THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Dying with Dignity. Caring for people without a home at the end of life. This project aims to better understand preferences, perspectives and opportunities to improve end-of-life care for people experiencing homelessness. Dying with dignity is often equated with the wish to be dying at home, yet, more and more Australians do not have access to a stable home. This project expects to generate knowledge on what it means to die well in the absence of home from which to approach the end of life. Expected outcomes include nuanced knowledge on the complexities of care for the dying beyond place, while refining sophisticated research methods. This should provide significant benefits, including progress towards establishing homelessness community and hospice care pathways to enable dying with dignity for all Australians. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology This project aims to produce knowledge for health and social policy in contemporary Australia to improve end-of-life care for people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is well-known to affect a person’s access to care, morbidity and longevity, shortening life on average for 10 years in comparison to a housed peer. Managing care, pain and stress towards the end of life is challenging–even more so without a home while relying on informal and formal caregivers whose resources are constrained. More frequent acute care requests from emergency departments and ambulance services are the results, despite community and hospice care being better equipped to meet a dying person’s needs and wishes. Yet, there are currently few dedicated care pathways in Australia, and none in Queensland, for people experiencing homelessness at the end of life. This incurs economic, personal and social costs for individuals, communities and health systems that can be significantly reduced if end-of-life care addresses the complexities arising from homelessness. Timely referral to dedicated end-of-life care teams and settings should lower economic costs from inappropriate acute services utilisation, and prevent people from having to face dying alone and in pain. This project aims to lay foundations for such significant benefits by communicating findings directly to practice and policy communities through workshops and developing a theory of change underpinning homeless end-of-life care in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Better RNA: modified nucleotides for next-generation RNA technologies. This project systematically explores how modified nucleotides enhance RNA stability, potency, and immune evasion across diverse RNA classes beyond messenger RNA. This research addresses critical knowledge gaps in RNA biology essential for the design of next-generation RNA technologies with applications in therapeutics and agriculture. Expected outcomes include comprehensive profiles of modification effects on RNA interference pathways, immune sensing mechanisms, and RNA structures with improved degradation resistance. Benefits include advancing RNA biotechnology, improving agricultural applications, and delivering valuable intellectual property and commercial interests aligned with Australia's growing RNA sector. Field of research: 3107 - Microbiology Australia's RNA Blueprint (2024) identifies RNA technologies as a strategic national priority, potentially contributing $8 billion to Australia's GDP over the next decade. Despite success in mRNA vaccines, the potential of modified RNA across other applications remains largely untapped. This project explores how chemical modifications to RNA molecules can enhance their stability, function and effectiveness across diverse applications. The research will utilise innovative approaches to exploit RNA modifications to create more stable and effective RNA molecules for therapeutics and agriculture. By systematically profiling how modifications affect RNA processing and structure, we will develop new knowledge to improve gene silencing technologies, RNA vaccines, and RNA-based pest control strategies. These advances will strengthen Australia's biotechnology sector by creating intellectual property in RNA design, which bridges vital science with commercial applications and reduces reliance on imported technologies. The knowledge generated will provide a foundation for future commercialisation opportunities, enabling industry development of new RNA-based products that maximise economic returns from Australia's $1.5 billion investment in RNA technologies. Additionally, the project will train students in cutting-edge RNA techniques, address critical skills shortages identified in the Blueprint, and develop Australia's capacity to compete globally in this rapidly expanding field.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Ultra-efficient CO2 Electrolyser with Microchanneled Bipolar Membrane . This DECRA project aims to develop innovative bipolar membrane (BPM)-based CO2 electrolyser that maximize their potential for energy and carbon efficiency. The key strategy is to design and integrate advanced three-dimensional microchannels within BPMs. This integration is expected to precisely control BPM interfacial mass transport and electric field. Expected outcomes include new microchaneled BPM interface model, new high-performance microchanneled BPM, and new BPM-based CO2 electrolyser with practically viable energy and carbon efficiency. This is expected to provide significant benefits such as advancing Australia's CO2 capture and utilization and accelerating the transformation of its energy industry to achieve net zero emission. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering The transition to sustainability and carbon neutrality presents both challenges and opportunities for Australia. Electrochemical CO2 conversion offers a pathway to transform waste CO2 into valuable multi-carbon products like ethylene and ethanol, essential for plastics, packaging, and pharmaceuticals. However, current technologies suffer from high energy consumption and low CO2 utilization efficiency. This project aims to address these limitations by developing a bipolar membrane (BPM)-based approach, distinct from conventional anion or cation exchange membranes. This innovation has the potential to enhance energy efficiency, maximize CO2 utilization, and lower industrial adoption barriers. By integrating seamlessly with existing CO2 capture infrastructure, it could reduce operational costs and accelerate commercialization. By enabling a circular carbon economy, this technology aspires to reduce fossil fuel dependence, converting CO2 into a valuable resource while supporting Australia’s sustainability goals. The project will also drive public engagement through outreach and social media, fostering awareness of green energy innovations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Flexible Crystals. Crystalline materials are considered to be brittle and inflexible. Some molecular crystals have, however, recently been found to have remarkable elasticity and can bend and stretch sufficiently to be tied into a knot. This project aims to explicitly understand why some metal-organic molecular crystals are flexible and others are not. This project will generate new knowledge on the mechanical properties of the crystals and the molecular-scale mechanisms for contortion will be determined and correlated to provide structure-function relationships. This will allow the design of new flexible crystals for applications previously considered impossible for crystals, benefiting the economy through development of new high-value materials. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Progress in engineering, technology and science is directly linked to the discovery, understanding and capacity for exploiting new materials and their properties. Crystalline materials have myriad potential applications in a wide range of technologies including new smart materials for high tech electronic devices, energy conversion, communications and more. Until recently, however, a major limitation in the use of crystals has been due to the perception that they are brittle and prone to cracking and breaking even under moderate strain. We have discovered a range of crystalline materials that display high levels of elasticity; they can bend, twist and stretch reversibly and all while maintaining their structural integrity. This opens a vast scope for new high-tech applications using crystals where flexibility is needed. In this project we are aiming to understand why these crystals are flexible. The answers will allow us to then design and develop new materials with specific applications in mind, with flow-on benefits to entrepreneurial industry and high-tech manufacturing. Fields including flexible electronics, optical communication, magnetic switching and many more will benefit. Training in frontier science for higher degree and post-doctoral researchers will also be achieved through the critical advances to be realised through this project enabling the next generation of researchers for the future benefit of Australia’s high-tech industries.

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

Harnessing Nanotechnology to Develop Next-Generation mRNA Oral Vaccines Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Uncovering viral entry mechanisms of henipaviruses. Henipaviruses are bat-borne pathogens that cause annual outbreaks in humans and livestock. These viruses are spread globally and are an epidemic concern in Australia and Asia. Despite research into clinical interventions, the mechanisms that underpin how these viruses enter host cells remains under-explored. This project aims to make use of cutting-edge techniques such as cryogenic electron tomography to image henipavirus virions and uncover how they engage and fuse with host cells. The expected outcomes from this work include new fundamental knowledge into virus infection mechanisms, enabling the future development of improved research tools and resulting in improved public health policies for pandemic preparedness and global biosecurity. Field of research: 3107 - Microbiology Henipaviruses are endemic in Australia and cause spill-over infections into horses, livestock and humans. Despite this, there is a significant knowledge gap in our understanding of how these viruses enter cells and initiate infection in a wide range of mammalian hosts. This project will provide a structure-based mechanism for the viral entry process into host cells using near-atomic resolution microscopes. This will generate new knowledge to better understand the biological process that drives viral entry at the atomic level. This research will expand our understanding of the entry and transmission mechanisms of this virus family and therefore benefit government decision making regarding public and animal health policies. Furthermore, such fundamental knowledge of viral entry mechanisms may be harnessed in future applications including vaccines, therapeutics, gene delivery and diagnostics to generate new commercial products. The project will make use of Cedar virus, a non-pathogenic virus unique to Australia, providing insight into novel viruses within the Australian ecosystem. Overall, this project will help Australian public health outcomes by providing better pandemic preparedness and also protect the equine and agricultural industries from outbreaks. Lastly, the use of cutting-edge microscopy techniques will ensure Australia remains a leader in emerging virus and biosecurity research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Compressed Data Structures for Scalable Genomic Search. This project aims to develop novel compressed indexes and querying algorithms for efficiently processing genomic sequence data at massive scales. The project expects to improve data representations for supporting membership, pattern matching, and ranking tasks over biological sequences used in the life sciences and medicine. Expected outcomes include novel compressed structures for representing sequences; querying algorithms which can operate with reduced computational resources; and an enhanced capability for handling dynamic and evolving biological sequence data. The outcomes of this project can benefit a range of scientific research discovery applications by improving analytical capacity while reducing the time and resources required. Field of research: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science Large-scale sequence data is ubiquitous in domains such as bioinformatics, web search, social media, finance, and transport, and is crucial for data-driven decision making. However, this data is now being generated faster than it can be processed, so it is imperative that we devise efficient compressed storage mechanisms that are future proof in supporting fast and scalable querying and analytics. This project is expected to benefit Australian and international industry by developing cheaper and more scalable data representations for massive sequence data with a specific focus on biological sequences. The expected outcomes include novel structures for handling this data, enhancing information access, discovery, and analytics in applications with highly repetitive sequence data, including genomics and bioinformatics, data mining, natural language processing, and cybersecurity. Supporting efficient storage and querying of higher data volumes will reduce the time and cost of discovery in the sciences. The lower computational costs of these structures will benefit Australian businesses economically through reduced hardware requirements, and will in turn bring environmental benefit through reduced electricity and carbon emissions for sequence-oriented big-data applications. This project will also benefit the Australian workforce by providing enhanced knowledge and improving best practices in the domain of efficient data structures and algorithms.