Grants & Opportunities

Transition of Indigenous people into, and graduating from, higher education. This research focuses on the learning experiences of Indigenous students in WA as they move from high school into university, and from university graduation to the workplace – key educational transition points. Most recent research on Indigenous academic persistence and outcomes (i.e, factors that enable or act as barriers to higher education), is quantitative. Hence this project will document, in-depth, qualitative understandings of students' learning journeys. This will provide an opportunity for them to have a voice about their experiences. The outcomes of this project will also provide important directions to the students and to universities to help improve the learning experiences, potentially leading to improved academic outcomes.. Scheme: Discovery Indigenous. Field: 4502 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education. Lead: A/Prof Graeme Gower

Governing Aboriginal self-determination in NSW: 1980-2025. This project aims to examine how Aboriginal affairs governance in NSW has operated in the era of self-determination since 1980 to today. Using an ethnographic approach to study political power through time, it can develop a new understanding of the real practice of self-determination as policy. It expects to investigate whether governance processes have enabled improvements in the lives of Aboriginal people in NSW. Today, as policymakers negotiate co-design and partnership in Aboriginal affairs, this project can create new knowledge on the potential of resetting relationships between government and Aboriginal people. This will provide a significant contribution to crucial debates on advancing Aboriginal self-determination today.. Scheme: Discovery Indigenous. Field: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History. Lead: Prof Heidi Norman

Fine Tuning: A Reconciliation of Indigenous and Western Musical Traditions. Focusing on central Australian song lines, the project strengthens our knowledge, understanding and application of the intricate tuning systems that underpin traditional Indigenous musical practices. Employing a unique methodology that combines Indigenous and contemporary Western musical performance practices with cutting-edge digital technologies, the project will show how the highly nuanced and sophisticated tunings at the heart of Indigenous music-making can be preserved when transposed to contemporary Western art music contexts. In so doing, the case is made for a more genuine, equitable dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous music-makers, to the mutual benefit of musicians, audiences, and society at large. . Scheme: Discovery Indigenous. Field: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History. Lead: Dr Dylan Crismani

Cryogenic Near-Field Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility at the 10-nm-Scale. Cryogenic near-field imaging and spectroscopy impacts a wide range of next-generation technologies including non-invasive medical instruments, wearable devices, communication, quantum information systems and energy storage solutions. This project aims to build a cryogenic near-field imaging and spectroscopy platform at the nanometre scale for characterising nanomaterials and micro/nano-scale devices. The facility expects to provide rich and unique characterisation capabilities for hybrid devices at low temperatures and in a high vacuum environment. Such a platform enables multidisciplinary collaborations alongside local design and construction of hybrid devices, advancing the growth of local high-technology industries.. Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities. Field: 4018 - Nanotechnology. Lead: Prof Yuerui Lu

Pile foundations in unsaturated soils: a mechanistic framework. This project will develop a mechanistic approach to pile foundation design in variably saturated soils through integrated expertise in the fields of unsaturated soil mechanics, material nonlinearity, numerical modelling, limit analysis and experimental investigation. It will achieve a rigorous understanding of pile behaviour in unsaturated soils subjected to monotonic loading through a comprehensive program of scaled laboratory testing, numerical and theoretical analyses. The models, theories, mechanics and predictive tools arising from this research will have direct and immediate impact on the planning, design, construction and management of many types of infrastructure involving pile foundations in industrial and residential developments.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4005 - Civil Engineering. Lead: Prof Nasser Khalili

Small Scalable Natural Language Models using Explicit Memory. Deep neural networks have had spectacular success in natural language processing, seeing wide-spread deployment as part of automatic assistant devices in homes and cars, and across many valuable industries including finance, medicine and law. Fueling this success is the use of ever larger models, with exponentially increasing training resources, accompanying hardware and energy demands. This project aims to develop more compact models, based on the incorporation of an explicit searchable memory, which will dramatically reduce model size, hardware requirements and energy usage. This will make modern natural language processing more accessible, while also providing greater flexibility, allowing for more adaptable and portable technologies.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4602 - Artificial Intelligence. Lead: Prof Tom Drummond

Global Governance, Eco-Justice, and International Grievance Mechanisms. Despite their global use, there is no evidence that grievance mechanisms provide remedies for people and ecosystems harmed by international development projects. This project aims to investigate whether grievance mechanisms provide eco-justice, where communities seek to be recognised and participate, can lead full lives safe from undue environmental risk, in ecosystems that can regenerate and repair. This is significant given increasing environmental conflict and deaths at project sites around the world. Examining over 430 original claims to the Multilateral Development Banks’ mechanisms over 25 years, and four case studies, the project aims to determine whether the mechanisms deliver eco-justice, and can improve global rules for remedy.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4408 - Political Science. Lead: Prof Susan Park

Enabling technology unlocking full potential of high bandgap chalcopyrite . This project is aimed at solving the fundamental challenges of high bandgap chalcopyrite light-harvesting material to unlock its full potential as the top cell for photovoltaic tandem cell and the photocathode for photoelectrochemical applications. This will be realised by dynamic optimisation of its performance in photovoltaic solar cell device through understanding of its defects origins, enabling defects controlling technologies, and microscopic carrier loss mechanism analysis via systematic macro-to-micro characterisations combined with 3D device simulation. The project completion will reinforce the next-generation tandem cell and photoelectrochemical technologies with the efficient, stable, RoHS-compliant and thin chalcopyrite devices.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Xiaojing Hao

Integrated nonmetal-metal single-atom catalysis for selective synthesis. Single atom catalysts can achieve the maximum efficiency of active sites for a reaction. This project will develop integrated nonmetal and metal single atom-based catalysts for selective oxidation towards clean production and organic waste conversion to value-added polymers for carbon recycle. The project will result in new functional materials and green catalytic processes for chemical synthesis and waste reduction, and advance fundamental understanding of molecular structure of materials for catalyst design and process engineering for industrial applications. The outcomes will promote the development of chemical industry, waste recycle and green environment in Australia, making significant benefits to economics and society.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Xiaoguang Duan

Click chemistry to reveal how neurons and glia shape perineuronal nets . The extracellular matrix (ECM) and its perineuronal nets (which are net-like structures with holes wrapped around neurons) are largely underexplored, despite representing a remarkable 20% of the brain’s total volume and having been suggested to be involved in many brain functions. Interestingly, digestion of the ECM improves learning and memory, but deficits return once the ECM has reformed. However, how this ECM remodelling is organised at a cell-type level is not understood. Here we aim to close this knowledge gap, using cutting-edge technology including bioconjugation and ultrasound-mediated cargo delivery. Together, this project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of this major brain compartment in neuronal function. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Lead: Prof Jürgen Götz

Origin and evolution of animal-bacterial symbiosis. This project seeks to understand how interactions between animals and their microbial symbionts – the holobiont – evolved, and how they are influenced by the environment over an animal's life. Using a homegrown Australian model, a sea sponge from the Great Barrier Reef, and advanced multi-omic approaches (genomics plus cell biology), this project aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of the holobiont through development, and under changing ecological and environmental conditions. Because of the evolutionary position of sponges, outcomes of this project expect to reveal cardinal rules governing animal-microbe interactions that are fundamental to the health and conservation of most animals and ecosystems.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology. Lead: Prof Sandie Degnan

Development of a novel best approximation theory with applications . The aim of this project is to develop an innovative best approximation theory for complex fractional boundary value problems with discontinuities and with no compactness, and then apply the theory to study two classes of complex partial differential equation boundary value problems with industrial applications. The work will lead to the development of a new theory and a suite of innovative analytical and computational methods for solving a wide range of nonlinear problems with singularities and non-local properties. The expected outcomes of the project will significantly advance our methods for the modelling and control of many industrial systems and processes. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4901 - Applied Mathematics. Lead: Prof Yong Hong Wu

Distributed Optimisation without Central Coordination. This project will develop the mathematical foundations for discovery and analysis of iterative methods for optimisation problems in distributed computing systems. Most methods in distributed optimisation were not designed for distributed computing, rather they were adapted for purpose post-hoc. By building on recent advances in monotone operator splitting, this project expects to develop a mathematical theory for decentralised optimisation algorithms specially designed for distributed systems. The framework is expected to produce a suite of algorithms, each customised to exploit a specific network configuration. The project will provide significant benefits in distributed machine learning applications such as federated learning.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4901 - Applied Mathematics. Lead: A/Prof Matthew Tam

Homogenous Antibody-Metal Conjugates For Immuno-Mass Spectrometry Imaging. This project aims to use bespoke metal labels and high-resolution mass spectrometry imaging to address current shortcomings in approaches that visualise and measure proteins in cells and tissue. It expects to substantially increase the utility of immuno-mass spectrometry imaging technology to analyses that are refractory to current techniques and workflows. Expected outcomes include metal probes that facilitate the spatial quantification of multiple biomolecules on a single histological section, providing significant benefits to bioscience laboratories that require complex workflows to visualise and obtain quantitative data on the expression of biomolecules.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3401 - Analytical Chemistry. Lead: A/Prof David Bishop

Engineering Fungal Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases for Novel Alkaloids. This project aims to use protein-domain shuffling aided by structural biology to decode and engineer a class of modular megaenzymes, called nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), in fungi. These are responsible for the biosynthesis of peptide-derived bioactive molecules, such as the antibiotic penicillin and the immunosuppressant cyclosporin. Expected outcomes of this project include a fungal NRPS engineering platform for generating new molecules with desirable biological activities that can be readily scaled up for sustainable bioproduction. This will provide significant benefits to Australia through the development of cutting-edge biotechnologies as well as the discovery of new pharmaceuticals, veterinary products and agrichemicals.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Lead: A/Prof Yit Heng Chooi

Defining how signalling pathways cooperate to regulate organ size. Control of organ size is essential for organ function and organism viability, and varies greatly across the animal kingdom. This project aims to understand how three important signalling pathways co-ordinately regulate organ size during development and also limit aberrant growth. By applying genomics, genetics and bioinformatics techniques, this project aims to discover a core set of growth genes that are regulated by different signalling pathways and the mechanism by which transcription of these genes is repressed in order to eliminate faulty cells. Intended benefits are creation of jobs, new knowledge on fundamental principles of life and the stimulation of new research into organ size control.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Lead: Prof Kieran Harvey

Sex Differences in Trait Associations & Shapes: Analysis beyond Average. This project aims to identify and address current knowledge gaps in research on sex differences by employing different methodologies (bibliometrics, systematic mapping) and developing novel methods of meta-analysis. This project expects to generate a more holistic and complete view of sex differences than currently appreciated, by (meta-)analyzing the shapes of traits and associations between traits. Expected outcomes of the project include taking the field of sex differences to the next level, and creating new and powerful meta-analytic methods, opening new avenues for research synthesis. This should provide significant benefits by directing future research in related fields and inspiring new kinds of (meta-)analyses across disciplines.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology. Lead: Dr Malgorzata Lagisz

Regulation of lung immune-epithelial networks sensing environmental change. This study aims to uncover how lung epithelial cells engage with immune cells and determine their cellular and molecular wiring to ensure homeostatic maintenance and essential repair processes of lung tissues. Maintenance of lung epithelial-immune networks is essential to maintain normal lung tissue structure and function, and to induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges or inhaled potentially toxic substances. Understanding this molecular program of epithelial-immune cell-mediated sensing/repair will be essential to understand how tissue-repair processes can be driven in the lung, an organ critical for respiration and thus life.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3204 - Immunology. Lead: Prof Gabrielle Belz

The first English speakers in their own words. This project aims to produce the first comprehensive study of the attitudes in the earliest English literature. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the first English speakers, what issues mattered most to them and how broad the range of attitudes was. Expected outcomes of this project include new approaches to studying the past, enhanced international collaborations and a public access to the project's data through an open access digital resource. This should provide significant benefits in terms of our understanding of the past and how it shapes attitudes in contemporary Australia. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4705 - Literary Studies. Lead: A/Prof Erin Sebo

Genome evolution & adaptation of the multinuclear wheat stripe rust fungus. Animals and plants package their genomes into a single nucleus within each cell. In contrast, millions of fungal species accommodate multiple nuclei containing individual haploid genomes. It is currently unknown what the evolutionary implications are for this unusual genome division into multiple nuclei. Here we explore the evolutionary consequences of genome division into multiple nuclei for the first time by applying cutting edge genome biology tools and algorithms. The economically significant study system is the devastating wheat stripe rust fungus. This pathogen costs Australian farmers over $100 million a year. New understanding is expected to lead to better disease management, reduced fungicide applications, and increased yields.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3102 - Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. Lead: Prof Benjamin Schwessinger

Ultra-Fast and Secure Terahertz Communications for 6G Wireless Systems. This project aims to develop new theories and signal processing solutions for the cutting-edge technology of terahertz communications to enable the revolutionary sixth-generation wireless systems, by exploring and optimising the inherent benefits of the terahertz band. Anticipated outcomes are new analytical tools and practical guidelines for designing ultra-fast and secure wireless transmission at an unprecedented speed up to terabits per second (Tbps). This enables various emerging applications, such as holographic telepresence, Tbps WiFi and Tbps wireless data centres, to drive transformation in the telecommunications sector, boost industry productivity and support our intelligent information society in the 2030s.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4006 - Communications Engineering. Lead: Prof Nan Yang

Asgard archaea: the first eukaryotic cells? . This project aims to uncover the role of unique microorganisms (Asgard archaea) in the origin of eukaryotes. These archaea may represent a ‘missing-link’ in eukaryotic evolution and are in abundance in the stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Employing an innovative and interdisciplinary approach of cutting-edge molecular biology and high-resolution microscopy, this project expects to generate insights into fundamental aspects of evolution and cell biology. Expected outcomes include the discovery of unique branches of life and the proposal of new models for the emergence of eukaryotes. This research should allow for benefits across a spectrum of environmental and social gains, including improved ties with Indigenous communities.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology. Lead: A/Prof Brendan Burns

Efficient and selective water electrolysis for clean energy and environment. This project aims to develop an anion exchange membrane electrolysis cell for efficient co-generation of hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide from the splitting of water by coupling the hydrogen evolution reaction with a selective, two-electron water oxidation reaction catalysed by cost-effective, perovskite materials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the selective water electrolysis and in developing efficient energy conversion technologies. This project is expected to improve the utilisation of renewable energy and promote development of manufacturing and chemical industries in Australia. This should provide significant benefits to achieve energy safety and environmental sustainability for Australia.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Dr Zongping Shao

Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engines inspired by nastic movements in plants to develop extremely efficient dehumidifiers and water harvesting machines. These polymer actuators can help address the auto-acceleration of climate change caused by the increasing use of air conditioners and provide cheap, clean water for remote communities.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Geoffrey Spinks

Transformative simulation techniques for complex polymer networks. The study of long chain polymers like DNA using computer simulations has uncovered exciting insights over many years. Generally these have been limited to simple topologies, interactions, and environments. This project aims to develop the next generation of simulation techniques to tackle a new frontier of polymer models, including those with complex topologies like stars, knots, and links, which have hitherto been inaccessible. Expected outcomes include new simulation methods which harness modern computational clusters, leading to greater understanding of polymers with complex topologies and in complicated environments. Important elements of biological processes may be discovered, such as how polymer structure affects DNA transcription.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4902 - Mathematical Physics. Lead: Dr Nicholas Beaton