UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The molecular basis of sperm competition. This project aims to unravel the molecular basis of reproductive conflicts. Males compete for paternity and this continues after mating if females copulate and receive semen from multiple males. In ants and bees, molecules in males’ ejaculates recognise and kill rival males’ sperm. Reproductive proteins in leaf cutter ants’ seminal fluid may be the molecular agents of sperm competition. This project will investigate reproductive proteins and their functioning and effects on reproductive success. This project will show how reproductive conflicts over paternity operate on the protein level and may lead to novel avenues for future pest control. Field of research: 0608 - Zoology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Heritage diplomacy and One Belt One Road. This project aims to address China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, utilising the concept of heritage diplomacy to interpret the role culture plays in shaping trade and diplomatic relations. This project expects to develop new knowledge about 21st Century diplomacy and the political drivers of heritage preservation today. Expected outcomes of the project include collaborations with OBOR think tanks and universities in Australia, China and Central Asia, and an open access-mapping database based on international heritage documentation standards. This should significantly assist Australian and heritage international agencies understand the large-scale forces and pressures that shape their future conservation policies in the region. Field of research: 2102 - Curatorial and Related Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Global threats to kelp forests from heatwaves, herbivores and diseases. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind climate-mediated declines in kelp. Ocean warming causes the collapse of valuable temperate kelp forests globally and on both sides of Australia, but it is unknown if this is because of direct physiological effects from temperature or the indirect effects of changes in species interactions. This project will compare the direct effects of marine heatwaves to the indirect effects of range-shifting tropical herbivores and pathogens for the kelp forests of the Great Southern Reef, one of Australia’s largest coastal ecosystems. This project will generate knowledge underpinning adaptation strategies for these critical ecosystems, and could enhance the capacity to respond to degradation of these natural assets. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Carbon dioxide-methane exchange in porous media for carbon-neutral energy production. This project aims to incorporate carbon capture and storage into natural gas production from energy reserves. Carbon sequestration could assist in achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Injecting carbon dioxide into natural gas reservoirs or methane hydrate sands would be a nearly carbon-neutral means of energy production. However, this exchange of carbon dioxide for methane is poorly understood in both reservoirs and sands because multiple phases like water and sand affect mixing and recovery. This project will combine spatially-resolved Magnetic Resonance Imaging of high-pressure flooding and exchange experiments with multi-scale modelling. The expected outcome is simultaneous carbon dioxide sequestration with enhanced energy production. Field of research: 0503 - Soil Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Driving performance and self-regulation practices in drivers with dementia . Despite the high prevalence of dementia in older drivers, a substantial gap remains in the evidence regarding the natural progression of the disease and its impact on fitness to drive. This project will use a combination of real-time, in-vehicle driver monitoring devices and a state-of-the-art driving simulator. Together, these will objectively measure natural driving patterns and self-regulation practices, and provide a comprehensive assessment of driving performance for drivers with mild dementia and a comparison group without dementia. The project will create a partnership between leading researchers, clinicians and policy makers in order to provide an answer to a complex problem. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Measuring the effect of monetary policy on the economy. This project aims to measure the effect of monetary policy on the economy, notably consumption and investment, in Australia and the US. This research intends to fill a gap in the empirical macroeconomic literature, which focuses on the supply side of the economy. This project will account for unstable economic conditions caused by institutional or behavioural changes, such as financial development / liberalisation and preference shocks, in the analysis; and develop econometric methods tailored for application to models with time varying parameters. This project expects to contribute to understanding the economy’s recent unresponsiveness to monetary policy. Field of research: 1403 - Econometrics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Ecohydrologic functioning of ephemeral streams. This project aims to increase understanding of how surface-groundwater interactions sustain vegetation associated with ephemeral streams. One of the biggest problems faced by mining and regional development in arid regions is how to protect ecological and heritage values of ephemeral streams by minimising impacts of water abstraction and surplus discharge. The project will use environmental tracers, coupled with assessment of vegetation water use and numerical modelling, to assess resilience of ephemeral streams to changes in flows resulting from mining activities and climate-related shifts in recharge. Expected outcomes of the project include providing appropriate context for evaluating and adapting management to conserve scarce water resources. This project should significantly contribute to the sustainable management of both mineral and groundwater resources. Field of research: 0501 - Ecological Applications