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enabling local property measurement out of equilibrium. Molecular dynamics simulations are widely used to understand and predict properties of systems that shape the modern world. However, in many cases, obtaining accurate results for real-world conditions is not computationally feasible with existing theory and methods due to limitations in how space and time locality is treated by nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. This project aims to address these shortcomings by using a novel approach to develop new theory and methods which improve our understanding of nonequilibrium systems and enable new, more efficient and more capable simulations. This is expected to provide benefits in the development of advanced functional materials, and more generally in characterisation of nonequilibrium systems. Field of research: 3407 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Advanced materials are ubiquitous in the modern world, from solar cells and batteries for renewable energy capture and storage to filtration devices for water purification. Computer simulations at scales on the order of 10 nanometres play a key role in developing these materials, enabling manufacturers to understand important operating mechanisms and predict the performance of new devices. With nano-scale features now common in modern devices, these materials exhibit complex behaviour when driven out of equilibrium, which can be difficult or impossible to study using existing theories and methods. By using an innovative combination of machine learning, a subset of AI for learning mathematical relations, and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, used to model how systems respond when acted upon, this project aims to provide new and more efficient ways to characterise advanced materials, which will be made widely available through open-source software. In the future, the outcomes of this project could lead to breakthroughs in device capabilities by enabling cheaper and more efficient development of materials for applications such as green energy production and storage and advanced manufacturing. Such materials form the core of Australia’s green energy transition, hence this project has the potential to deliver significant environmental benefits, helping Australia achieve its net-zero target while also providing economic benefits through improved material development processes.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Tracking absorbable plastic contaminants in drinking water. This project aims to investigate the occurrence, sources, and removal of absorbable plastic particles (particles smaller than 10 µm) in drinking water. Using cutting-edge analytical techniques, it expects to identify and track plastic contaminants in Australian water supplies and evaluate the effectiveness of household filtration systems to remove them. The findings should inform regulatory standards, enhance water quality management, and support safer drinking water practices. By providing essential evidence for policymakers, water utilities, and consumers, this research should help mitigate plastic pollution risks and strengthen public confidence in drinking water safety. Field of research: 4104 - Environmental Management Plastic contamination in Australia’s drinking water is a growing concern that remains largely unregulated. Despite the confirmation of plastic particles in drinking water, accurately isolating, detecting and characterising the smaller absorbable plastic particles (particles smaller than 10 µm) that can cross biological membranes, through drinking water, remains technically challenging. Aligned with national priorities on water security and environmental sustainability, this project aims to provide the first comprehensive assessment of absorbable plastic particles in Australian water supplies. By identifying the occurrence, sources, and removal of these particles, this research can inform regulatory standards and water treatment policies, improve risk management frameworks, and guide evidence-based investments in water infrastructure. By applying the latest techniques and developing testing frameworks, this research will drive innovation in water filtration technologies. This is expected to deliver both economic and environmental benefits as well as enhancing consumer confidence. To maximise impact, findings will be shared with water industry partners, national and international pollution regulators and the community through media, workshops and forums. This should support community awareness and future targeted interventions and policy development, ensuring the research translates into meaningful action for a safer and more resilient drinking water supply for Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

How basal progenitors shape mammalian brain development and diversification. This project investigates how basal progenitors, a specialised subtype of neuron-producing cells, impact brain development and diversification. While placental mammals (e.g. humans) have these cells, marsupial mammals do not. By ectopically inducing basal progenitors in marsupials, this study expects to recreate placental-like brain features and will generate new knowledge on the molecular mechanisms behind basal progenitor generation and their impact on brain shape and function. Expected outcomes include insights into the evolution of complex mammalian traits. By unveiling how developmental dynamics diversify among mammals, this project has the benefit of offering new perspectives on the plasticity of these processes in health and disease. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology One of the greatest unresolved mysteries of biology is how the complex mammalian brain evolved. To understand its evolutionary principles, studying a variety of mammalian brains is crucial. This approach offers deeper insights into the human brain and can inform future research on the mechanisms and consequences of brain misdevelopment in diseases. While significant efforts have focused on understanding brain formation in placental mammals (like humans and mice), knowledge of marsupials (like koalas and kangaroos) remains limited. Marsupials are the second largest mammalian group and are primarily native to Australia, making it an ideal place to study marsupial biology internationally, thus advancing the Australian evolutionary neuroscience research sector. Preliminary data supporting this project indicate that exposing marsupials to low oxygen levels during development can cause their brains to resemble those of placental mammals. This study proposes further investigation into the mechanisms behind this effect and its impact on final brain structure and function. This research will provide valuable insights into the evolutionary changes that contributed to the diversification of mammalian brains, including the human brain’s incredible complexity. By exploring the role of oxygen in shaping brain development, this study could have impacts beyond academia, potentially informing future therapies for hypoxic conditions, such as premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction.

