The first stage of vision: transduction and adaptation in retinal photoreceptors. The project aims to provide a detailed understanding of the molecular steps involved in the first stage of vision - the conversion of light into a neural signal in the rod and cone photoreceptors of the retina. The significance of this is that it will explain the initial events that enable us to see, and will help explain the deficits that occur when the process fails. The outcome will be a comprehensive understand ....The first stage of vision: transduction and adaptation in retinal photoreceptors. The project aims to provide a detailed understanding of the molecular steps involved in the first stage of vision - the conversion of light into a neural signal in the rod and cone photoreceptors of the retina. The significance of this is that it will explain the initial events that enable us to see, and will help explain the deficits that occur when the process fails. The outcome will be a comprehensive understanding of how our photoreceptors respond with extreme sensitivity, yet great rapidity, and over an enormous range of light intensities, thus endowing us with our remarkable sense of vision.Read moreRead less
Language, belief formation and visual cognition: cognitive and neuropsychological investigations. I will direct a programme of research and research training in cognitive science and cognitive neuropsychology at macquarie universtiy, with international collaborative links to the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Germany & New Zealand. This programme of research and research training will initially focus on
a)how people understand and produce language, and how these capabilities can break down ....Language, belief formation and visual cognition: cognitive and neuropsychological investigations. I will direct a programme of research and research training in cognitive science and cognitive neuropsychology at macquarie universtiy, with international collaborative links to the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Germany & New Zealand. This programme of research and research training will initially focus on
a)how people understand and produce language, and how these capabilities can break down after brain damage;
b)The relationship between visual memory and reading; and
c)The nature of the delusions seen in schizophrenia and other disorders, and what causes these delusions.Read moreRead less
Assembly of neural circuits during development. This program aims to understand how nerve cells wire up accurately during development. Specifically, the program will determine how neuronal connections are established in the retina to produce a sensory structure essential for vision. The program will also generate innovative tools for watching in live animals, the making and breaking of connections during normal and abnormal development. Discoveries will not only significantly increase our knowle ....Assembly of neural circuits during development. This program aims to understand how nerve cells wire up accurately during development. Specifically, the program will determine how neuronal connections are established in the retina to produce a sensory structure essential for vision. The program will also generate innovative tools for watching in live animals, the making and breaking of connections during normal and abnormal development. Discoveries will not only significantly increase our knowledge base of how the nervous system develops or degenerates, but the results will provide crucial information for future studies based on genetic approaches, drug therapies and bioengineering technology to repair the injured nervous system.Read moreRead less
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
Logic and language: Foundations of cognitive growth. This project investigates children's competence in using language, from a biological perspective. The past twenty years has witnessed innovative developments in behavioral measures (e.g., eye-movement recording) and computational models of language development. I propose to integrate this research with the study of the neural basis of cognitive processes, using a new methodology for functional brain imaging, magnetoencephalography (MEG), The p ....Logic and language: Foundations of cognitive growth. This project investigates children's competence in using language, from a biological perspective. The past twenty years has witnessed innovative developments in behavioral measures (e.g., eye-movement recording) and computational models of language development. I propose to integrate this research with the study of the neural basis of cognitive processes, using a new methodology for functional brain imaging, magnetoencephalography (MEG), The project combines behavioral, computational, and biological methods to better understand (a) the nature of linguistic knowledge, (b) how logical expressions are acquired, and (c) how knowledge of logic and language are put to use by children in production and comprehension.Read moreRead less
A clearer view of the evolving universe. The two complementary research objectives of this proposal are (i) a basic research program to understand star formation in galaxies through a study of the correlation betwen far infrared and radio continuum emission and (ii) a strategic research program to develop interference mitigation techniques to enable the next generation of radio telescopes which will study star formation in the early Universe. This programme of research innovation in radio astron ....A clearer view of the evolving universe. The two complementary research objectives of this proposal are (i) a basic research program to understand star formation in galaxies through a study of the correlation betwen far infrared and radio continuum emission and (ii) a strategic research program to develop interference mitigation techniques to enable the next generation of radio telescopes which will study star formation in the early Universe. This programme of research innovation in radio astronomy will also promote the broad aims of furthering opportunities for Australian participation in international science and of gaining insight into ways in which Australia can exploit its niche advantages in the global economy.Read moreRead less
The Origin and Evolution of Cosmic Magnetism. This research will significantly advance our understanding of structure and evolution in the Universe, in keeping with Australia's outstanding track record of astronomical discovery. This program will also train students and build research capacity in the frontier area of X-ray astronomy, in which Australia currently has limited expertise. The instrumentation and techniques to be developed will lead to innovative transfers of technology to fields su ....The Origin and Evolution of Cosmic Magnetism. This research will significantly advance our understanding of structure and evolution in the Universe, in keeping with Australia's outstanding track record of astronomical discovery. This program will also train students and build research capacity in the frontier area of X-ray astronomy, in which Australia currently has limited expertise. The instrumentation and techniques to be developed will lead to innovative transfers of technology to fields such as telecommunications and medical imaging. These new facilities will also serve as vital stepping stones to the Square Kilometre Array, a billion-dollar international project which promises enormous economic, engineering and scientific opportunities for Australia.Read moreRead less
Exploring the last frontier: cosmic reionization and the first galaxies. This program will help to position Australia as a leader in the development of the Square Kilometre Array, a 1.5 billion Euro radio telescope that Australia is vying to host. The program takes advantage of the uniquely radio quiet environment of Western Australia to achieve unprecedented measurements of the 'first light fossils' in the Universe, which reside in the portion of the radio spectrum that is filled by FM radio tr ....Exploring the last frontier: cosmic reionization and the first galaxies. This program will help to position Australia as a leader in the development of the Square Kilometre Array, a 1.5 billion Euro radio telescope that Australia is vying to host. The program takes advantage of the uniquely radio quiet environment of Western Australia to achieve unprecedented measurements of the 'first light fossils' in the Universe, which reside in the portion of the radio spectrum that is filled by FM radio transmissions in most parts of the planet. This ground-breaking research program will provide training for the next generation of world-class scientists and add to the already high profile of Australian astrophysics.Read moreRead less
Engineering Nanostructured Bio-inspired Products. New nanostructured products that draw on biology promise to revolutionise our lives and economy. Designer emulsions and self-assembling particles inspired by viruses are two such products that form the focus for this research programme. The constitutive behaviour of bio-molecular films that control emulsion performance will be characterised and linked to molecular properties and manufacturing conditions. A broad-based technology platform for t ....Engineering Nanostructured Bio-inspired Products. New nanostructured products that draw on biology promise to revolutionise our lives and economy. Designer emulsions and self-assembling particles inspired by viruses are two such products that form the focus for this research programme. The constitutive behaviour of bio-molecular films that control emulsion performance will be characterised and linked to molecular properties and manufacturing conditions. A broad-based technology platform for the in vitro creation of self-assembling biological nanoparticles will also be developed. Key outcomes will be valuable IPR and fundamental engineering science knowledge to ensure that the value chain for this class of products can deliver commercial outcomes.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