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Differentiating the cognitive basis of unproductive versus productive worry. This project aims to delineate the individual differences in cognitive functioning that distinguish between the tendency to experience unproductive versus productive worry. For some people, worry severely compromises well-being, while for others worry yields significant benefits by fostering preparatory behaviours that protect against misfortune. Using innovative and compelling hypotheses, as well as laboratory and fieldwork approaches, this project will deliver the capacity to assess, predict, and explain the individual differences in unproductive and productive worrying that underpin variability in resilient responding to situations in which adaptive action can mitigate real-world risk. This project will have major scientific impact, generating influential publications concerning the cognitive distinctions between productive and unproductive worry that will position Australia as a global leader in this field. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Inequality and economic growth. This project aims to identify forces driving inequality. Piketty’s influential book, Capital in the 21st Century, stimulated research on inequality to address the increased public concern about inequality and its side-effects such as reduced growth. Piketty proposes three laws that explain and predict inequality paths over time, but there is no empirical evidence or theoretical foundations for these laws. This project will examine Piketty’s laws and investigate factors that shape inequality and its relation to growth. This knowledge should enable Australian governments to reduce inequality and benefit economic growth, thereby reducing disadvantage and building stronger, more resilient communities. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Biosynthesis and functions of two phytotoxins in Septoria nodorum blotch. This project aims to investigate how a fungal plant pathogen makes and uses small bioactive molecules to facilitate infection. It will characterise the function of the genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a light-activated phytotoxic molecule and a potential anti-plant defence molecule found in the pathogenic wheat fungus Parastagonospora nodorum, and investigate their contribution to disease development. Expected outcomes include better understanding of plant-microbe interactions, disease management strategies, technologies for identifying biosynthetic pathways in other fungi, and enzyme technology for synthesising molecules. This could lead to new herbicides, biopesticides and drugs. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Bandgap engineered mercury cadmium telluride heterostructures on gallium antimonide alternative substrates. This project aims to develop bandgap engineered mercury cadmium telluride heterostructures on gallium antimonide alternative substrates to enable high performance lower-cost infrared sensors with high yield, large array size, multiband detection and higher operating temperature. High performance infrared sensors and systems are core enabling technologies in civilian and defence applications such as remote sensing, environmental monitoring, night vision and national security. This project expects to research into defect generation mechanisms in epitaxial growth of semiconducting mercury cadmium telluride on lattice mismatched substrates. This is expected to contribute to Australian industry sectors, thereby benefiting the Australian economy, society, environment, and national security. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Non-local equations at work. This project aims to study non-local fractional equations. These problems arise naturally in many fields of pure and applied mathematics. This project will consider symmetry and rigidity results; problems from atom dislocation theory; nonlocal minimal surfaces; symbolic dynamics for nonlocal equations; and free boundary problems. This project aims to obtain substantial progress in this field, both from the point of view of the mathematical theory and in view of concrete applications. This project should contribute to the development of the mathematical theory and give insight for concrete applications in physics and biology. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

From powders to proteins: Improving diffraction science in Western Australia. This project aims establish infrastructure to improve diffraction science in Western Australia. Diffraction science enables a deep understanding of the structure of the material world with implications for physics, chemistry, biochemistry and engineering. This project will renew key infrastructure in the area of macromolecular single crystal diffraction and acquire powder diffraction infrastructure for in situ analyses of materials. The project is expected to facilitate the design of new therapeutics to treat human diseases such as bacterial infections and cancer, and new materials for efficient and environmentally friendly energy storage and natural resource recovery. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Phosphorus-efficient Australian plants: applications for crop improvement. This project aims to investigate ways to improve the phosphorus (P) efficiency of selected crops (Lupinus) in Australia. The phosphorus impoverished soils in Australia has allowed the evolution of plants that are highly efficient at acquiring and using phosphorus. Increasing understanding of highly-efficient phosphorus use mechanisms at the physiological, biochemical, anatomical and molecular biological levels will provide knowledge of traits to guide breeding efforts to develop more phosphorus efficient crops that can perform well in P-limited environments; an outstanding strategy to balance the phosphorus demand for increasing global food production with gradually decreasing non-renewable phosphorus reserves. An expected outcome of this project is to develop crops better able to use scarce phosphorus. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Caisson anchors for deep water oil and gas developments in calcareous soils. This project aims to understand suction caisson anchors in ‘problematic’ calcareous seabeds prevalent in offshore Australia. Suction caissons anchor floating facilities for future deep water oil and gas developments. Their application in calcareous seabeds raises significant challenges due to their complex geotechnical properties. This project will design secure anchoring systems for pushing floating platforms past the current 340 metre water depth limitation, potentially unlocking Australia’s inaccessible gas reserves and creating international leadership in offshore geotechnics and engineering. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Ecological regime shifts for re-engineering water pollution management. This project aims to validate a framework for the management of water pollution. As the world population increases, maintaining robust, cost-effective and environmentally safe water resources is important. This project will investigate environmental controls of toxin occurrence in urban and wastewater systems. The project is expected to mitigate deadly cyanotoxins, which threaten the safety of water resources, while a numerical ecological model will tackle water pollution issues in natural and engineered water systems. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Taming carbon dioxide: Molecular interactions in the solid state. This project aims to investigate what features of host-guest systems are needed to encapsulate carbon dioxide in the solid state, particularly organic interactions guided by solid state observations. Technologies that reduce and manipulate atmospheric carbon dioxide will rely on understanding the intermolecular interactions between volatile molecules and designed substrates. This project will use structural chemistry, accurate X-ray diffraction data, complementary neutron diffraction experiments, quantum chemical calculations and computer graphics. These observations are expected to guide the synthesis of more efficient hosts. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Probing cosmic transients through gravitational wave observations. This project aims to use recently discovered gravitational waves to discover what drives cataclysmic astrophysical events, how often they occur and their history. The first detection of gravitational waves has changed astronomy. This project will apply analysis and data mining to gravitational wave and gamma-ray burst data. The results are expected to reveal the connection between gamma ray bursts, gravitational wave sources and fast radio bursts, substantially advancing understanding of the Universe. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Characterisation of infrared imaging technologies. This project aims to establish a facility for two-dimensional (2D) infrared sensor array testing and prototyping. Systematic characterisation and prototyping of 2D imaging arrays is vital in showcasing and realising Australia's innovation and research investment in photodetector technologies. This facility will enable research on 2D imaging arrays, such as pixel yield and cross-talk, device reliability physics, failure mechanisms, noise and long-term stability. The facility will demonstrate Australia's innovative imaging technologies, applicable in science, industry, defence and security, attracting interest from both Australian and international industries. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Western Australia single-cell isolation and genomics preparation facility. This project aims to give Western Australian researchers direct access to new platforms in single-cell isolation and single-cell RNA, genome and exome sample library preparation, so they can participate in the precision single-cell based research driving biology worldwide. This project will give researchers access to single-cell analysis techniques, integrated with other analysis methods, microscopy, and preclinical imaging. The characterisation of rare and complex biological samples is expected to advance effective, socio-economically important research programmes in cell and molecular biology, sports science, plant and crop sciences, agriculture, clean energy (biofuels) resources and production, greenhouse gas reduction, environmental microbiology and marine science. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Acoustic levitation facility for high pressure multiphase systems research. This project aims to create a specialised acoustic levitation facility that delivers precise control of a suspended particle/droplet/bubble within a high pressure continuous phase, and simultaneous measurement of multiple bulk and interfacial properties. Acoustic levitation enables container-less experiments, offering opportunities for applied engineering and fundamental science. This acoustic levitation system will be integrated with a specialised Raman imaging microscope to study crystallisation, mass transfer and molecular exchange, in application areas including energy transport, carbon capture and storage, and protein nucleation. This project is expected to open new avenues in engineering, chemistry and physics. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Innovation in outer metropolitan areas. This project aims to study how labour connects and facilitates across large spatial divides. Under global economic restructuring, advanced nations are moving towards advanced manufacturing and services economy. With such activity based in cities, periphery or outer metropolitan areas are often excluded as sites of advanced industry investment. This exacerbates uneven development between peripheries and metropoles. Studying the two advanced economies of Australia and Japan, this project aims to understand how clusters and networks are perceived to be connected and how this network proximity increases innovation across time and space. This could raise productivity across an entire national innovation system. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Who may judge a book by its cover? This project aims to build a model of how and why people vary in their impressions of others and in the accuracy of these impressions. People readily form impressions of others from their faces and these impressions influence crucial decisions: election results, court case outcomes and partner choices. To build this model, the project will apply twin data and construct a psychometric test to measure variation in facial impressions. The research is expected to lead to insights into this aspect of social perception, and to identify the sources of atypical or inaccurate facial judgements. This has applications in health contexts (to identify social impairment) and in security contexts (for personnel selection). Field of research: 1701 - Psychology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Predicting strength of porous materials. This project aims to develop a predictive theory of strength for unflawed, low-ductile porous materials – an unsolved problem in computational solid mechanics. Three-dimensional printing of lightweight, porous materials is used in industry, medicine and science. The project will develop the theory and conduct experiments on porous metallic and polymeric samples made using additive manufacturing, which require understanding and optimisation of the building of fine scale features. Understanding strength should improve design of stronger materials, by using and extending the capabilities of three-dimensional printing. These advances will further provide a much-needed basis for a fundamental understanding of fracture in other porous materials important to society such as concrete, rocks, porous ceramics and bone implants. Field of research: 0103 - Numerical and Computational Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Benign recovery of precious metals from deep pristine environments. This project aims to extract precious metals from natural deposits conventional mining methods cannot reach. Glycine-peroxide systems can dissolve precious metals without pollution. Understanding these systems’ behaviour in natural orebodies could lead to in-situ leaching methods that complement conventional mining, especially in low grade deposits. This project intends to use a modern scientific workflow based on exploratory, descriptive and explanatory phases to model the coupled multi-physics of precious metals transport, introduce a high performance computing strategy for in-situ leaching, develop an experimental protocol that explains the recovery mechanisms, and propose optimal leaching patterns that maximise productivity. Field of research: 0914 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy