Griffith University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Genomic library infrastructure for ancient environmental samples. This project aims to enable automated genome recovery from diverse environmental samples, without contamination risk. For more than 100 years, environmental scientists have studied diverse organism / environment interactions using a variety of conceptual and technical tools. Recently, studies of ancient and historical DNA have come to complement these tools and to occupy a significant place in environmental studies conducted over serial time. The project’s addition to the existing dual Ancient DNA complex facility at Griffith University will comprise two liquid handling workstations, each being housed in separate, self-contained, ancient DNA laboratories. The new facility will enable many researchers to have unprecedented access to an ancient DNA facility and a high level of technical support. Field of research: 1002 - Environmental Biotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Using improved markets to reduce over-extraction of groundwater. This project aims to investigate the key aspects needed for a successful groundwater market, including extraction limits, innovative trading systems and reasonable transaction costs. The outcomes of the project can contribute to environmental benefits that minimise short-term financial losses to irrigators. The project also expects to enhance the capacity of water agencies to implement cap and trade systems that can reduce over-extraction. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Empowering Indigenous businesses through improved financial literacy. This project aims to compare the level of financial and commercial literacy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous small business owners. It will analyse financial performance, contrast the support and resources available to Indigenous small business owners in independent and franchised businesses in urban, regional and remote areas of Australia. It is anticipated that the research will promote financial health and sustainability of Indigenous businesses and lead to greater levels of financial literacy in Indigenous businesses in the future. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

What happens to toxic metals during frog metamorphosis? This project aims to investigate metal accumulation in frogs during larval development and explore tissue degeneration and remodelling as a factor influencing metal toxicity during metamorphosis. The project expects to produce information about the fate of metal burdens during metamorphosis and reveal important relationships between uptake and toxicity response pathways in animals undergoing complex life history strategies. This will provide significant environmental benefit by contributing towards improved regulatory and monitoring guidelines relevant for important metal pollutants, with particular relevance for the protection of vulnerable amphibians. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Accountability for past human rights violations in South Asia. This project aims to explain South Asian responses to requests seeking accountability for violations of human rights. State responses are variable and often inconsistent with global norms which hold that perpetrators of violations should be held accountable for their actions. This project will develop a theoretically-informed empirical explanation for these responses. Expected benefits include an enhanced evidence base to inform Australian policymakers, international agencies and non-profit organisations seeking to address global norms of human rights in South Asia. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Predicting interactive effects of multiple stressors on marine ecosystems. This project aims to create an innovative model to predict how multiple stressors interact to affect marine ecosystems across large spatial scales. The interactive effects of multiple stressors are poorly quantified in the marine environment, and natural resource managers are not able to confidently incorporate these complex interactions into prioritising management efforts in space and time. The project intends to develop models that will predict, a-priori, the type of interactions that may occur. This should enable ecosystem managers to better prioritise actions to more effectively conserve valuable and threatened marine ecosystems. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Chemical probes for visualising DNA synthesis. This project aims to develop chemical probes to quantify DNA synthesis in complex mammalian and parasite cellular systems in conjunction with image-based technologies. Chemical probes are small molecule reagents that have a profound impact on our ability to answer fundamental questions about biological processes within living cells. The probes will be differentiated from current probes that are toxic or incompatible with state-of-the art imaging. The project expects to generate intellectual property with potential for development into commercial products that allow researchers expanded opportunities to study complex biological processes. Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Biography, History and the case of Adelaide Ironside. This project aims to extend and expand the form of historical biography by offering innovative solutions to the research problems associated with retrieving lost lives from fragmentary sources. Combining praxis and theory, this project develops a methodological framework for this genre, reconstituting the scanty archive of Australian colonial artist Adelaide Ironside into a narrative-driven biography and then critically investigating that process. It thus restores forgotten stories to the nation’s narrative and extends the impact of historical research. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Women and the rise of contact sport. This project aims to investigate the growing visibility of women in contact sports in Australia and the multiple forces that influence their participation. Expected outcomes of this project include the enhanced capacity of contact sports to include and support women's participation; it does this by engaging with policies and practices that work towards gender equality and long-term sustainability. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Protein structure prediction by deep long-range learning. This project aims to address the challenging problem of protein structure prediction by developing deep long-range learning methods. The project expects to advance protein structure prediction by capturing the long-range interactions through whole sequence learning, rather than short window-based learning. Expected outcomes include next-generation machine-learning techniques for predicting one, two and three-dimensional protein structures from their sequences. The expected outcomes should provide significant benefits by computationally determining protein structures beyond homologous sequences, and enabling structure-based drug discovery to disease-causing protein targets previously inaccessible to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Field of research: 1702 - Cognitive Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

A novel modelling approach for understanding wildlife disease dynamics. This project aims to develop a novel framework for field wildlife disease systems, applied to chytrid fungal infection of an endangered frog species as a case study. The project expects to develop models able to be applied to many disease systems, improve understanding of host resistance and tolerance to infection, and improve capacity for mitigation of emerging infectious diseases. This work should have international impact and provide significant national benefits in ensuring the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Phase-variable epigenetic regulators in bacterial veterinary pathogens. This project aims to identify phasevarion regulated genes in the major bacterial swine pathogens Streptococcus suis and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Both species contain randomly switching epigenetic regulators that control expression of multiple genes by epigenetic mechanisms. Identifying phasevarion controlled genes will inform and direct future vaccine development for important livestock species. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Single model irregular-region retrieval for rapid plant disease detection. This project aims to study the major technical barrier in plant disease image retrieval to build a pervasive rapid plant disease identification system. The techniques are designed to function on one or very few sample images, thus enabling on-line in field disease identification linked to authoritative plant disease image libraries. The success of this project will not only make significant contributions to fundamental theory in single model image retrieval, but also create a revolution in plant disease early detection for effective and efficient crop protection. Field of research: 0807 - Library and Information Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Determining elements that underpin learning of child-witness interviewing. This project aims to investigate the elements that underpin the learning of child witness interviewing skills. Preliminary indications from pioneering research suggest that positive change in interviewer behaviour is achievable. This project aims to extend that work on a larger scale. Expected outcomes include knowledge about the conditions under which skill acquisition is effective for different learners in disparate contexts, and how skills can be maintained over the long term. The findings will guide the planning and implementation of interviewer training programs and contribute to improved interview quality and better justice outcomes for child complainants of abuse. Field of research: 1602 - Criminology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Unravelling vanadium biogeochemistry in modern marine sediments. This project aims to unravel the biogeochemistry of vanadium in modern marine sediments for use as a tracer of ancient oxygen concentrations in the oceans of the early Earth. This project will generate fundamental knowledge on the behaviour of vanadium in modern marine sediments by applying advanced analytical tools for imaging its concentration and chemical form at ultra-high resolution. This information is critical for accurate interpretation of the geological record to infer the oxygen concentration of the oceans at various points in Earth's history. This interdisciplinary project will facilitate strong collaboration between Australian and Danish researchers in the field of marine geochemistry and paleoceanography. Field of research: 0403 - Geology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Magnetofluidic sample handling for enhanced point-of-care diagnosis. This project aims to decipher the mechanism behind recent discovery on the enhancement of mixing and separation with magnetism and to apply it to the rapid and early detection of malaria and cancer. This mechanism provides novel and unique fluid handling capabilities, which allow the development of revolutionary point-of-care diagnostic approaches that integrate magnetic mixing, separation and detection on a single device. The outcomes of this project are instrumental for the reduction of healthcare cost, promoting good health for Australian and potentially creating new jobs in the niche biomedical industry. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Developing key vision technology for automation of aquaculture factory. This project aims to investigate structural, coloured textural, and hyperspectral analysis approaches to achieve automated lobster molt-cycle staging and classification to the level required for commercial production. High labour cost, water contamination, and disease transmission are major barriers in Australian bay lobster aquaculture inhibiting its large scale production. Automation of the production process and reducing the human contact with animals are of high priority in the development of this Australian-led emerging industry. The project aims to develop technology to bring this world- first aquaculture factory to large scale production, and create new export opportunities for lobsters and production systems. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will resolve uncertainties in the underlying phenomena. The expected outcome should support future high quality cell cultures suitable for transplantation therapies. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Acoustic liquid handling robotics for bioactive compound discovery. This project aims to use a Labcyte Echo 550 acoustic dispenser with Combination Software to deliver sophisticated assay-ready screening. The Echo is the only liquid handling dispenser for 1536-well microplates and will allow Australian researchers to develop assay miniaturisation. The robotics will provide our nation’s researchers with a distinct competitive edge by enhancing assay sophistication, accuracy and reproducibility while reducing cost. The expected benefits will advance the elucidation of molecular mechanisms involved in complex biological phenomena. The benefits of this are substantial, including reduction in test compound and reagents, which in turn reduces laboratory costs, conserves cells and increases data quality. Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Australia's living technologies: Bone tools from first peoples to contact. This project aims to study Indigenous Australian technologies made from animal bone and tooth to provide insights into pre-contact Australia and the development of human ingenuity. The project will use modern analytical techniques to examine Australia’s ancient bone tool industry, and apply use wear techniques to deduce the cognitive, social, and technological processes behind their manufacture and use. This project expects to contribute to knowledge of Australian and world prehistories of colonisation, environmental interaction, social interaction and innovation, and supply a material culture-based perspective on the cultural behaviour of humans’ earliest ancestors. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes include insights into gas bubble formation and evolution during electrocatalysis, effective catalyst structures to mitigate negative effects of gas bubble formation, and improved catalytic efficiency of gas evolution reactions and develop high performance electrocatalysts for fuel gas production. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Structural basis of paramyxovirus host cell entry. This project aims to investigate interactions between paramyxoviruses and host cell receptors and the mechanisms underlying fusion activation at a molecular level. Paramyxoviruses include economically important human and animal pathogens. Two viral proteins are key to infection: an attachment protein for the interaction with host receptors, and a fusion protein for fusion of viral and cellular membranes. The project is anticipated to discover general principles of how paramyxoviruses infect host cells, which should advance fundamental understanding of viral infection strategies and may identify strategies for rational design of inhibitors targeting host-cell entry of multiple paramyxoviruses. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Glycointeractions. This project aims to characterise two new classes of structural interactions with carbohydrates: carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions and short alpha helical domains which can bind carbohydrates. Carbohydrate structures are found on the surface of cells in all forms of life. The intended outcome is to understand the molecular basis for these carbohydrate interactions. This information should provide an intellectual framework for understanding and manipulating these carbohydrate interactions, which underpin many processes in biological systems. The findings will inform the design of future drugs to block these interactions and will generate new tools for glycoscience. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The molecular mechanism of action of bacterial epigenetic regulators. This project aims to determine the mechanisms of action of a class of bacterial epigenetic regulators. Many bacteria exhibit phase variable expression of genes (random, high frequency on/off switching of expression), typically due to simple DNA repeats within the gene(s) that encode them. Many bacterial species contain phase variable DNA methyltransferases that regulate epigenetics and control expression of distinct sets of proteins (phasevarions) via variable methylation of the genome. The precise mechanism of action of these regulators is unknown. Characterisation of these systems will provide better understanding of bacterial gene regulation and adaptation, which will inform biotechnology and vaccine development and could contribute to economic and health advancements. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Catalytically active surface for hydrogen evolution. This project aims to develop classes of active surface on catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Targeted catalysts with abundant transitional metal active sites are a new frontier in electrocatalysis. This project intends to develop vapour-phase hydrothermal approaches to effectively in-situ grow single crystal catalysts with rich metal centres and to further boost their activities by in-situ doping with heteroatoms. Expected outcomes include robust fabrication means for atomic construction of active surfaces and improved understanding of active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering