Grants & Opportunities

Breaking Down Silos: Optimal Aligned Decisions via Forecast Reconciliation. This project aims to develop new forecasting methods, where forecasts are needed at different levels of aggregation, such as store level and total regional demand in retail. This project expects to generate new knowledge in terms of forecasting methods that are robust to extreme events such as supply chain disruptions, while ensuring decisions made by different agents in an organisation are aligned. An interdisciplinary approach, using techniques from mathematical optimisation and statistics will be taken. Expected outcomes include improved forecasting methods placed on a rigorous footing by new theory. This should provide significant benefits, including efficient retail operations and better planning of infrastructure investment in energy.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3802 - Econometrics. Lead: A/Prof Anastasios Panagiotelis

Unlock the Potential of Gallium Oxides for Power Electronic Applications. Power electronics, a cutting-edge circuitry device, efficiently channels power from source to load, prioritising efficiency, compactness, and resilience. Ultrawide bandgap semiconductors stand as pioneers in this field, with Ga2O3 emerging as a game-changer to surpass the boundaries set by SiC and GaN. However, its low thermal conductivity presents a significant hurdle for its integration into power electronics. This project aims to develop breakthrough technology capable of fabricating atomically thin freestanding single crystal Ga2O3 membranes with precise thickness control on a 2-inch wafer scale. It seeks to tackle head-on the critical limitation posed by Ga2O3's low thermal conductivity with a high-throughput manufacturing methodology.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Sean Li

Multi-point maximum principles, integrability profiles, and smoothing. Regularity theory forms the foundation of differential equations governing the behaviour of systems such as gravitation, climate modelling, biological systems, economics models, geometric structures such as minimal surfaces and many others. Tremendous developments occurred during the 20th century, yet many unresolved questions remain (such as the Millennial prize problem on the regularity of Navier-Stokes). We propose new methods to tackle such questions via a geometric approach to obtain optimal inequalities. The project will greatly simplify the very technical aspects of the field and open up new avenues to solve the major outstanding problems in this area.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4904 - Pure Mathematics. Lead: Dr Paul Bryan

Self-Powered and Interference-Free Wearable Sensors . This project aims to develop self-powered and interference-free wearable sensors without bulky and rigid power sources like batteries, thus addressing the significant issues of portability and miniaturization for wearable electronics. This will be achieved by novel engineering of soft conductive composite materials by gaining a deep understanding of how their microstructures impact energy harvesting and sensing capabilities. Outcomes will include new knowledge of self-powered and interference-free sensing mechanisms and new development of integrated wearable sensor. This project holds significant potential to advance renewable energy for cutting-edge wearable electronics, while simultaneously promoting sustainability in Australia.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Dr Shuhua Peng

New mathematical models for brain tissue microstructure imaging. Diffusion MRI is a modern workhorse for neuroscientists to non-invasively study the brain. However, the mechanism underlying diffusion MRI signal formation, due to the movement of water molecules in complex brain tissue, is still unclear. This project aims to develop the next generation mathematical framework to interpret and model diffusion-weighted MRI signals, surpassing the capability of conventional mathematical models. Expected outcomes include novel mathematical and computational approaches enabling more sensitive and specific imaging markers for characterising brain tissue microstructure. The mathematical tools developed will advance the state of the art in diffusion MRI data analysis and benefit both researchers and clinicians.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4901 - Applied Mathematics. Lead: Dr Qianqian Yang

Enacting ChatGPT in Fintech: Identities, Institutions, Iterations. The project investigates practices of user engagement with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in organizational and workplace contexts, and will propose solutions to counter growing social and political concerns about human-machine interaction. The research aims to advance understandings about the formation of GenAI knowledge communities in the financial services sector, and how these communities of practice are reshaping the social and cultural consequences of emergent technologies. Expected outcomes include benchmark publications, enhanced international research capacity and an improved ability to address socio-technological problems in an area of vital importance to Australian society.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4410 - Sociology. Lead: Prof Anthony Elliott AM

Character sheaves and Langlands duality. In the recent years a large part of mathematics has been driven by the Langlands program. The aim of work proposed is to contribute to this program from our unique point of view. The expected outcomes include a comprehensive understanding of character sheaves and how they apply to longstanding difficult problems in mathematics. In addition to addressing fundamental questions in mathematics and expanding our understanding, the research program connects Australia to the most exciting recent mathematical developments thus benefiting Australian researchers and students. The project will also train highly qualified individuals who can make significant impact on science, industry, technology, and economy through their specialised skills. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4904 - Pure Mathematics. Lead: A/Prof Ting Xue

Developing an analytic theory of monoidal categories. The project's aim is to introduce fundamentally new methods to the field of monoidal categories by using an innovative analytic approach. Monoidal categories are ubiquitous in mathematics and cognate fields such as computer science. However, current techniques draw almost exclusively from algebraic and combinatorial ideas which are closer to the origin of the theory of monoidal categories. The project will overcome current limitations by introducing interdisciplinary methods and applying them to pressing open problems where the usual approaches fail. The outcome will be new results in representation theory and a new theory to study monoidal categories. This will have benefits within mathematics and also in physics/chemistry in the long run.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4904 - Pure Mathematics. Lead: Dr Daniel Tubbenhauer

Geometry of Character Varieties. The aim of this project is to develop a comprehensive theory for the geometry of the spaces of symmetries called character varieties. The significance of these spaces stems from their central role in deep areas of mathematics and physics, such as the geometric Langlands program, mirror symmetry, and Yang--Mills theory. Expected outcomes include resolution of long-standing conjectures regarding invariants of character varieties. The benefits include applications in number theory and knot theory, and more broadly in cybersecurity, quantum computing, and economics. We will also strengthen the Australian mathematical research community by creating a hub in the southern hemisphere for the study of character varieties.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4904 - Pure Mathematics. Lead: Prof Uri Onn

What drives moral amplification? Morality provides the foundation for human cooperation, however amplifying everyday moral attitudes, judgements, and beliefs has the potential to sow intolerance, social conflict, and polarisation. This project aims to explore how facing threats, from those experienced day-to-day to widespread societal issues and ecological contexts, can lead people to adopt more unforgiving moral stances. The findings will provide that basis for a new theorectical framework from which to understand the functions of morality and will feed into practice by identifying psychological processes through which intollerace can emerge, and in turn highlighting critical junctures for targetted interventions aiming to build social cohesion.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5205 - Social and Personality Psychology. Lead: Prof Brock Bastian

Incomplete Information Industrial Organization: From Theory to Practice. This project aims to refine the set of incomplete information models of industrial organization (Triple-IO) and develop a range of tools to evaluate the competitive effects of mergers, collusion, and related changes to market structure and firm conduct. This will significantly advance our understanding of markets and the role that bargaining plays in the efficiency of markets. Expected outcomes include expanding the set of Triple-IO tools available and enabling their practical application. Expected benefits include better informed, more sophisticated, and hence improved, decision making by competition authorities when evaluating the competitive effects of economic conduct. This will benefit societies by improving consumers' choice sets.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3801 - Applied Economics. Lead: Prof Simon Loertscher

Age dating the Milky Way halo using new data from NASA’s Kepler mission. The project will use a radically new approach to investigate how our Galaxy formed, by fusing two fields of contemporary astrophysics -- the study of stellar oscillations and 'Galactic Archaeology'. This will dramatically improve our understanding of the fundamental physics that governs the evolution of all stars. We will probe, for the first time, the interior structure of several thousands of the oldest stars in the Galaxy to reveal the intimate details of its formation from the oscillation frequency imprint of each star. The ambitious goal to go beyond classical astronomy, which examines only the surface of stars, will be possible through access to new extremely high-precision data from one of NASA's most successful space telescopes.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5101 - Astronomical Sciences. Lead: Prof Dennis Stello

