Grants & Opportunities

Restoring amphibian populations in chytrid-impacted landscapes. This project aims to address an outstanding problem in wildlife disease ecology: how can we enable susceptible amphibians to persist in the face of the chytrid pathogen, which has devastated amphibian biodiversity? This project expects to generate new knowledge by experimentally trialling two highly promising interventions: immunising animals and creating disease refugia through simple habitat manipulations. Outcomes of this project include a framework for predicting how interventions might enable host-pathogen coexistence. This project should provide significant benefits including enhanced understanding of wildlife disease dynamics that will pave the way for interventions to restore amphibian biodiversity in chytrid-impacted landscapes.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4104 - Environmental Management. Lead: A/Prof Simon Clulow

A Novel Surrogate Framework for evaluating THM Properties of Bentonite. Compacted bentonite as favoured engineered barrier material is widely used in environmental geotechnics and its failure can incur huge societal, economic and environmental loss. The project aims to develop a novel surrogate model to identify the optimal controllable factors' value to increase barrier's integrity and reliability. It expects to advance the fundamental knowledge of bentonite thermo-hydro-mechanical properties through advanced molecular dynamics modelling, statistic learning and machine learning. It will deliver revolution design approach for bentonite used in engineered barriers in Australia and internationally. In the long-time it will bring huge economic, societal and environmental benefits to our community.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering. Lead: Dr Yilin Gui

Cubesat Technologies for High Spatial Resolution Astrophysics. This project aims to combine cubesat and hybrid cubesat/micro-satellite concepts studied in Australia and Japan, prototyping and space-qualifying the most custom components, enabling a future affordable launch. High angular resolution is critical for studying processes of star formation, black holes, and exoplanets. An array of small satellites can greatly exceed the angular resolution of a single telescope, or the sensitivity of atmosphere-limited ground-based interferometers. Space qualifying the key inter-spacecraft metrology and fibre injection technologies will not only enable a future Australian satellite astrophysical interferometer, but is also relevant for optical communications links and earth observations. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5101 - Astronomical Sciences. Lead: Prof Michael Ireland

Economic analysis of child maltreatment and child protection. This project aims to investigate the economic causes and consequences of child maltreatment. It expects to generate new knowledge by applying microeconometric methods to large Australian administrative databases that track children’s health, education and welfare receipt over time. The expected outcomes of this project include an expanded knowledge base on how economic shocks affect maltreatment, the economic consequences of placing children in out-of-home care, and the value of economic policies for reducing the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment. This should provide significant benefits, such as providing practical evidence to policy makers and service providers that help prevent child maltreatment and reduce its harms.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3801 - Applied Economics. Lead: A/Prof Nicole Black

3D Diffusion Models for Generating and Understanding 3D Scenes. Diffusion models, such as DALL-E2 and Imagen, have achieved remarkable success in generating photorealistic images and hold promise to solve long-standing computer vision problems. However, 3D scene generation remains unexplored. This research project aims to bridge the gap by developing 3D diffusion models capable of generating complete 3D scenes. This will advance our theoretical understanding of diffusion in complex 3D environments and open up new possibilities for applications in fields such as virtual reality, architecture, and city planning. The proposed 3D diffusion models will also enhance the accuracy of computer vision tasks related to 3D scene understanding, such as object detection, tracking, and semantic segmentation.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4603 - Computer Vision and Multimedia Computation. Lead: Prof Ajmal Mian

Informing intervention responses to violent offenders through data linkage. The project aims to capitalise on new data access capacity to improve knowledge on violent offender pathways and criminogenic needs, such as acquired brain injury, to reduce offending and re-offending. Violence is a major social and health issue nationally and internationally. While there has been substantial investment in treatment/prevention campaigns, rates of violence remain high. Using diverse linked administrative data, we will identify key risk factors and times in trajectories, as well as effective treatment/justice responses. Expected benefits include evidence-based recommendations and engagement with policymakers targeting recidivism, offender screening, treatment, and coordinated violence prevention policy and practice.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5205 - Social and Personality Psychology. Lead: Prof Peter Miller

Improving grain legume seeds for future climates. Grain legumes are essential for sustainable agriculture and human dietary protein, but seed quality is predicted to decline under future scenarios of high CO2 and warmer temperatures. This project aims to improve legume seed quality under future climates by comparing metabolites and physiological traits of chickpea and other legumes to establish mechanisms by which legumes maximise seed nutrient allocation. The anticipated outcomes include new metabolite-based breeding markers for the improvement of crops with higher seed proteins, micronutrients and bioactive compounds that are adapted to future climates. Seed nutrient improvement will also include increased biological nitrogen fixation to reduce the need for chemical nitrogen fertilisers.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3108 - Plant Biology. Lead: Prof Ulrike Mathesius

Optimisation of Buildable Structures for 3D Concrete Printing. This project aims to establish a systematic approach to seamlessly integrate optimisation, characterisation, and 3D concrete printing (3DCP) manufacturing for the construction and building industry. New optimisation algorithms will first overcome the manufacturing limitations of 3DCP by considering the print path and early-age concrete properties, and directly create high-performance and innovative designs of buildable structures. The outcomes of this project include a powerful design tool that enables architects and engineers to optimally design and construct the next generation of cost-saving and aesthetically pleasing buildings and infrastructures through the adoption of modern 3DCP technology.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering. Lead: Prof Xiaodong Huang

Beyond Query: Exploratory Subgraph Discovery and Search System. Exploring co-working user groups in dynamic network data is a vital challenge in many applications, for example, in online education. This project aims to discover new relationships of users and compute their co-working performance in continuous time periods. The outcomes of the project are to design effective subgraph exploratory models, three novel types of subgraph search solutions, and devise a friendly exploratory subgraph search system for supporting the real-time network data analytics. The success of the project will make a significant contribution to the scientific foundation of graph data mining and its applications in data engineering domains, as well as benefiting co-working performance of people in Australian labor markets.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science. Lead: Prof Jianxin Li

Big time crystals: a new paradigm in condensed matter. This project aims to extend condensed matter physics to the time dimension using big time crystals created by a periodically driven Bose-Einstein condensate. Such a system is expected to offer exceptional versatility, allowing effective potentials and long-range interactions in a time lattice to be engineered almost at will by proper periodic driving and modulation of the particle interaction. Expected outcomes include realisation of novel condensed matter phenomena such as topologically protected states in the time dimension, time crystalline structures exhibiting disorder or quasi-crystalline order and time-tronics devices analogous to electronics. Potential future benefits include novel advanced materials and semiconductor-like devices. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5108 - Quantum Physics. Lead: Prof Peter Hannaford

Addressing significant product safety knowledge gaps for older Australians . This project addresses significant gaps in contemporary knowledge of consumer product safety risks for older persons, with 25 years since the last Australian product safety research found older persons are at high risk of product-related injury/death. Products have evolved substantially and aged care models have changed in that time. This project generates contemporary knowledge of unsafe products causing injuries/deaths, risk factors/behaviours, and human rights issues. Outcomes benefiting the Australian community are improved prediction/characterisation of product safety issues for older Australians informing safer product design and use, targetted regulatory responses, ageing-in-place strategies, and creating safer home environments.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4203 - Health Services and Systems. Lead: Prof Kirsten Vallmuur

Exploiting James Webb Space Telescope Observations of the First Galaxies. This Discovery Project aims exploit the next generation spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope, combined with Australian supercomputing expertise to make fundamental new measurements of the formation of stars in the first galaxies. The results will be used to make predictions for key experiments that will be conducted with the Square Kilometer Array. The research outcomes aim to benefit astronomy by generating new knowledge of high redshift galaxies and provide new spectral star-formation diagnostics which will be made available to the general astronomical community. The project also aims to provide cultural benefit through effective public and education as well training of future leaders for astronomy and industry research.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5101 - Astronomical Sciences. Lead: Dr Kathryn Grasha

