Queensland University of Technology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Next generation environmental regulation: Integrating regulatory technology. This project aims to develop new approaches to optimally integrating regulatory technology into environmental regulation. Regulatory technology is needed to improve regulators’ efficiency and effectiveness in response to mounting environmental challenges and resource constraints. The project will deliver new context sensitive strategies to enhance the design, adoption and application of regulatory technology. Expected outcomes include advances in regulatory theory and practical guidance strategies and training to fast track the successful uptake of regulatory technology to improve regulatory outcomes. This will provide significant public resource savings and promote the public interest goals of environmental regulation. Field of research: 4804 - Law In Context The scale, complexity and increasing intensity of environmental risks, combined with public resource constraints, pose challenges for effective environmental regulation. Advances in technology can vastly improve regulatory practices, yet inappropriate technology use can create significant legal and societal risks for regulators and regulated entities. There are critical research gaps about how regulatory technology (RegTech) is changing environmental regulators’ decision making, prioritisation of environmental risks and targeting of breaches, and how these technologies can be used in different environmental regulatory contexts to secure more effective, efficient and publicly acceptable outcomes. This project will close these gaps by leveraging connections with Australian and international networks of environmental regulators to gather and analyse data on their RegTech use, enabling us to identify new regulatory and policy strategies for successfully integrating RegTech in environmental regulation. Publications, policy reports and briefs, and practical implementation guidelines co-developed with regulators will be delivered in partnership with environmental regulatory networks. Benefits include improved regulatory innovation, outcomes and efficiency, reduced compliance and enforcement costs for Australian governments and industries, and enhanced environmental protection through more effective regulatory strategy setting, decision making, and monitoring and enforcement.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Photochemistry Mass Spectrometry Facility. Development of next-generation chemicals and materials requires concurrent advances in molecular characterisation technologies. This proposal aims to establish the first mass spectrometer in Australia dedicated to the detailed characterisation of light-responsive molecules and polymer materials. With unique capacity to initiate photochemical transformations on-demand, this novel and bespoke platform will elucidate molecular structure in real time with unparalleled specificity and sensitivity. Servicing an interdisciplinary research team, the platform will deepen our comprehension of light-matter interactions at a molecular scale, and accelerate transformative advances in applications across chemical, atmospheric, and materials sciences. Field of research: 3401 - Analytical Chemistry Australia is endowed with abundant solar energy, which drives our unique climate and environment, and is key to Australia’s clean energy future. Harnessing the benefit of this unlimited natural resource to drive photochemical processes relies on a fundamental understanding of the interaction between light and matter at the molecular scale. Mass spectrometry is the leading analytical technology to address this need, providing unique chemical insight into the structure and properties of individual molecules upon exposure to light. Through the development and application of innovative mass spectrometry-based technologies, advanced functional molecules and materials will be detected and structurally characterised with greater confidence, with more precision, and in less time. The proposed infrastructure will build on and accelerate a long and successful history of Australian research excellence in photochemistry and polymer science. Australian innovation in these fields has been at the forefront of fundamental discoveries and impactful applications that ultimately benefit our economy, society, and environment. The unique state-of-the-art infrastructure will create significant opportunities for new collaborations and partnerships across academia, government, and industry. This facility will support advanced manufacturing capabilities in Australia and equip a workforce with the analytical skills to meet growing demand from emerging, future-focused industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Assistive Robotics for Inclusive Employment. People with intellectual disabilities (ID) often face challenges in finding employment. Even when they do, employers may struggle to find suitable work for them. There are currently no clear solutions to these issues. However, AI and assistive robotics show great promise in fostering the capabilities of people with ID. Our interdisciplinary research team will work with the disability sector using a co-design approach to explore how these technologies can help people with ID transition into sustainable employment and assist employers in creating suitable work tasks. This groundbreaking study aims to produce guidelines on using assistive robots to improve and maintain employment opportunities for people with ID and those employing them. Field of research: 4608 - Human-Centred Computing The project promotes the participation of Australians with intellectual disability in the technology revolution with innovations fostering inclusion and learning for a diverse workforce. By co-designing new types of learning experiences with social robotics and generative AI, we will generate guidelines for future applications supporting engagement and social connection, while continuing to demonstrate that people of all abilities can and should participate in the co-design of their futures within an inclusive society. These goals align with the core principle of Australia's Disability Strategy (2021-2031) and the priorities in the Australian Disability Employment Strategy (Employ My Ability). With the support of key partners in disability employment, this project will position Australia as a world leader in Assistive Robotics and will afford opportunities for workplaces to become more accessible and inclusive, while also supporting Australia's Artificial Intelligence Action Plan in its focus on ``making Australia a global leader in responsible and inclusive AI".