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.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Lifestyle, Decision-Making & Behaviour: Econometric analysis & experiments. This project investigates how lifestyle and environmental factors—such as sleep, diet, exercise, and temperature—affect cognitive performance and decision-making. Using biometric data from WHOOP's wearable fitness devices and millions of chess decisions from Chess.com, it will generate new causal evidence on optimising mental performance. The project applies machine-learning econometrics with large-scale experiments to identify strategies that improve decision-making. Expected outcomes include new insights into cognitive resilience and personalised interventions for peak mental performance. This should provide significant benefits such as policy recommendations for optimising workplace productivity and performance in high-stake professions. Field of research: 3801 - Applied Economics Cognitive performance is crucial to productivity, learning, and decision-making, particularly in high-stakes fields like healthcare, finance, and defence. Yet, 40% of Australians experience inadequate sleep, which—along with diet, exercise, and environmental stressors—can impair our ability to make fast, effective decisions. This project integrates biometric data from a leading wearable fitness company with millions of high-stakes decisions from online chess to generate the first large-scale causal evidence on how lifestyle and environmental factors shape real-world cognition and behaviour, delivering strategies to optimise mental performance. The findings have broad implications for Australia’s workforce, education system, and health policies. Understanding the link between sleep, lifestyle, and decision-making could enhance workplace productivity, reduce fatigue-related errors in critical professions, and inform public health initiatives targeting cognitive well-being. Additionally, the research will explore the impact of climate-related stressors, such as heatwaves, on cognitive performance—an increasingly urgent issue for Australia. To maximise impact, findings will be shared through policy reports and engaging the Australian public. Partnerships with WHOOP and Chess.com will help integrate insights into platforms' user recommendations, ensuring individuals, businesses, and policymakers can apply the results to enhance decision-making and performance in everyday life.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mapping the topology of polymer folding: knots, geometry and data. Understanding the reason for and mechanism of knot formation in proteins remains an open problem, with significant implications in synthetic biology. This project aims to address this problem using an interdisciplinary approach grounded in computational topology. The project will focus on two innovative angles: determine how geometric constraints influence the type of knots forming and how they might form, and search for knot-promoting patterns in protein sequences. Expected outcomes include bringing new insights in this pressing biological problem, while greatly expanding the field of computational topology. It will bring substantial breakthroughs in core areas, with new results in knot theory, topological data analysis and geometry. Field of research: 4904 - Pure Mathematics This project aims at understanding how and why knotted proteins fold. The proposed approach is founded in topology, an area of mathematics studying properties of spaces unaffected by continuous deformations. Understanding the role of knots in proteins is crucial for advancing our knowledge in molecular biology and biophysics. While grounded in mathematics, this research has significant implications for biotechnologies and public health, as it can lead to breakthroughs in diagnosing and treating protein folding diseases. Expected outcomes also include expanding the understanding of topological methods in theory and applications. Pushing the frontiers of new mathematics is a key step in enhancing Australia's central role in cutting-edge international research. This is especially true for this project, given the significance of the expected applications. This project will also train young emerging Australians in mathematics, who will be then ready to contribute to Australia's specialised workforce, benefitting Australia socially and economically. By integrating modern mathematics with biological research, this project positions Australia at the forefront of interdisciplinary scientific innovation, fostering collaborations and driving advancements in both mathematics and life sciences. Given the broad scientific interests and the applications of this project, wider exposure of the results will be achieved through outreach articles for magazines and via social media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Accelerating sustainability by improving nitrogen fixation of legume crops. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in crop legumes is essential for sustainable agriculture but is compromised by common agricultural practices and environmental conditions. This project will optimise legume nitrogen fixation through genetic variation to enhance the plant’s ability to acquire nitrogen for biomass and yield. Expected outcomes will include novel legume varieties having enhanced nitrogen fixation traits suitable for suboptimal growing conditions. This should provide significant benefits, such as increased yields and enhanced nitrogen retention in agricultural soils, resulting in reduced nitrogen fertiliser use and conscious environmental outcomes for primary industries. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology Legume crops are vital to Australia’s agriculture due to their nutritional value, economic importance, and their unique ability to utilise atmospheric nitrogen for growth and enrich soils through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This process reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers, lowering costs and environmental impacts. However, most breeding programs have not targeted the genetic traits that optimise this process. This project will address that gap by developing legume varieties with improved nitrogen fixation and higher yields, even under variable soil conditions. By uncovering specific gene variations linked to enhanced nitrogen fixation, the project will provide tools and targets for crop breeders to develop more productive and resilient legume varieties. These innovations can directly benefit Australian farmers by increasing profitability, improving soil health, and reducing fertiliser use, contributing to more sustainable farming systems. To ensure these outcomes reach beyond the lab, the research team will actively engage with breeding companies, industry partners, and agricultural extension networks. This will support the translation of discoveries into real-world improvements, aligned with the Australian Government’s 2030 goal of building a $100 billion agricultural sector, and supporting Australia’s broader food security and environmental sustainability commitments.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Make automated vehicles personalised and socialised. Automated vehicles struggle to adapt to human behaviours, creating safety risks, reducing public trust, and slowing their adoption. This project aims to develop a system that makes automated vehicles safer and easier to use by learning from human driving habits. It will create new ways for automated vehicles to interact smoothly with passengers and other road users. Expected outcomes include a personalised control system and cooperative methods that improve how automated vehicles work in traffic. These outcomes will lead to benefits like smoother traffic flow, lower emissions, and greater public confidence, supporting fair mobility and sustainable transport. This addresses a key obstacle to bringing automated vehicles into everyday life. Field of research: 3509 - Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chains Vehicles with low levels of automation are already on Australian roads, with trials of advanced automated vehicles underway. However, these vehicles often behave unnaturally and struggle to blend with human drivers and other road users. This raises safety risks and slows their widespread acceptance. This project addresses this by designing automated vehicles that adapt to individual driving styles, ensuring safety and comfort, while interacting naturally with others in mixed traffic, even cooperating when possible. The outcome of this project could improve road safety, driver confidence, and traffic efficiency, potentially reducing accident costs, increasing transport productivity and reducing emissions across Australia. Safer, more user-friendly automated vehicles could gain public trust, encouraging wider use and reducing congestion and emissions. The knowledge gained will be transferred to transport authorities (such as the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Austroads) and industry partners to develop practical guidelines for road trials and future regulations, and for the future when automated vehicles are widely available. This ensures automated vehicles meet human needs, and pave the way for a safer, more efficient transport future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Venom-derived peptide ion channel modulators as novel bioinsecticides. Voltage-gated sodium channels are key insecticide targets and a common target of venom-derived peptides. Venom-derived peptides thus are a rich yet under-explored source of biologic insecticides that could potentially overcome many of the limitations of small molecule synthetics. However,we have little information on the structure-activity relationships of insecticidal peptides because we have lacked functional high-throughput assays for insect channels. This application will use novel functional high-throughput assays, which have already led to identification of novel species-selective venom peptides, to understand the pharmacology of venom peptides at insect sodium channels to enable the rational design of novel biofriendly insecticides. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Australia’s agricultural sector, crucial to our economy and food security, faces significant threats from pests like the honeybee mite Varroa destructor and fire ant Solenopsis invicta, which jeopardize crop yields, livestock, and ecosystems. Our project addresses this challenge by developing a novel platform for pest-specific, biofriendly pesticides, utilizing cutting-edge technology to target insect ion channels. By profiling venom-derived peptides and employing directed molecular evolution, we aim to engineer pest-selective toxins that minimize harm to mammals and beneficial species, such as honeybees. Economically, this approach will reduce reliance on broad-spectrum chemicals, enhancing the sustainability of Australian agriculture and supporting food security. Environmentally, it promotes biodiversity by offering pesticides safe for pollinators and other beneficial organisms. Socially, the project strengthens farming communities by providing eco-friendly, sustainable pest management solutions that align with organic practices. This research has the potential to transform pest control, advancing Australia’s agricultural practices in line with sustainable development goals, while ensuring the long-term health of our ecosystems and food systems. The project may also lay the foundation for future commercial benefits through development of novel biofriendly, species-selective pesticides.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Social identity as a catalyst to boost demand for pre-loved clothes. This project aims to increase demand for pre-loved clothes sold in charity-operated second-hand shops to reduce textile waste and help fund critical social services, such as the free 24/7 Lifeline suicide support hotline. It will pioneer social identity theory-based behaviour change interventions and test their effectiveness in a Queensland-wide field study with 120 Lifeline shops. Outcomes include new insights about the role of social identity in clothes shopping and practical measures proven to increase demand for pre-loved clothes. Increased demand will help the charity-operated second-hand retail sector secure more funding for social services and contribute to Australia achieving its waste and carbon emission reduction targets. Field of research: 5205 - Social and Personality Psychology Australia faces serious challenges in the environmental and social space. Two key environmental challenges for Australia are to reduce waste and carbon emissions. The fashion industry is part of the problem. Globally it generates 10% of all carbon emissions and creates substantial amounts of solid waste, with 87% of disposed clothes going to landfill. Shifting demand to pre-loved clothes can reduce waste and emissions. A major social challenge is that over 65,000 Australians attempt suicide every year, with more than 3,000 deaths. Free suicide support services accessible to everyone living in Australia, such as the Lifeline 24/7 hotline, rely on funding from the sale of pre-loved clothing. But demand for pre-loved clothes is increasing at a slower rate than for new clothes. Meanwhile, Lifeline receives more calls than ever from people in distress as Australians deal with post-COVID-19 challenges and a cost-of-living crisis. This project aims to pioneer a new theoretical approach to developing the most effective behaviour change interventions to increase demand for pre-loved clothes. Increased demand would strengthen the charity-operated second-hand sector, which provides critically important social support to all Australians in need, while also contributing to national carbon emissions and waste reduction targets. To ensure wide uptake, we will share our findings with the academic community and the charity-operated second-hand retail sector nationwide.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Reducing Sewage Greenhouse Gas Emissions via Direct Off-gas Treatment. This project aims to support the water industry in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by optimising or retrofitting existing gas-capture infrastructure. It focuses on improving the performance of odour treatment systems, developing advanced solutions such as aerobic biological biofilters and catalytic technologies, and evaluating their scalability and cost-effectiveness. The project responds to the urgent need for low-emission technologies in the transition to net-zero operations. By bringing together interdisciplinary expertise and emerging technologies, the project is expected to significantly reduce GHG emissions from wastewater treatment and contribute to the water sector’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering The project contributes significantly to Australia's national interests by addressing crucial challenges within the water industry linked to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Australian water utilities servicing over 16 million Australians have committed to achieve net-zero operations by as early as 2030. Given the ambitious target, this initiative aligns with the national goals to combat climate change. By focusing on mitigating potent GHGs like N2O and CH4, which account for over 95% of the carbon footprint in wastewater treatment, the project tackles a pressing national concern. Its innovative approach to develop end-of-the-pipe off-gas treatment technologies aligns with Australia's strategic research priorities in environmental change, fostering resilience in urban infrastructure and expanding the nation's knowledge base in cutting-edge technologies. Furthermore, the project's emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of world-class expertise positions the Australian water industry as a leader in global efforts to combat climate change, contributing to a smooth transition into a low-carbon economy era.

