically disadvantaged commu ....Reconceptualising urban planning and the built form: comparative international policies and evidence to reduce health inequities and social exclusion. Where people live affects their opportunities to lead productive lives and feel socially included. This project explores how different aspects of urban planning, rebuilding housing and neighbourhoods, shapes residents' health and wellbeing. The findings will assist Australian government and aims to strengthen socio-economically disadvantaged communities.Read moreRead less