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Electrolyte engineering for CO2 reduction by machine learning force field. This project aims to bridge a critical knowledge gap in applying machine learning force field methods to CO2 reduction for high-value C2 products powered by renewable energy. Leveraging the state-of-the-art machine learning force field for electrolyte prediction, this project proposes a novel approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emission, paving a new way for understanding the critical role of electrolyte composition, pH, cation/anion concentration, and electrode potentials at the solid-liquid interface. The outcome of this project is optimized electrolyte towards CO2 reduction to C2 products, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing green chemistry through machine learning-driven innovation in electrocatalysis. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project addresses a critical global challenge by converting carbon dioxide (CO2), a major driver of climate change, into valuable chemicals and fuels. By leveraging cutting-edge machine learning force field methods, it aims to optimize electrolyte composition to enhance conversion efficiency and develop practical strategies for high-value product synthesis. Through machine learning-driven insights, this research bridges key knowledge gaps in CO2 electroreduction by refining electrolyte composition and unraveling the complexities of carbon-carbon coupling. A deeper understanding of reaction mechanisms, catalyst design, and interfacial dynamics could revolutionize CO2 utilization strategies. Beyond scientific advancements, this project offers substantial economic benefits for Australia, fostering sustainable industries, generating jobs, reducing reliance on imported chemicals, and leveraging the nation’s abundant renewable energy resources. Environmentally, it supports national efforts to achieve net-zero emissions while protecting and restoring ecosystems. To maximize societal impact, findings will be disseminated through scientific publications and public outreach, accelerating the adoption of breakthrough technologies.

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

Efficient Bayesian analysis by exploiting fast approximate models Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Digitalising with Care to Strengthening Social Connection and Wellbeing. As digitalisation accelerates across Australian service sectors, loneliness is emerging as a critical social issue, particularly among vulnerable populations. This project addresses the unintended social consequences of digital transformation by partnering with an aged care contact centre to develop tools that help staff identify and support lonely clients in service calls. Combining a detection algorithm with simple, human-centred interventions, the project strengthens opportunities for connection in everyday service interactions. The outcomes of this project aim to embed social care into digital service delivery, improving outcomes for clients, supporting frontline staff, and informing responsible digital innovation across the industry. Field of research: 4206 - Public Health This project addresses loneliness as a growing public health and social issue, intensified by the digitalisation of essential services. While digital transformation improves efficiency, it can also erode opportunities for meaningful human connection, particularly in aged care and other frontline service settings. In partnership with a leading aged care provider, this project will co-design scalable, psychologically grounded tools to help contact centre staff identify and support clients experiencing loneliness. Rather than replacing existing interventions, the findings will offer a complementary approach to strengthen the social fabric of service interactions. The project combines AI-enabled detection with human-centred interventions, ensuring that new technologies enhance—rather than diminish—social connection. To maximise use and adoption, outcomes will be shared via practitioner-facing toolkits, staff training resources, and sector-based showcases. This work supports Australia’s commitment to responsible, human-centred innovation, digital inclusion, and improved quality of life for vulnerable populations. Aligned with the Future Made in Australia initiative, it builds national capability in ethical digital service design and strengthens sovereign expertise in health, ageing, and care. It also promotes workforce wellbeing by equipping staff with supportive tools in increasingly digital work environments.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Revolutionising Brickmaking: From Traditional Practice to AI Smart Design. This project will revolutionise the brickmaking industry by integrating mineral science with machine learning to overcome persistent challenges in quality, efficiency, and sustainability. It will systematically uncover how natural mineral phases affect brick performance and develop predictive and inverse design models to optimise formulations. By moving away from traditional trial-and-error methods, the project will reduce material waste, enhance strength and durability, and cut carbon emissions. The outcomes will directly support Australian manufacturers through improved quality control and production efficiency, data-driven innovation, and more sustainable, scalable production of one of the world’s most essential construction materials. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering Brickmaking is one of Australia’s most established and energy-intensive manufacturing sectors, producing over 600 million bricks annually for construction and infrastructure. Yet, the industry still relies on trial-and-error methods, resulting in variability in product quality, production inefficiencies, and a 3-5% defect rate even in leading factories. This project addresses a critical national need by integrating advanced mineral science with machine learning to enable predictive, data-driven formulation design. By developing AI-enabled tools to optimise raw clay formulations and firing conditions, the project will improve brick performance, reduce waste, and enable a step-change in production capacity-helping manufacturers meet growing housing and infrastructure demands while lowering embodied carbon. These outcomes align with national priorities in decarbonising industry, advancing low-emissions manufacturing, and enhancing sovereign capability in digital design. To ensure broad impact, research outputs will be actively promoted beyond academia. The inverse design tool and mineral database will be deployed and tested across ten factories in partnership with Brickworks, supported by on-site researchers. Results will be shared through industry conferences, design studio events, and digital platforms, while commercialisation will be managed via QUT’s innovation office. This will fast-track adoption and build national capability in sustainable, smart manufacturing.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Investigating unconventional spaces for student wellbeing self-management. Student wellbeing at school is an urgent priority, that needs collaborative consideration. This project will investigate with students how and where they already self-manage their wellbeing at school, with a focus on unconventional spaces. The mixed methods study led by an inter-disciplinary research team will enable students, alongside partners from education, architecture, and wellbeing to deeply explore under-represented everyday wellbeing experiences. New concepts, practices and methods will capitalise on the ways that students self-manage their wellbeing for practical, industry-relevant solutions. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education This research confronts the urgent problem of student wellbeing in Australian schools. Schools are struggling to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing with resulting long-term costs to Australian society. With multidisciplinary expertise, and partners spanning multiple disciplines, this project will generate an evidence base that fills a gap in existing research knowledge and practice while also offering considerable economic and social benefit, providing direct benefits for the partner organisations and their respective industries, and addressing national wellbeing priorities. The multidisciplinary team of experts will work with partner organisations to directly benefit their respective industries and address national wellbeing priorities. School infrastructure investment is costly. Ensuring spaces are fit for student wellbeing needs as well as their functional purposes contributes to supporting student wellbeing as well as minimising costs associated with repurposing spaces. It is vital to bring key stakeholders together to talk about the real experiences that students face and that they are trying to work out on their own. Failing to do so makes the cost on student mental health and wellbeing, and those supporting students in schools too high to keep maintaining.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Boosting power grid resilience by leveraging distributed energy sources. Power grid emergencies from large disturbances and faults can cause blackouts, making emergency control critical for national power grid. Existing emergency control, which relies on large power plants and bulk loads, is becoming inadequate due to the retirement of coal-fired power plants, driven by growing renewable energy integration. This project aims to develop an innovative emergency control mechanism that engages the large amount of distributed energy sources currently outside the emergency control system, enables decentralised decision-making via edge computing, and operates with bounded latency. The outcome will enhance grid flexibility and resilience, thus improving energy security and supporting the transition to renewable energy. Field of research: 4008 - Electrical Engineering Our project addresses the pressing need to enhance the resilience and flexibility of Australia’s national power grid, a critical infrastructure facing unprecedented challenges as the transition to renewable energy renders existing emergency control methods increasingly ineffective. The increasing share of renewables drives the phased retirement of coal-fired power plants and weakens traditional emergency control methods that rely heavily on large power plants and bulk loads. This project will develop an innovative emergency control mechanism that integrates distributed energy resources, which are currently outside emergency control frameworks, into decentralised emergency responses, supported by low-latency communication and real-time edge computing. Economically, it will enhance grid reliability, reducing costly blackouts, supporting seamless renewable energy integration, and ensuring Australia’s long-term energy security. Environmentally, it accelerates the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Socially, it strengthens energy resilience and ensures a stable power supply for all Australians, particularly those in remote and rural areas. By advancing grid control technologies, this research will reinforce Australia’s leadership in global energy innovation, particularly in renewable energy integration. We will engage with industry partners, policymakers, and the public to drive broad adoption, maximising the project's impact for a sustainable and resilient energy future.