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

How Adherens junctions coordinate cell signaling for epithelial... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mesoporous High-Entropy Alloys for Electrocatalytic Plastic Upcycling. This project aims to develop advanced mesoporous high-entropy alloys materials to convert plastic waste into value-added chemicals using electrochemical upcycling technology. Generating new knowledge in intelligent design strategies for nanomaterials and understanding structure-performance relationships holds promise in addressing the growing challenge of plastic waste through valorising plastic waste streams. Expected outcomes include a green nanotechnology platform for novel mesoporous high-entropy alloy-based materials synthesis and technology design. This is expected to generate valuable intellectual property, that reduces energy consumption and cost of plastic upcycling for commercial, economic and environmental benefits to Australia. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology Australia urgently needs to shift towards a recycling-focused and sustainable economy; it is currently ranked ninth globally in per capita greenhouse gas emissions. A major contributor to these emissions globally is the plastics industry, releasing ~4% of global carbon emissions and leading to other serious environmental concerns (pollution of lands and waterways). However, only 9% of global plastic waste was recycled in 2019 and the predominant physical recycling method results in downcycling into lower-grade and lower-value products. This project directly addresses this gap by employing an emerging chemical electrocatalytic recycling technology, utilising a renewable energy-driven system, to directly convert plastic waste into high-value chemicals while simultaneously producing green hydrogen. Through innovations in nanotechnology, this project is expected to contribute to Australia’s transition to a circular economy, reducing plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, aligned with Australia’s National Science and Research Priority of Transitioning to A Net Zero Future. The novel technical outputs developed in this project are expected to have a lasting impact on the Australian economy and environment through dissemination to industry (patent transfer and ability to commercialise the findings) which will in turn bring new revenue streams into the country, creating jobs and income for a sustainable Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Cultivating food security through local mineral supply chains. This project is the first global study to examine the intersections between mineral security and food security. Over half of the 1.1 billion people who are multidimensionally poor engage in subsistence farming without access to fertilisers, and >150 million of these people rely on artisanal and small-scale mining for livelihoods. The project aims to investigate the potential for local agricultural mineral supply chains to supplement reliance on imported fertilisers and address food insecurity. By exploring the coincidence of mineral fertiliser inaccessibility and food insecurity, the research could offer alternative pathways for poverty reduction, promote self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on declining Official Development Assistance. Field of research: 4404 - Development Studies Poverty remains a persistent global challenge, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Pacific, where >half of the world’s 1.1 billion multidimensionally poor people reside. Australia contributes $4.9 billion in annual aid for agricultural innovation, food aid, crisis response, and other support. However, the decline in Australia’s aid to SSA from $443 million in 2011/12 to $148 million in 2022/23, alongside the potential closure of USAID (representing 20% of global development aid), highlights the urgency for self-sufficiency in the Global South to tackle food insecurity. This project pioneers mineral security as a poverty alleviation strategy, an innovative approach yet untested in global development programs. By investigating how locally sourced agricultural minerals can strengthen fertiliser self-sufficiency and agricultural productivity in SSA and the Pacific, the research aims to advance Australia’s strategic priorities: 1. Reducing food insecurity mitigates displacement pressures and fosters economic resilience in the Pacific. 2. Positioning Australia as a thought leader in SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 1 (No Poverty) through cost-effective, community-driven solutions. 3. Strengthening ties with resource-rich nations, creating future opportunities for Australian expertise in mining and agritech. The research aims to inform aid programming strategies, scale mineral-based fertiliser models, and enhance Australia’s reputation as an innovative development partner.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Advanced Liquid-Helium-Free Superconductors for Affordable Fusion Power. This project aims to develop a novel superconducting (SC) magnet for next-gen fusion reactors that operates without liquid helium (LHe), which is costly and non-renewable. Using radiation resistant, isotopic, and high-temperature SC materials, it will produce durable fusion-grade high-field magnets that reduce energy losses and enhance performance. These magnets will use low-radioactive materials, making them safer and affordable for fusion energy generation. The goal is to create compact, low-activation SC magnets that withstand extreme fusion conditions, lower operational costs, and eliminate LHe use—positioning Australia as a global leader in clean, sustainable fusion energy and delivering significant economic and environmental benefits. Field of research: 5104 - Condensed Matter Physics Fusion energy offers a near-limitless, low-emission power source, but its realisation demands breakthrough innovations in magnet technology. Current systems rely on expensive niobium (Nb)-based low temperature superconductors and non-renewable liquid helium (LHe) cooling, driving up costs and limiting scalability. This project will develop a novel, Nb- and LHe-free and low-cost superconducting (SC) magnet using isotopically engineered, radiation resistant, high-temperature SC materials. These magnets will be lightweight, durable, and energy-efficient—tailored for the extreme demands of next-generation fusion reactors. In partnership with Hyper Tech Research (USA), a global leader in applied superconductivity, the project positions Australia at the cutting edge of fusion technology innovation. It will accelerate domestic capability in SC materials, magnet manufacturing, and clean energy systems, opening access to global markets valued in the billions. This initiative will catalyse high-value job creation, industry development, and commercial spinouts in Australia's advanced manufacturing and energy sectors. It