Human models for accelerated robot learning and human-robot interaction. This project aims to develop novel approaches to teach robots to proficiently interact with humans in a safe and low-cost manner. To achieve this aim, this project will develop novel models from which various human behaviours can be generated and used to train human-robot interaction policies in simulation. Expected outcomes of this project include new computational models of human behaviour built using cognitive science theories and limited data and new training schemes for robot learning in simulation. By training robots in simulation with accurate human models, this research will enable fast and safe robot training to support the deployment and adoption of robots in human contexts such as healthcare facilities, homes, and workplaces.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4602 - Artificial Intelligence. Lead: Prof Dana Kulic

Australian Journalism, Trauma and Community. This project aims to investigate the professional and personal costs of reporting on trauma for Australian journalists and the communities they engage with, by undertaking a groundbreaking historical study of journalists’ exposure to trauma over the past century. It seeks to generate new knowledge by transforming our understanding of the relationship between journalism and trauma and the wider implications for the profession and the public. Expected outcomes of this project include scholarly, education and public resources which will inform and broaden ongoing debates about Australian journalism. This will provide significant benefits for journalists and the public, creating urgent awareness and better support and training initiatives. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4303 - Historical Studies. Lead: A/Prof Fay Anderson

An in-built depolymerisation solution for polyethylene waste. This project aims to design enzymes that can be embedded into polyethylene, and later activated by the elevated temperatures of a compost heap, to depolymerise the plastic to small molecules. There are no good options available for the controlled decomposition of polyethylene waste at present, and instead researchers have focussed on solutions that rely on modifications to the underlying chemistry of the backbone and or collection to a central facility. Our approach would result in an in-built decomposition that does not require collection and recycling in a central facility. Since it is based on a depolymerisation mechanism it does not result in the production of harmful, partially disintegrated microplastics.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry. Lead: Dr Robert Chapman

Open(ing up) goals in physical activity: What works, when, and for whom? This project aims to advance knowledge of open goals as a new goal-setting approach to optimise the adoption and maintenance of physical activity among insufficiently active individuals. This project expects to generate substantive insights into the mechanisms that explain why, when, and for whom open goals are particularly beneficial in this population. Expected outcomes include a theory of open goals that will inform physical activity promotion efforts, with the potential for broad population-level dissemination and scale-up. Significant benefits include the ability to set physical activity goals that are enjoyable and intrinsically motivating to pursue, while also avoiding detrimental effects of current practice (eg high failure rates).. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5201 - Applied and Developmental Psychology. Lead: Prof Christian Swann

Resilient Remote Environment Emulation for Human-to-Machine Communication. Human-to-machine haptic communication allow humans to immersively interact with remotely-located robots/machines. Current networks cannot support its technical demands, thereby limiting the achievable human-machine distance. This project aims to develop cloudlet intelligence together with a programmable resilient network to realise reliable remote environment emulation, a concept where the physical environment at the remote machine is emulated close to the human. A key outcome will be the first reliable remote environment emulation platform that achieves vast human-machine distances on current networks. Enabling immersive human-machine experience will significantly benefit many sectors, from education through to industrial manufacturing.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4006 - Communications Engineering. Lead: Prof Elaine Wong

The mobilome of the anaerobic methanotrophic archaea Methanoperedenaceae. Microorganisms play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate, but how they are affected by our rapidly changing environment is not well understood. This Discovery project will study a group of microorganisms found in freshwater sediment that can consume the potent greenhouse gas methane before it is released into the atmosphere. We have developed new methods to investigate how genetic material is exchanged between microorganisms, and how this helps them adapt to environmental changes. Together, this will ultimately help us develop better climate change prediction models and contribute to our understanding of microbial communities that are crucial for environmental health.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3107 - Microbiology. Lead: A/Prof Simon McIlroy

Advancing Child and Youth-led Climate Change Education with Country. Climate change education is in its infancy. By co-researching with Indigenous and non-Indigenous children, youth, and Elders across Australia and Canada, this project conceptualises and advances climate change education with Country. Climate change education is not adequately understood within Western science. Western perspectives on climate crises are in deep contrast to Indigenous perspectives enmeshed in continuous storying with descendants, ancestors, and Country. Collaborating with Elders, this project will generate child and youth-led transcultural curriculum and pedagogical understandings of climate change education with Country. It delivers on the United Nations Convention on Climate Change through corresponding quality education.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3901 - Curriculum and Pedagogy. Lead: Prof Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles

Bubble clouds in ocean waves. This project aims to predict the behaviour of bubble clouds in ocean waves. Bubble clouds are used in Europe to shield marine mammals from the dangerous noise of offshore wind-turbine construction, but would be dispersed by Australia's ocean swell and turbulence; and unlike in Europe, Australia's offshore-wind sites are frequented by endangered whales. Bubble clouds from breaking waves may also dissolve up to third of humanity's carbon in the ocean. Experiments and coordinated numerical simulations would predict the displacement and dispersion of bubbles in oceanic conditions. Experiments and simulations would then predict the acoustic behaviour of bubble clouds. This outcome would benefit new offshore-wind industries and climate science.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering. Lead: Prof Richard Manasseh

The role of protein glycosylation in erythropoiesis . This project aims to understand how the sugar code of key-signalling proteins influences the development of red blood cells. This project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of stem cell signalling by innovative integration of biological and computational molecular characterisation techniques. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel workflows to study key regulators of cell development and the generation of new knowledge in stem cell signalling that will find applications in transforming stem cell therapies and associated research for future applications such as the laboratory manufacturing of red blood cells to close the availability gap for transfusion purposes.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Lead: Prof Daniel Kolarich

Decoding microtubule remodelling in sperm production. All eukaryotic cells possess a dynamic microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton, which requires constant remodelling to satisfy its many essential cellular roles. Emerging data suggests modifications to the MT surface (the tubulin code) may act as instructional signposts for remodelling. This project aims to define a fundamental component of the tubulin code, glutamylation, and define how this directs MT severing. It also aims to define the cellular functions of MT-severing enzyme FIGNL1 and key MT glutamylation enzymes (CCP1, CCP5 and TTLL1). Insights will be generated using sperm production as a model system and will thus inform the mechanisms by which fertile sperm are built, in addition to being relevant to cell biology across eukaryotic species. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3215 - Reproductive Medicine. Lead: Prof Moira O'Bryan

Using Conservation Covenants for Ecosystem Restoration & Climate Adaptation. This project aims to investigate the role of conservation covenants in facilitating ecological restoration and adaptation to climate change. In light of international experience, the project examines Australia's legal experience with conservation covenants, with case studies in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria. The project expects to generate new theoretical insights and practical knowledge about the obstacles and opportunities for enabling covenants to play a more ambitious role in meeting biodiversity conservation and recovery goals. This should generate significant benefits to Australia in meeting its international environmental obligations, and improving collaboration between governments and community and landholder stakeholders.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4802 - Environmental and Resources Law. Lead: Prof Benjamin Richardson

Cultivating digital music making in regional Australia. The project aims to examine effective methods of aligning local infrastructure and online resources to support digital music creators and their communities in regional Australia. It will promote digital creative industries and augment existing investments in regional art institutions and digital fabrication infrastructure. The project collaborates with regional digital artists to share their skills and expertise, with the goal of improving coordination of resources and infrastructure for the growth of regional digital creatives and engagement with their communities. Knowledge outcomes will assist governments in optimising the delivery of creative services and resources in regional Australia. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4410 - Sociology. Lead: Prof Andrew Bennett

Polarons in flatland. This project aims to generate new theories of excitons (the solid-state analogue of hydrogen atoms) in charge-doped atomically thin semiconductors. Such theories are urgently needed to describe the response to external probes, such as electric fields, of a range of novel materials that have emerged in recent years. The novelty is to treat the behaviour of semiconductors as a quantum impurity problem, where the excitons become modified by the surrounding electrons to form new types of particles. A greater understanding of the impurity problem in 2D materials would ultimately facilitate their use in emerging technologies that combine electronics with photonics, for use in ultra-low-power devices such as photodectectors, LEDs, and lasers.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5108 - Quantum Physics. Lead: A/Prof Jesper Levinsen