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

Advancing fluid separation via engineered 3D-printed porous media Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Uncreative Australia: impacts of declining participation in arts... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

In Silico Design of New Catalysts for Nitrate Reduction to Green Ammonia. Sophisticated new catalysts will be vital in the transition to environmentally responsible energy and production industries. Through engineering catalyst microenvironment, this project will determine novel theoretical principles on the catalyst design, yielding significant insights for translation into sustainable new catalytic processing in nitrate reduction. Expected outcomes include new sustainable catalysts for nitrate reduction to ammonia, help minimise carbon emissions, reduce energy consumption, and remove nitrate contaminants from wastewater. These outcomes should benefit the Australian economy with potential for new knowledge-based energy and environmental industries and safer generation of energy and production of commodities. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Catalysts are essential in industries that involve chemical processing of any sort, enabling and speeding reactions for efficient and cost-effective production. The project will deliver innovative designs on the finetuned and highly active catalysts for nitrate reduction. They will, for example, enable sustainable nitrate reduction to ammonia, reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the currently industrial ammonia production processes, and help in removing nitrate pollutants from wastewater. This cutting-edge research will address the National Science and Research Priorities related to achieving a net-zero future and safeguarding Australia’s environment, as well as the National Reconstruction Fund’s priority areas such as low-emission technologies and value-added agriculture. A new generation of technologies for reducing nitrate levels in the environment will bring significant economic and environmental benefit, underpinning new research capability and applied industry-relevant technology for Australia. Additionally, the extensive training of PhD students and early career researchers will be critical for Australian research and development, especially in commercializing new, globally competitive energy and environmental technologies. To amplify its impact beyond academia, the project's outcome will be disseminated through a dedicated workshop for academics and policymakers, targeted social media campaigns, and a specialized website showcasing the research outcomes.

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

Lighting the Path to Recovery: Addressing Delirium Risks in ICU Design Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Interfacial engineering advances high-performance thermoelectric devices Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

