Grants & Opportunities

Investigating the archaeological values of Marra cultural heritage sites. This project aims to investigate the archaeological landscape of Limmen National Park, the traditional Country of the Marra people, and to inform the creation of a cultural heritage management plan. It builds on a long-standing relationship with the Marra and the urgency to preserve their cultural knowledge associated with the Park. The project will use a two-way thinking methodology, combining contemporary Aboriginal knowledge with archaeological and anthropological data to understand the meaning of the archaeological record for Aboriginal people today. Key outcomes include data for continent-wide archaeological narratives, a holistic blueprint to help manage the Park’s cultural heritage, and an archive for Traditional Owner research.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History. Lead: A/Prof Liam Brady

Novel biological and genetic disease control tools for the barley industry. This project places Australian barley breeders at the forefront of disease resistance by providing them with novel tools to develop varieties with enhanced protection against fungal diseases. The aims are to produce fungal strains with multiple virulence genes for fast and cost-effective testing of barley lines, untangle the fungal/host gene interaction for resistance breeding and identify new sources of resistance. The outcomes will lead to the commercialisation by Australian breeding companies of barley varieties with durable fungal resistance. This will benefit the Australian economy by providing sustainability and protection for barley breeding thereby significantly reducing crop losses for this important global agricultural commodity.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 3004 - Crop and Pasture Production. Lead: A/Prof Anke Martin

Improving Australian iron ore comminution for green steel production. Decarbonisation of the iron ore and steel industry will involve the design of new mineral processing approaches to make the Australian iron ore amenable to green steel production. Energy-efficient ore crushing for optimal ore grades production is key to the development and economics of green steel. This fellowship project, with embedded industry experts, aims at better understanding the fragmentation mechanics of Pilbara iron ore. It will exploit micro-computed tomography coupled with advanced mechanical testing to offer transformative characterisation methods of ore comminution. The project outcomes will help develop new technologies and optimal production paths to realise a higher-grade iron ore needed for a decarbonised steel industry. . Scheme: Mid-Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 4019 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy. Lead: A/Prof Nicolas Francois

Novel minerals and mix design in low embodied carbon concrete products . Research and development in materials and mix design for concrete building products will target utilisation of abundant and low cost mineral materials including natural clay, hard rock quarry fines and unclassified fly ash resources. New mix design and preparation methods are targeting improved strength and production efficiency with reduced Portland cement and embodied carbon. This technology will be used in the manufacture of concrete blocks, roof tiles and brick and block mortar products currently manufactured by Brickworks. Outcomes are efficient and sustainable full scale manufacture of higher value, low embodied carbon, lightweight, large format and/or high durability products that are not currently available to the Australian market.. Scheme: Mid-Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: A/Prof Yunfei Xi

Developing a recyclable carbon fibre composite capability for Australia. This project will use innovative surface modification techniques on reclaimed and virgin carbon fibres to enhance their compatibility with thermoplastic polymers. Valorising reclaimed carbon fibres and optimising thermoplastic composite materials will overcome the global industry challenges of: Raw material shortfall and High-volume manufacture, respectively. The successful implementation of this work will enable the critical role that high performance carbon fibre composite materials will play in transitioning to alternative energy sectors such as wind and hydrogen. This fellowship will create a sovereign capability and source of high value materials for Australia that will benefit energy, construction, mining, and defence.. Scheme: Mid-Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Luke Henderson

Improving carer’s quality of life and quality of care. This project will improve the ability of Carers Australia and the Department of Social Services to evaluate and enhance the success of services they implement to support Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers. Currently little is known about which support and services most help improve quality of life for carers, and the quality of care they provide, despite strong evidence of a quality of life crisis amongst carers. By collecting cross sectional and longitudinal data to build on an existing data set, this project will enable evidence-based design and delivery of services that support carers socially, emotionally and financially while enabling them to provide high quality care.. Scheme: Early Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 4206 - Public Health. Lead: Dr Melinda Mylek

