THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Building futures: Early learning environments for optimal child... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Predicting the benefits of legal reform for marine and coastal restoration. This project aims to build the case for legal reform to facilitate marine and coastal restoration. Currently, restoration is hindered by the need to obtain numerous development and environment approvals, and engage with legal processes not designed for restoration. These problems are amplified when attempting to restore multiple habitats simultaneously. This projects draws together legal research, social science, restoration science and environmental modelling to build the evidence base for why reform is needed, how reform can be done, and what difference this reform can make to ecosystem health. This will support the restoration needed to meet international restoration targets, and to secure critically important ecosystem services. Field of research: 4802 - Environmental and Resources Law In Australia, complex legal permitting pathways have made it difficult to do coastal and marine restoration, especially across multiple habitats. However, government agencies require more information in order implement changes to permitting laws. This interdisciplinary project aims to directly fill this information gap by addressing three key questions: why is law reform needed, what should this law reform look like, and what difference will it make? The first two questions will be answered through legal research, surveys, and stakeholder interviews. The third question will use ecological modelling to predict how the proposed law reform can lead to better environmental outcomes. This project aims to benefit the environment through providing evidence to drive the law reform needed to underpin larger-scale marine and coastal restoration projects. It also aims to contribute to economic benefits as there are new and emerging markets that exist to provide financial incentives for repairing nature, but which are difficult to access unless proponents can access the legal permits needed to do restoration projects. Throughout the project, we will work closely with government agencies and restoration proponents, including through interviews and workshops, to maximise the understanding and use of our research findings.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Make automated vehicles personalised and socialised Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Monitoring Australia's illicit tobacco and vaping product markets Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

DRUMming to Dodge Decline (DRUMDD): Founding Falls Prevention in Music. Falls rank as the world's second leading cause of accidental injury deaths, particularly among older adults. This project aims to investigate how drumming training hones cognitive and whole-body movement abilities that are vital to preventing falls. This project expects to i) innovatively integrate mobile EEG, motion capture, and VR tools to reveal expert drummers’ enhanced cognitive-motor capacities in 3D space; ii) test translation of laboratory findings to precisely designed drumming training with healthy older adults. Expected project outcomes are a new theoretical model and drumming training guidelines. This should provide significant benefits for adults to age creatively and actively with future drumming falls prevention programs. Field of research: 3603 - Music Aging Australians face increased risk of falls, leading to physical injury, psychological trauma, hospitalisation, loss of mobility, and premature death. The cost of falls to Australia exceeds $4.3 billion, with immeasurable costs to families. Preventing falls is a global challenge as more people live longer. Yet existing physical activity and education prevention approaches have proven insufficient. Our project explores how learning to play drums could address the brain-behaviour deficits that increase falls risk among older Australians. The research outcomes are expected to explain how drumming training develops brain-behaviour links that enhance our abilities to control movement in 3D space. We expect to create a whole-body movement theory of drumming – from brain-to-behaviour, with guidelines and musical resources for future falls prevention programs. This research empowers Australians to prevent falls, benefitting families and communities socially and healthcare systems economically. Research outcomes are scalable with real instruments, everyday objects, and VR gaming, so are adaptable to different contexts for potential future social, cultural, and commercial benefits. Potential applications also include educational settings where cognitive and behavioural control has learning and social benefits. We aim to share our findings through community, arts and health industry networks, media releases, and public lectures to maximise impact and promote their broader adoption.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Photophysical Pathways in Next-Generation X-ray Detectors. The sensitive detection of X-rays embodies an important research area, being motivated by a common desire to minimise the radiation doses required for detection. Inspired by the emergence of novel solution-processed high-Z semiconductors, this project aims to develop a complimentary in-house testing platform to uncover and characterise next-generation X-ray sensitive materials. Technological readiness will be accelerated via strategic evaluation criteria, ensuring industrial compliance. By leading domestic and international collaboration with X-ray science research partners, this project will validate the commercial potential of target technology platforms and represent an entirely new research line within Australian materials science. Field of research: 4009 - Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware X-ray radiation has wide ranging applications in modern society, including radiography, industrial testing and security imaging. Across all applications, it is imperative to minimise the overall radiation exposure time that is required for detection. X-ray imaging devices comprise specialised materials that enable detection, and new materials are needed to develop high-performance, safer, and low-cost detectors. This project aims to develop sensitive X-ray detectors based on materials known as metal halide perovskite semiconductors, which are low-cost and easy to make, and show great promise for X-ray detecting applications. However, their real-world application is hindered by a shortage of knowledge of how X-ray conversion works and the use of high concentrations of toxic heavy metals, like lead, which poses significant health and environmental risks. This project targets non-toxic alternatives and will investigate working prototypes to understand the X-ray conversion mechanisms and unlock effective strategies for their optimisation. By supporting the development of safer, more efficient X-ray detecting materials, this project will help reduce a person’s radiation exposure from X-rays while also delivering environmental benefits through reduced toxic materials. Economic and commercial benefits are also likely, through the development of new X-ray detector technologies and promotion of Australia’s involvement within the growing global X-ray detector market.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Addressing the critical questions in chronic pain Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Harnessing value of Information theory to prevent species extinctions. This project aims to identify the costs needed to halt species extinction, addressing current discrepancies in funding estimates, that vary considerably. Using cutting-edge methods from economics, Value of Information principles, and systematic conservation planning, we will resolve the uncertainty in estimated costs associated with safeguarding species. Expected outcomes include new methods to enable accurate assessments of how much action is needed to avoid extinction, and the feasibility and overall costs of undertaking these actions. By reducing uncertainty, this project will help ensure conservation efforts are economically viable and ecologically effective, so Australia can adhere to its commitments to stop species extinction. Field of research: 4104 - Environmental Management Australia is facing a critical biodiversity crisis, with thousands of native species slipping toward extinction each year. While Australia set an ambitious goal of no new extinctions in its 2022 Threatened Species Action Plan, the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation actions are hampered by critical knowledge gaps and uncertainties in species conservation planning, particularly regarding species’ distribution, threat prioritization, and resource allocation. This project aims to set a global precedent, providing robust statistical models, tools and frameworks to overcome these uncertainties and inform decision-makers around where and how to act, with predicted costs for specific conservation efforts. This will guide strategic investment by governmental and non-governmental sectors to optimize threatened species outcomes and secure Australia’s natural heritage, ensuring Australia meets its international commitments to halt extinctions. It will drive environmental benefits by preventing ecosystem degradation, with flow on effects to human health and well-being. While direct economic benefits include minimising unnecessary government expenditures by stopping ineffective activities, indirect economic benefits include enabling a sustainable tourism sector. Results will be communicated through targeted policy engagement, workshops, and factsheets, ensuring broad accessibility and applicability for stakeholders across conservation, agriculture, and development sectors.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Reversible patterning of surfaces for biomolecule immobilisation Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Quantum thermodynamics with many-body systems. One of the fundamental truths of the universe is that all devices must obey the laws of thermodynamics. A significant challenge is to understand how these laws emerge from microscopic quantum theory, and how quantum features like coherence and entanglement can modify the laws and improve quantum machines at the nanoscale. This proposal aims to develop the underpinning theory for practical methods to generate and use many-body quantum coherence in thermodynamic processes, using the highly configurable platform of ultracold quantum gases. The outcomes will provide a better understanding of the laws of quantum thermodynamics, leading to improved design principles for nanoscale quantum devices. Field of research: 5108 - Quantum Physics Quantum thermodynamics aims to understand how quantum mechanics impacts thermodynamics at the nanoscale. It has discovered that the quantum features of coherence and entanglement can theoretically be used to surpass the performance of machines based on classical physics. The research gap this project aims to address is the development of practical methods to realise these enhancements in quantum machines made from ultracold quantum gases, atoms cooled to billionths of a degree above absolute zero. In the future the knowledge generated by this project could economically benefit Australia by enhancing the power output of quantum batteries, or improving the accuracy of atom interferometers. Ultracold quantum gases are highly sensitive to inertial forces and are used for precision measurements of accelerations and rotations. They are currently commercially utilised for precision mapping of the Earth's gravitational field, aiding in mineral exploration, and are being developed for many other quantum sensing applications. We will promote our research outcomes beyond academia by engaging with the research translation program of Quantum Australia. The investigators have prior experience with quantum research translation, including the development of a quantum weighbridge for noncontact mass measurement. We will inform companies building sensors and machines based on quantum gases in Australia about our results, including Q-CRTL, Nomad Atomics, Infleqtion, and Atomionics.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Kidney health for all "“ Improving kidney failure care accessibility,... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Ensuring renewable energy zone stability for Australian net-zero... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

