UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Resolving the steps in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolution of grasses using the C4 biochemical pathway that enables plants to survive in hot, dry, high-light environments. The endemic Australian subtribe Neurachninae is the only known grass group that contains C4 species, species using the ancestral C3 pathway, as well as species using pathways intermediate to C3 and C4. Through a comparative approach employing high-throughput sequencing technologies, it is expected that the molecular changes underlying the transition from C3 to C4 will be identified. These results should define what is required to engineer plant varieties with increased yield and the ability to withstand climate change effects. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

The Italian wars, 1494–1559. This project aims to re-evaluate the Italian Wars, a conflict fought between 1494 and 1559 mainly on the Italian peninsula but which reshaped the political map of early modern Europe. The project will investigate newly identified textual and material source to produce a big-event history. Its findings will have significant impact both scholarly and general communities, from identifying new textual and material sources for historical study to potential ramifications for historical warfare interpretation in television, radio and gaming environments. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Design guideline for suction caissons supporting offshore wind turbines. This project aims to develop an industry guideline for suction caisson foundations, that are a new form of fixed platform anchor, for offshore wind turbines. The project expects to generate new knowledge of caisson response during installation and over millions of wind/wave load cycles, by integrating field experience with measurements from innovative experiments. The expected outcomes of this project include new methods to guide suction installation in difficult soil layering and predicting rotation and stiffness over a turbine’s operational life. The benefits of these scientific advances will contribute to the economic and reliable design of suction caisson foundations and a more rapid take-up of offshore wind energy. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Seagrass adaptation and acclimation responses to extreme climatic events. This project aims to advance our understanding of how temperate marine plants in their northern limit will respond to the effects of synergistic stressors from extreme events combined with climate change. The project will study Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where a semi-permanent, salinity gradient maintained by shallow seagrass banks has resulted in unique ecosystems like stromatolites to persist. Expected outcomes include practical solutions for building resilience to climate change mitigation in marine ecosystems. This will benefit the broader Australian community through changing how we manage significant resources and services these systems support, such as fisheries, coastal protection. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Bio-inspired design to overcome strength-toughness trade-off of composites. This project aims to develop nature-inspired metal composites of exceptional mechanical properties that push the known boundaries of engineering materials. The design utilises a phase transforming metal to transcribe the attributes of biopolymers in nacre to harness the exceptional intrinsic strength of interatomic bonds at atomic scale and to devise adaptive ability for load redistribution for toughness at the macroscopic scale. The expected outcomes are an innovative bio-inspired material design strategy that may underpin the creation of many novel high-performance structural composites of unmatched strength and toughness properties, and potential to support new applications and to value-add Australia’s materials manufacturing industry. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Cutting-edge electron probe microanalysis driving Western Australia’s resource geosciences. This project aims to provide a new generation electron microprobe, with advances in trace element mapping and cathodoluminescence analysis to enable superior characterisation of a wide range of materials. The overwhelming demand for electron probe microanalysis from research groups in Western Australia requires renewal of over-subscribed, ageing facilities to drive innovation and alleviate bottlenecks in advanced geosciences multi-capability workflows. The electron probe will drive underpinning geoscience, resources science and economic geology, as well as support a broad range of disciplines and diverse fields, such as nanotechnology, microelectronics and aquatic sciences. Field of research: 0403 - Geology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Polarization vision: insights from biological systems for imaging solutions. This project aims to discover how invertebrate and vertebrate model species see linearly polarised light by constructing a novel instrument to determine limits to sensitivities, as well as animals' ability to distinguish small differences in degree and angle of linear polarisation. The project aims to predict how this might be affected as environments change. A clear understanding of biological solutions to polarisation perception can inform the design and development of novel bio-inspired imaging sensors that will be particularly suited to small, autonomous robots. Field of research: 0608 - Zoology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Biological applications of terahertz technology. This project aims to develop new knowledge for exploring the interaction of terahertz (THz) radiation with different materials. THz technology is in use in diverse applications from security screening to biomedical imaging. A hurdle to the widespread adoption of the technology is the poor understanding of the basic interaction between THz radiation and molecules, proteins, cells and tissues. This project will enable development of advanced THz technology and applications and will lead to accelerated implementation for use in chemistry, biology and, ultimately, medicalapplications such as cancer detection. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Neurodevelopmental disorders and loneliness: School predictors & outcomes. This project aims to establish trajectories of loneliness across the 10-18 year developmental period in adolescents with neuro-developmental disorders (NDDs). This is significant because adolescence is the peak period for loneliness and the social communication difficulties experienced by adolescents with NDDs place them at greater risk of loneliness. Lower levels of school attendance, connectedness and mental well-being, and higher rates of disruptive behaviour, expulsion, drop-out, depression, social withdrawal, and suicide ideation are strongly linked to loneliness. Therefore predicting critical times in trajectories will enhance emotional, behavioural and school related outcomes and optimise economic, societal and quality of life benefits. Field of research: 1303 - Specialist Studies In Education

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Water and the making of urban Australia since 1900. This project aims to produce new understandings of both the historical drivers of today’s urban water systems, and how these systems have impacted on human and ecological welfare. This will be achieved through the first integrated and comparative historical study of the provision, use and cultures of water in Australia’s five largest cities from 1900 to the present. Such historical knowledge is critical at a time when the water systems of Australia’s largest cities are under growing pressure from environmental change and population growth. Project findings will inform the development of policies and practices that produce sustainable, equitable urban water systems. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Animal camouflage patterns. This project aims to understand whether animal camouflage patterns can produce the illusion of 3D form. By using the latest techniques in 3D computer imaging, vision science and animal behaviour, this work addresses the previously untested but fundamental theory on 3D camouflage patterns. The development of theory on the ecology and evolution of animal patterning will enhance our understanding of the processes that maintain biological diversity. This research is expected to have broad impact across multiple disciplines and will inform novel military defence strategies and contribute to emerging bio-inspired technologies. Field of research: 0603 - Evolutionary Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Aquifers as climate logs: untangling replenishment mechanisms. This project aims to develop methods that use environmental tracers to provide detailed information about groundwater ages and relate the age structure of groundwater systems to past climatic conditions. The impacts of climate change on groundwater resources is an important question in hydrogeological studies. The age of groundwater within an aquifer represents a detailed log of past recharge events. The project will generate methods for assessing the past history of groundwater resources, and provide insight into the viability of groundwater in the future. This will improve understanding of how groundwater resources will behave under a changing climate. Field of research: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Structure-based investigations into new modes of action for herbicides. This project aims to focus on identifying and providing protein structure information for new protein targets against which herbicides can be developed. Food security for a growing population relies on agriculture, which in turn relies on herbicides. Presently, herbicide efficacy is under serious threat from resistant weeds. In this project, innovative applications of chemical libraries and exploiting a little-known connection between plants and human parasites will help to resolve the structure of herbicide targets for the development of new herbicides to ensure future food security. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Defining factors that influence protein turnover in plants. This project aims to discover how the functions of different proteins change as they age, and to define factors that dictate protein stability inside plants. This project will change protein turnover rates in plants by altering a regulator of this process to assess the role of this regulator in different plant developmental transitions. Expected outcomes include showing how protein abundance can be altered in plants for our future agricultural and biotechnology needs. This will provide significant benefits, such as discovering processes inside plant cells that maintain the quality of different kinds of proteins and propose how different kinds of proteins can be stabilised for plant biotechnology applications. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Beyond appearance: revealing the physics of galaxy transformation. This project aims to reveal the physical origin of the large variety of galaxies in the universe by utilising multi-wavelength observations of nearby galaxies combined with advanced data analysis techniques and cutting-edge numerical simulations. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of astrophysics by providing a physically-motivated foundation to the subjective and qualitative taxonomic scheme generally used to understand how galaxies, and ultimately stars and planets, formed and evolve. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Development of three-dimensional printing conductive concrete for electromagnetic pulse shielding. This project aims to develop innovative methods for the use of conductive concrete as a building material with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielding property. Three dimensional printing of conductive concrete will present an innovative and promising technique in real-life construction practices when structures are needed for facilities and infrastructure employed for critical services such as military or financial infrastructures. The project will create new revenue streams for cement and concrete industry as well as empower the workforce with cutting-edge skills. The newly developed materials and technology will lead to protection of national facilities and infrastructure. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Partial differential equations, free boundaries and applications. This project aims to investigate fundamental problems in the analysis of partial differential equations and free boundary theory, to develop advanced mathematical theories with the possibility of important applications. The expected outcome is the establishment of a regularity and classification theory for nonlocal equations and for free boundary problems in linear and nonlinear settings. The benefit of the project lies in a concrete advancement of the mathematical research with advantages for a deeper understanding of complex phenomena in physics and biology. Some of the problems also provide results useful for industrial applications. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Ionic lquids for scalable production of monolayer two-dimensional materials. This project aims to produce stable solutions of high quality, two-dimensional materials (2DMs, exemplified by graphene) in ionic liquids by spontaneous exfoliation. The project will develop processes for producing significant quantities of high quality 2DMs for use in a diverse range of technologies, and train graduate students in experimental and computational chemistry techniques. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

A new tool for comprehensive label-free micro-imaging of cancer in situ. This project aims to engineer a new micro-imaging tool for comprehensive characterisation of the tumour microenvironment in situ, including micro-morphology, microvasculature, extracellular matrix, local stiffness and the functional variables of pH, oxygen content and temperature. The project will provide accessible, label-free longitudinal monitoring of tumours in animal models of disease; thereby, reducing animal use, improving experimental power, and providing better micro-scale characterisation to underpin discovery and application in cancer biology. With potential for translation to humans and commercialisation, such a tool will ultimately contribute to improved diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Shale rock characterisation using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. This project aims to assess the viability of potential shale oil and gas reserves, using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) core analysis and well logging techniques to characterise shale samples. Shale oil and gas reserves have the potential to provide a rapidly dispatchable energy source, which could play a key role as a transition fuel to renewable energy. The project will develop techniques to deliver quantitative fluid typing, producible porosity, pore sizes and permeability measurements for shale samples, which could be used in the shale gas and oil industry. These techniques will improve the predictability of shale field developments that better inform their economic and environmental impact. Field of research: 0914 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

The influence of the dark-matter halo on galaxy evolution. This project aims to map the growth of the integrated stellar mass within galaxy structures over all time, and to explore the link between component growth and the mass of the dark matter halo. The project expects to provide a clear empirical record of galaxy growth, and a statement as to whether the changes seen are consistent with the predictions of numerical simulations. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, improve energy efficiency, and utilise CO2 rich gas resources. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Establishing nanoscale design principles for non-viral genome engineering. This project aims to develop a bio-nanotechnology platform for non-viral genome engineering using dendronised polymers. The project will advance both fundamental and practical knowledge at the forefront of nanotechnology and cell biology, whilst providing training to the research community. Outcomes from the project will also provide significant benefits, such as positioning Australia at the forefront of genome engineering. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Defect engineering in molecular beam epitaxy-grown mercury cadmium telluride. This project aims to develop high quality mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) materials with lower defect density and lower background doping levels. This will enable future, high-performance, lower-cost infrared sensors with the unique features of higher yield, larger array size and higher operating temperature. The project will generate new science and technologies on defect engineering in the epitaxial growth of semiconducting HgCdTe on cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) substrates. This will contribute to the development of core Australian industry sectors such as defence, environmental monitoring, medical imaging, earth remote sensing, mining, and oil and gas. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Tolerance of coralline algae to climate change in variable environments. This project aims to test whether organisms which regularly encounter low pH have greater tolerance to ocean acidification and why, and whether certain coralline algae can exert controls on their calcification that allows for greater tolerance to low pH. Coralline algae create and bind together reefs. Without them, both temperate and coral reefs as we know them would not exist. Understanding the extent to which tolerance to ocean acidification could be imparted to coralline algae through their environment or by physiological controls on calcification will enable us to better understand the fate of future reefs. Field of research: 0699 - Other Biological Sciences