Development of rapid-response thermal batteries for the global market. In collaboration with Isothermix, this project aims to develop and commercialize cost-effective, rapid-response thermal batteries to meet the air conditioning peak demand of buildings. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the phase change materials which can be used to store thermal energy across a range of temperatures and the highly thermal conductive materials which can be used as a heat exchanger. Expected outcomes include the development of rapid response thermal batteries which can cool buildings across a range of temperatures and site conditions. This should provide significant benefits by reducing primary heating and cooling plant capacity and thereby our reliance on fossil fuels.. Scheme: Early Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Dr SEUNG HO LEE

High-performance ammonia electrosynthesis devices. The project aims to develop a robust process for electrosynthesis of ammonia using devices manufactured by Melbourne company Jupiter Ionics P/L and innovative electrolyte components. Towards this aim, tailored ion-shuttling compounds need to be designed and investigated to enable continuous generation of ammonia in scaled-up flow devices. This is expected to generate new knowledge in practical electrochemistry, catalysis and sustainable synthesis. Key project outcome is a technology for production of ammonia from renewables that is pollution-free and highly scalable in contrast to the current process. Resulting benefit to Australian agriculture businesses is a method for distributed fertiliser generation without the use of fossil fuels.. Scheme: Early Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 3406 - Physical Chemistry. Lead: Dr Hoang-Long Du

Novel gestural technologies for musicians with physical disability. This project aims to address the under-representation of people with disability in the Australian music industry by developing innovative, accessible gestural instruments. Teaming up with key industry partner, YourDNA Creative Arts, an accessibler arts organisation, this interdisciplinary project expects to generate new knowledge in instrument design, inclusive technology and creative artificial intelligence. Using mixed-methodologies, expected outcomes include music and performance which is socially inclusive, economic participation, and the health and well-being of musicians with disability. This should provide significant benefits to Australian society by breaking down barriers that hinder their effective participation in society.. Scheme: Early Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 3603 - Music. Lead: Dr Alon Ilsar

Ammonium-selective membranes to shift water industry into circular economy. The project aims to develop ammonium-selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for sustainable ammonia recovery. The project expects to construct the membranes to achieve desirable pore size and surface functionality for fast and selective ammonia transport. The developed membranes should make ammonia recovery from wastewater more effective and sustainable, leading to the healthy waterway and reduced energy for both ammonia production and removal. Recovered ammonia expects to produce valuable products, supporting agriculture industry and hydrogen economy. The developed membranes should enable water industry's shift into circular economy, providing significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia.. Scheme: Early Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Dr Li Gao

Designer Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Protein Factories. Intracellular delivery of mRNA facilitates target protein production, which could build protein factories that are essential in biomanufacturing industries. However, the instability of mRNA greatly lowers the protein production performance, limiting the commercial translation potential. This project aims to develop a new generation of nanoparticle delivery system to enhance mRNA stability against intracellular unstable cue, enzymatic digestion and thermal stress. This will be achieved by tailoring the nanochemistry at multi-scales. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in custom-design of functional nanomaterials for mRNA delivery, and new technology that will bring commercial benefits to the partner organisation and the biopharma sector.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Chengzhong Yu

A miniaturised laser manipulator for ultra-precise and pain-free dentistry. This project aims to develop a miniaturized high-precision laser robotic device that can fit comfortably in the mouth to perform pain-free, vibration-free dental operations by utilising silicon-carbide on silicon technology to create a millimetre-sized two-axis controllable, highly-reflective mirror robust to high-power ultra-short laser pulses. This project expects to generate new knowledge in micro-mirror control using optically excited piezo-resistive sensors, and cold femtosecond laser ablation of hard dental tissue. Expected outcomes include a working prototype for laser removal of tooth materials at speeds exceeding dental drills, providing benefits in miniaturized laser devices and ultimately removing pain from dental procedures. . Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering. Lead: Prof Dzung Dao

Regeneration of High Value-Added Materials from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries. This project aims to develop scalable processing techniques for the regeneration of cathode materials and the production of high-purity alumina and graphene from spent lithium-ion batteries. The techniques reduce the cost and time of the processing of degraded cathode materials and increase the value of the spent battery materials (e.g., metallic aluminum and graphite) by converting them into high value-added specialty chemicals. The outcomes and further technology adoptions will extend the capacity of the Partner Organisation for producing specialty battery materials. The outcomes could help Australia’s battery industry switch to a more diversified pathway, which benefits the economic development of Australia in a long term.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 4004 - Chemical Engineering. Lead: Prof Dr Zongping Shao