A next-generation computational framework for evolving sewer networks Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Selective fluorinations using proteins to scaffold new-to-Nature chemistry. This project aims to solve the challenge of adding fluorine to specific positions on complex chemicals by using the unique shapes of enzyme active sites as scaffolds for catalysing powerful chemistry. It expects to solve bottlenecks in the manufacture of high value chemicals by making it possible to tailor their properties by fluorinating key positions on molecules. Expected outcomes of this project include a toolbox of biocatalysts of selective fluorination, a methodology for engineering others and an improved understanding of the ways in which protein structure shapes function. This should provide benefits such as more efficient and sustainable methods for manufacturing high value chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Field of research: 3106 - Industrial Biotechnology Fluorine atoms are important parts of drugs and other important molecules. A fluorine inserted into a particular position on a drug molecule can make it more effective and safer. However it is currently very difficult to put a fluorine into a particular part of a complex molecule, leading to delays and inefficiencies in the manufacturing of such chemicals. Existing methods are unsustainable since they involve toxic and/or expensive reagents that reduce the economic viability and environmental friendliness of manufacturing drugs and other specialist chemicals. The aim of this project is to develop a new, sustainable approach to adding fluorines into particular positions of drugs and other chemicals. In doing so, it will provide new, greener chemical processes that will make the chemical industry more efficient and get drugs and other specialised chemicals to market sooner and at less cost to the economy and environment. These new processes could stimulate the chemical manufacturing sector in Australia, opening up opportunities for new businesses and creating good jobs for skilled graduates. Outcomes of this project will be communicated to pharmaceutical and other companies through our network of contacts in industry plus presentations to scientific societies, biotechnology industry meetings and media releases. IP resulting from the project will be commercialised by Uniquest in consultation with the investigators and their institutions.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Understanding how cells withstand compression in crowded environments Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Use plain carbon steels as high-performance alloy steels by 3D printing Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

How an emergent multidrug resistant atypical E. coli clone causes... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Critical metals thermodynamics for circular clean energy economy Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Roles of critical epithelial cell types in responses to metabolites Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Roles of critical epithelial cell types in responses to metabolites Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Deep brain neurovascular coupling analysis using multimode fibre... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Deep brain neurovascular coupling analysis using multimode fibre... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Energy saving through flow pulsation in pipelines Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Energy saving through flow pulsation in pipelines Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Engineering Nanomembranes for Direct Air Capture of Carbon Dioxide Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research