supports national priorities in net-zero emissions, sovereign capability, and global science leadership. By translating frontier science into real-world solutions, this project enables Australia to shape their capacity building and accelerates its readiness for the future of fusion energy while delivering lasting economic, technological, and environmental benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Temporary migration, visa pathways and integration outcomes . The project aims to establish the consequences of prolonged temporary migration on a range of economic, demographic and social integration outcomes and to determine the impact of transient and temporary populations on sense of belonging and community engagement. By using novel administrative microdata linked to visa status, the project seeks to identify visa pathways to permanent residence and citizenship and compare their impact on integration outcomes in Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Sweden. The results are expected to advance migration theory and to provide a critically needed foundation for forward-looking evidence-based migration policy, with expected benefits at both the national and regional levels. Field of research: 4403 - Demography Australia is facing a sharp increase in temporary migration, with more migrants on temporary visas for extended periods. Temporary migration has short-term economic benefits, but it poses risks to social cohesion and migrant exploitation. Yet, there is a lack of systematic, actionable evidence to guide migration policy reform. Using advanced quantitative modelling techniques, the project aims to address this critical gap by identifying how visa pathways to permanent residence and citizenship shape integration, considering (1) union and family formation, (2) labour market outcomes, (3) savings and (4) sense of trust, belonging, and community engagement for both migrants and host communities. Thanks to international collaboration, comparison with other high-migration countries is expected to reveal how migration policy interacts with welfare regimes and labour market regulations to shape the impact of prolonged temporary migration on integration. Collaboration with federal departments and NGOs is expected to help translate findings into policies and programs that enable migrants to reach their economic performance, to realise their family formation preferences, and to develop a sense of belonging. Expected benefits include enhanced economic resilience and greater social cohesion with benefits for all Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Next-Gen Markerless 3D Motion Capture from Sparse Camera Views. This project aims to develop a next-generation 3D motion analysis platform that leverages advanced data-driven and graph-based modeling techniques to capture and interpret human poses in complex environments, eliminating the need for expensive and cumbersome marker-based motion capture systems. It will introduce innovative spatiotemporal data mining and dynamic graph modelling knowledge and techniques, enabling the developed platform to efficiently analyse 3D motion data in challenging real-world scenarios. The resulting system is expected to benefit a wide range of applications, such as human movements evaluation and personalised exercise recommendations, ultimately enhancing the quality of life and longevity for Australians. Field of research: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science The primary goal of this project is to address the pressing need for precise and reliable measurement of human movement in the fields of sports performance analysis and physical exercise monitoring. Beyond its impact on sports, the project will introduce groundbreaking advancements in aged care services and personal health management, enabling better monitoring of mobility and well-being. By fostering the development of cutting-edge technologies, this project aligns with Australia’s national interest, particularly in promoting physical activity and exercise across all age groups. It also supports key national goals, such as those outlined in the Sport 2030 agenda, aimed at improving the health and fitness of Australians. The anticipated outcomes will not only contribute to elevating Australia's standing in global sports but also play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall quality of life, health, and longevity of the Australian population. These innovations are expected to significantly benefit diverse sectors, including healthcare, rehabilitation, and sports science, ultimately creating a more active and healthier society.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Advanced Flow Battery for Synergetic Carbon Capture and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel flow battery that combines renewable energy storage, carbon dioxide capture, and bromide wastewater treatment into one integrated system. By replacing the inefficient oxygen evolution reaction with bromine oxidation, the battery will significantly lower charging voltages and enhance energy efficiency. Advanced catalytic materials and state-of-the-art imaging techniques will be used to optimise performance and understand the system's dynamics. The outcomes include an innovative energy storage solution and advancements in carbon capture and wastewater treatment, contributing to clean energy systems and environmental sustainability while addressing Australia's emissions reduction challenges. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Australia’s transition to a clean energy future depends on efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions. This project aims to develop an advanced zinc-CO₂/Br flow battery, addressing critical gaps in energy storage by enhancing performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness. By integrating cutting-edge materials science, electrochemistry, and engineering, this research will improve battery efficiency and lifespan, supporting Australia’s renewable energy goals. The outcomes of this project will benefit Australians economically by fostering local innovation in energy storage, reducing reliance on imported technologies, and supporting industry growth. Environmentally, this research contributes to lower carbon emissions by enabling more effective storage of renewable energy. Socially, it enhances energy security and reliability, which is essential for households, businesses, and remote communities. To maximise impact beyond academia, we will engage with industry partners, policymakers, and the public through workshops, policy briefs, and media outreach. Collaborations with national and international research institutions will ensure global best practices are applied, strengthening Australia’s leadership in clean energy technology. This project will pave the way for commercially viable, next-generation energy storage systems, driving economic and environmental benefits for the nation.