Online relationship therapy supporting those affected by substance use. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online relationship therapy program for those experiencing relationship dysfunction and where one or both partners engage in problematic substance use. In doing so, the project addresses a major service gap, specifically, the lack of online programs to support this population in developing and maintaining positive romantic relationships. The expected outcomes include reduced relationship conflict, intimate partner violence, and relationship breakdown. The project's potential for wide-scale roll out will yield far-reaching benefits for Australian couples and families dealing with substance problems by enhancing relationship skills and fostering relationship stability.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 5205 - Social and Personality Psychology. Lead: Prof Gery Karantzas

Digitally Assisted Power Amplifier Design with Enhanced Energy Efficiency. The project aims to advance design techniques for power amplifiers operating in the recently allocated spectrum for 5G New Radio, from approximately 24 GHz to 52 GHz. The intended outcome is a compact and high efficiency transmitter using digitally assisted power amplifier design techniques in low-cost Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Such innovation will have significant impacts on our daily life, as it will build the hardware foundation for the next generation of wireless systems. Consequently, various emerging applications such as virtual/augmented reality will be supported, maintaining national leadership in the development of wireless technology, and providing economic benefits for Australian industries.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 4009 - Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware. Lead: Dr Xi (Forest) Zhu

Reading climate: Indigenous literatures, school English and sustainablity. Reading Climate aims to investigate the connections between sustainability and Indigenous knowledge in the context of school English and directly responds to imperatives for climate education and racial justice in Australian schools. It links teachers, students, authors and scholars through book clubs, exploring the potential of literature as an interdisciplinary site for knowledge building and for reimagining social and environmental futures. With partners the Stella Prize, the Australian Association for the Teaching of English, Feral Arts and VoicEd Radio, the project will develop strong collaborations between literary education, industry, and Indigenous writing, producing an open access digital resource for use in schools nationally. . Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 3901 - Curriculum and Pedagogy. Lead: Prof Larissa McLean Davies

Co-research supporting the development of Aboriginal plant knowledges. Successful commercial development of products manufactured from Australian plant extracts based on shared Aboriginal Knowledges and Western scientific evidence is limited. This research project partnering with an Aboriginal Corporation and a skincare company aims to understand the processes that would be needed for Aboriginal-led product development from a traditionally-used plant. This includes examining how plant materials could be sustainably managed and harvested on Aboriginal homelands, the quantities of plant materials needed for product development and the feasibility of a homelands business. The learnings from this project are expected to inform other First Nations groups seeking to develop their plant knowledges.. Scheme: Linkage Projects. Field: 4506 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sciences. Lead: Dr Susan Semple

Increasing the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries. This project aims to increase the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries in Australia and overseas. This project expects to deliver solutions-oriented research that pioneers the first global assessment of coral reef fisheries sustainability, locates the most resilient reefs, and uses these as models to increase resilience in other locations. Expected outcomes include new knowledge, partnerships, and decision-support tools that provide benefits by: 1) leaving a global legacy of resilient coral reef fisheries, 2) generating national security benefits through increased engagement with and improved resource stewardship in neighbouring countries, and 3) enhancing Australia's research capacity by training 7 future research leaders.. Scheme: Australian Laureate Fellowships. Field: 4406 - Human Geography. Lead: Prof Joshua Cinner

Making social cohesion ecocentric through Indigenous language and song . This project expects to develop Indigenous language and song in ways that reframe and Indigenise social cohesion, expanding it from a human-centric policy goal to include connections with everything in Country. Designing and implementing an unprecedented and sustained program of Noongar language and song revitalisation in the south of Western Australia across community, schools, and the performing arts, it should advance the potential for Indigenous expressive culture to nourish reciprocal social and ecological relationships that are adaptable to environmental change. Emerging from a hotspot for biodiversity and global warming, it intends to explore how Indigenous creative responses can focus and spur action on pressing global challenges. . Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History. Lead: Prof Clint Bracknell