Perovskite transistor memories for neuromorphic intelligent applications. In the era of big data, efficient in-memory computing overcomes traditional computing architecture bottlenecks. Inspired by neural networks, artificial synaptic memory, or non-volatile memory, in the form of floating-gate field-effect transistor (FG-FET) holds great promise. Metal halide perovskite FG-FETs offer cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions, especially for flexible and wearable devices and offer additional photo-memory capability for image recognition. This project aims to discover lead-free perovskites with reduced dimensional structure to enhance charge mobility and photosensitivity for non-volatile memory. The anticipated outcome is the first demonstration of perovskite transistors in synaptic floating-gate memories.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Anita Ho-Baillie

Tax justice: Closing policy gaps to lessen intimate partner financial abuse. This project aims to address the weaponisation of the tax and transfer system in Australia by perpetrators of intimate partner financial abuse. The research team will innovate and drive knowledge advancements at the intersection of tax and financial abuse by applying interdisciplinary approaches including co-design with frontline services, practitioners and policymakers, and international comparative legal analysis with leading scholars in Australia and the United States. The research will generate significant economic and social benefits by enhancing outcomes for victim-survivors and their families; bolstering existing coercive control reforms; modernising Australia’s tax law, and administration; and maintaining trust in the tax system.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4801 - Commercial Law. Lead: Prof Ann Kayis-Kumar

The new classic Indonesian arts: its emergence and exclusion. This project will document how local engagement with colonial and postcolonial heritage generated local knowledges and skilled local production of Hindu-Buddhist Dharmic arts in archaeologically rich locations across Indonesia. Despite the skillsets and knowledge within these communities, museums and archaeologists often miscast residents as unengaged and local artists as counterfeiters who undermine the provenance of classic Indonesian artefacts. This international action-research project will work with Indonesia’s new classic artists, their communities and heritage institutions and researchers to reposition local knowledges and arts industries as important contributors to Asian heritage and arts.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4302 - Heritage, Archive and Museum Studies. Lead: Dr Tod Jones

Determining the role of corticostriatal circuits in impulsive actions. This project aims to determine what happens in the brain during impulsive actions. Using cutting-edge neuroscience tools, this project expects to generate new knowledge by identifying when, where and how the brain supports impulse control in real time. Expected outcomes of this project should improve our fundamental understanding about why impulsive behaviours persist and how they are controlled in the brain, which is significant for our basic understanding of the human brain and behaviour. Benefits include future use of this information to reduce risky behaviour as well as informing policy, educational and public safety messages, while building collaborations and research capacity in Australia.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5202 - Biological Psychology. Lead: Dr Karly Turner

Ovarian somatic cells: guardians of gamete survival and quality . This project will define the DNA repair capacity of granulosa cells in primordial follicles, compared to growing follicles, in the context of exogenous and endogenous DNA damage. Longevity, combined with the arrested state of their chromosomes render oocytes and their supporting granulosa cells in primordial follicles vulnerable to DNA damage. As oocytes are irreplaceable, to ensure fertility and health of the future generations it is imperative that the health of these primordial follicles is maintained throughout reproductive life. This discovery research will generate entirely new knowledge regarding the mechanisms underpinning oocyte quality, with implications for improving mammalian female fertility.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3215 - Reproductive Medicine. Lead: Prof Karla Hutt

Fabrication of 3D neural networks for next generation biocomputing. Aim: To engineer 3D neural systems that will underpin the development of next generation biocomputing. Significance: Biocomputers based on neuronal networks have hit a hiatus due to the inability to engineer 3D structures reminiscent of brain neural networks. Outcomes: The new 3D bioprinted system will produce neuronal networks that are scalable, can be interfaced to communicate with the real-world and perform recognition tasks. Models and algorithms will be established to optimise computational processes. Benefits: Compared to traditional silicon-based computing, biocomputing has the potential for faster decision making, continuous learning and enhanced energy efficiency, essential traits for the development of next-generation computing.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering. Lead: Prof John Forsythe

Learning to Value Constraints. Optimisation subject to constraints is key to improving efficiency in transport, energy and many other areas. This project will develop better optimisation algorithms by leveraging the power of machine learning to boost the handling of constraints. By developing more advanced constraint handling, the optimisation methods created in this project will enable larger and more complex optimisation models to be solved. A particular focus is optimisation in applications involving networks. The development of such machine-learning enhanced optimisation approaches is expected to lead to benefits in industries where optimisation plays an important role, including transport, logistics, and energy grid planning.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4602 - Artificial Intelligence. Lead: Prof Andreas Ernst

Safeguarding posthumous digital data: understanding Australians’ views . This sociological project aims to understand Australians’ views on how posthumous data is or should be managed after people die or become incapacitated. The team expects to generate new knowledge of people’s views regarding the fate of personal data using community-based workshops, interviews, and a public forum. Expected outcomes of the project include a new concept of technological citizenship, enhanced international collaborations, and the training of researchers in a new field of vital importance to Australians. This should provide significant benefits such as deep understanding of the factors that shape people’s views on posthumous data that will assist estate planning, and evidence-based support for effective strategies and policies.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4410 - Sociology. Lead: Prof Alan Petersen

Securing Privacy-Preserving Cloud Computation Against Active Attacks. This project aims to devise practical cryptographic tools for securing privacy-preserving cloud computation applications from active attack threats that go beyond eavesdropping. It expects to remove a fundamental barrier to secure deployment of privacy-preserving cloud computation technology. The project is expected to generate novel methods to significantly reduce the risk of cloud data privacy breaches which have plagued enterprise and personal data in recent years. Expected outcomes of the project include a practical active security toolkit for deployment in cloud applications such as privacy-preserving Artificial Intelligence services. This should benefit cloud services by bolstering privacy and reducing the frequency of data breaches. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4604 - Cybersecurity and Privacy. Lead: Prof Ron Steinfeld

Controlling magnetism and topology with an electric field. This project aims to investigate the prospects of electrical control of both magnetism and topology in new layered magnetic topological insulator structures. These structures can pass current without resistance losses, and are predicted to have magnetic properties that can be switched with an electric field, making them ideal for next-generation low-energy logic and memory. This project aims to create new layered magnetic topological structures, fabricate devices and study their electronic and magnetic properties. Expected outcomes of the project will be understanding of electrical switching of magnetism and topology, which will benefit the search for more efficient logic and memory devices for sustainable information technology.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5104 - Condensed Matter Physics. Lead: A/Prof Mark Edmonds

Synchronised brain oscillations and motor function in older adults. The ability to learn new motor skills declines with advancing age, but the cause of this decline, or how to alleviate it, remains elusive. This project will use a novel form of non-invasive brain stimulation combined with multimodal techniques to investigate how synchronising brain oscillations at specific frequencies can improve motor learning in older adults. This cutting-edge approach will provide new information on the neurophysiological basis of synchronised brain oscillations and how they can be optimised to improve motor function. The outcomes may have wide-ranging implications for the design of training protocols aimed at improving motor and cognitive function, providing potential benefits in ageing and in rehabilitation.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5202 - Biological Psychology. Lead: A/Prof John Semmler

Hydrogen storage and delivery by novel hydrogen-rich molecules. As an energy carrier to store and deliver the energy produced from intermittent wind and solar sources, hydrogen can play a pivotal role in our transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Through novel chemical syntheses, materials fabrication, and catalysis, this project aims to develop hydrogen-rich lightweight molecules that are able to be efficiently manufactured at scale. These outcomes will drive new commercial and export opportunities for domestic chemical processing and manufacturing industries, contribute to decarbonising industries currently reliant on fossil fuels and energy-intensive processes, and accelerate development of a green and sustainable hydrogen economy.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 4016 - Materials Engineering. Lead: Prof Zhenguo Huang

The moral circle: Understanding the forces that determine moral inclusion. The proposed project aims to transform our understanding of the competing individual and collective forces that determine moral inclusion in society, and ultimately the motivations behind collective social change (e.g., action on climate change, the rights of marginalized communities). It is anticipated that project outcomes will include novel insights into how more inclusive moral norms can be fostered in society and to identify the key psychological barriers to moral inclusion. This would provide significant benefits, including vital policy recommendations and communication strategies to ensure sufficient community support to tackle pressing social challenges, as well as fostering a more compassionate and equitable society. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 5205 - Social and Personality Psychology. Lead: Dr Charlie Crimston