Unravelling early self-regulation: A longitudinal study. National data show persistent issues in Australian children's social-emotional vulnerability. Research shows we have had limited success shifting these trajectories through current education and intervention efforts. In short, we understand enough about self-regulation to establish it as a priority target in early childhood, yet not enough to meaningfully alter current trajectories. This project will develop a ‘big picture’ theory of children’s self-regulation abilities and change, supported by Australia’s first longitudinal study of early self-regulation, from preschool into early primary school (ages 4 to 6). This robust theory of change is expected to better position ongoing education and intervention efforts to succeed.. Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 3903 - Education Systems. Lead: Prof Steven Howard

Categorical representation theory and applications. Symmetry is everywhere, and nature is designed symmetrically: Snails make their shells, spiders design their webs, and bees build hexagonal honeycombs, all based on the concept of symmetry. Symmetry is a general principle which plays an important role in various areas of knowledge and perception, ranging from arts to natural sciences and mathematics. The 21th century way of the study of symmetries is categorical representation theory. The project aims are to strengthen this young field by advancing the theory and by finding applications from where its significance arises. The outcome will be new results on categorical representations and this will have benefits within mathematics, cryptography and also in physics/chemistry in the long run.. Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 4904 - Pure Mathematics. Lead: Dr Daniel Tubbenhauer

Rethinking Topological Persistence. This project aims to address the lack of transferability and uncertainty-awareness in AI models. Despite their success, AI models are met with bias and uncertainty when deployed in the real world. As a result, they are rarely used in high-risk industries like cybersecurity or transport. This project expects to build uncertainty-awareness into models by teaching them to return UNKNOWN when they encounter a previously unseen thing, instead of misclassifying it. Further, the evaluation methods to be developed will not rely on access to test data, allowing cost-effective, private, and safe AI for high-stakes decision support. The outcomes will benefit Australia by accelerating economic investment and fostering greater social acceptance of AI.. Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science. Lead: A/Prof Mahsa Baktashmotlagh

Uncovering a novel energy-sensing mechanism in the brain. This project aims to investigate a novel regulator of energy homeostasis in the brain, a protein kinase called SIK3. Energy homeostasis is essential for life as it ensures an adequate supply of fuel to cells of the body. This project intends to generate new knowledge about molecular switches to regulate energy homeostasis by using innovative gene technologies and transgenic animal models. The expected outcomes include generating fundamental insights into how SIK3 in the hypothalamic neurons regulates energy homeostasis. Benefits include improving population health and wellbeing, informing the development of new bio-medical technologies, and expanding the capabilities of Australia’s next generation of researchers. . Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Lead: Dr Kim Loh

Creating conservation landscapes that effectively safeguard biodiversity. The current extinction crisis creates an imperative to protect remaining habitat wherever it occurs. This project aims to reveal how to improve protection for biodiversity outside of designated Protected Areas by advancing the concept of Conserved Areas, where conservation can be a product of other goals. This project is expected to generate novel insights into how to recognise Conserved Areas, reveal the risks and benefits associated with different type of protection and develop vital tools to ensure these areas effectively conserve biodiversity. Benefits will include a blueprint to meet global environmental commitments using well-designed systems of Protected and Conserved Areas as part of integrated conservation landscapes.. Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 4104 - Environmental Management. Lead: Dr Carly Cook

New techniques and invariants in low-dimensional topology. The aim of this project is to introduce and apply new methods and invariants in the field of low-dimensional topology by developing parametrised and equivariant enhancements of Seiberg-Witten theory and Floer homology. These new refined invariants, made possible by recent advances in gauge theory, will be more powerful than existing ones, enabling the detection of new exotic phenomena. Expected outcomes include effective means for distinguishing families of spaces, measuring their complexity and new obstructions for their existence. The new invariants and techniques will lead to the resolution of some open problems in low-dimensional topology and enhance Australia's reputation as a world leader in this field.. Scheme: ARC Future Fellowships. Field: 4904 - Pure Mathematics. Lead: Dr David Baraglia