How personal networks build capacity to respond to compound natural hazards. This project will determine the personal network structures underlying responses to compound natural hazard risks, investigate the social mechanisms they facilitate, and translate findings into practical applications for enhancing community capacity. Addressing the knowledge gap is critical for improving disaster preparedness. The project will provide a nuanced understanding of how attributes of personal networks support individuals in building response capacity to compound hazard risks. By identifying effective network structures for responding to compound hazard risks, the project will equip governments and practitioners with tools need to enhance capacity building initiatives, ultimately saving money and building a more resilient nation. Field of research: 3507 - Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour This project addresses the critical research gap in understanding how individuals and communities prepare for and respond to compound and consecutive natural hazards. Australia faces escalating extreme weather events. Consecutive hazards—such as sequential floods, or a cyclone followed by heavy rainfall—are becoming more frequent and disruptive, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable. While infrastructure and early-warning systems are vital, people’s personal networks—the informal and formal social ties that connect us—are among the most powerful, yet least understood, tools for building resilience. This project will provide the first national-scale analysis of personal network attributes that enhance disaster preparedness and response. The benefits to Australians are multifaceted. Socially, the project will inform targeted efforts to enhance community resilience and reduce vulnerability. Economically, improved preparedness can lead to substantial savings, mitigating the projected $73 billion annual cost of extreme weather by 2060. The project will deliver direct benefits to policymakers and practitioners by providing practical, evidence-based guidance for supporting communities at risk. To maximise impact, the project will engage end users through collaborative workshops, an Impact Advisory Committee, and knowledge translation activities. Co-designed toolkits and guidelines will ensure practical application of research outcomes, promoting a more resilient Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Sifting through the air by mass spectrometry. Real-time detection of trace volatiles in air is critical for the rapid assessment of: air-quality to protect human safety; the changing composition of Earth’s atmosphere and its effects on climate and; identifying the volatile emissions from biochemical processes. Industry partner Syft Technologies was the first to commercialise selected-ion flow tube mass spectrometers that are uniquely capable of meeting these critical needs. Here, Syft will partner with QUT to advance the sensitivity and selectivity of its instrumentation and thus advance understanding of Australia’s unique marine environments and drive innovation in precision fermentation. Field of research: 3401 - Analytical Chemistry Australia’s national priorities across health, biotechnology and the environment all require scientists and practitioners to be able to rapidly detect and identify chemical compounds present at vanishingly-low concentrations in air or other gases. Mass spectrometry is recognised as the leading analytical technology to address this need and Syft Technologies have developed unique instrumentation that delivers robust and real-time measurements of volatile chemicals and is sufficiently mobile to be deployed in laboratories, workplaces, ships and vans. In Australia, these instruments are used daily to protect the health and safety of workers by ensuring air-quality as well as in environmental monitoring. In this project, Syft Technologies will leverage the knowhow of Queensland University of Technology researchers to advance the sensitivity and selectivity of their trace gas detection technologies that will open new markets such as the detection of PFAS (so-called “forever” chemicals) in indoor air. Research applications of this advanced technology will drive new understanding of marine environments in Australian territorial waters and open new frontiers for precision fermentation that will provide Australian industry with competitive advantages in the global bioeconomy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Digital Futures: Computational Thinking Tools for Foundational Learning. This project supports early childhood educators in teaching computational thinking (CT) fundamentals through movement, social play and hands-on exploration. Researchers from QUT will partner with C&K educators to develop and evaluate new interactive technologies and resources that align with how young children naturally learn with their bodies. Integrating early childhood education, movement science and technology design, the project will produce CT technology tools, classroom activities and online educational learning resources to help early childhood educators introduce CT concepts—like sequencing, pattern recognition, problem-solving—in physically active, social, and developmentally appropriate ways that suit young children's needs. Field of research: 3903 - Education Systems This project addresses a national priority by supporting the early development of computational thinking (CT) in children aged 3-5, a foundational skill now embedded in the Australian Curriculum. By partnering with C&K, Queensland's largest not-for-profit early childhood provider, the project ensures that research is grounded in real-world practice and reaches diverse communities, including those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The project will produce new interactive technologies and online teaching resources that help educators introduce CT concepts through movement and social play, aligning with how young children best learn and remember. The outcomes will directly benefit early childhood educators, children, and families by improving CT fundamentals (such as formulating and following instructions, breaking down problems into steps, and recognising patterns) with accessible and age-appropriate interactive tools. The project also strengthens the capabilities of Australia's future workforce and citizenry by laying the groundwork for stronger STEM capability, starting from the earliest years. Through its interdisciplinary approach and strong partnership with C&K preschools, their educators, families and children, the project will generate evidence-based tools, effective practices and online teaching resources that can be adopted widely, resulting in more equitable access to STEM and CT skills at early ages for longer-term social and economic benefit.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mobile-Energy-as-a-Service: Delivering Sustainable Electromobility. This project proposes a novel concept of Mobile-Energy-as-a-Service, a comprehensive mechanism utilising the transport, power, and infrastructure aspects of electric vehicle mobility. It uses electric vehicle batteries as mobile energy sources and eases the pressure on the grid during peak times. The proposal incorporates an evidence-based, user-specific, & flexible incentivised pricing scheme to handle the impending wave of electric vehicles on our roads. With the help of appropriate digital platforms, users can plan their travel in an economically optimal way while passing through differentially priced energy zones. This research helps Australia to achieve its energy sustainability and carbon neutrality targets. Field of research: 4008 - Electrical Engineering Australia is facing increasingly severe climate challenges, including destructive floods and bushfires, which highlight the urgent need for sustainable solutions. Renewable energy resources (RER) and electric vehicles (EVs) are essential in combating environmental degradation and achieving net-zero emissions. Emerging technologies offer opportunities to enhance renewable energy systems, which currently face reliability issues due to the intermittent nature of renewable sources. EVs, through Mobile Energy-as-a-Service (MEaaS), can act as mobile energy storage systems, providing the power buffering needed to stabilize electricity supply. However, careful planning and operational strategies are required before deploying MEaaS widely. This project aims to explore these opportunities and address challenges to integrate MEaaS into Australian smart cities effectively. The tools developed will be adaptable for existing and future distribution networks, benefiting both industrial and residential users by improving renewable energy adoption and EV integration. To ensure the broader impact of this research, results will be communicated effectively to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the general public. By presenting findings in a shareable and relatable format, this project can inspire action, influence policy decisions, and promote widespread adoption of sustainable energy solutions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Harnessing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for Urban Flood Protection. This project aims to address the growing threat of flash flooding in Australian cities by developing an innovative flood modelling tool and sustainable mitigation solutions. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, we will create the next generation of fast, reliable urban flood models. Building on this innovation, we will deliver a Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) planning tool focused on mitigating urban flooding, while enabling the integrated management of stormwater pollution and urban heat island. We will also establish a new framework for urban drainage data collection and management, along with guidelines for the design and operation of integrated WSUD systems as climate-resilient urban infrastructure. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering Current estimates suggest that flooding costs Australian communities approximately $3 billion annually in infrastructure repairs and endangers up to 275 lives each year—figures projected to rise due to climate change. This project aims to deliver tools, frameworks, and guidelines for implementing nature-based infrastructure -also known as Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) - offering green, resilient solutions to protect urban areas from flash floods. While flood mitigation remains the core focus, it also delivers co-benefits such as promoting cleaner waterways and creating greener cities, contributing to overall community wellbeing. In collaboration with local governments, Logan City Council and the City of Melbourne, this project will, for the first time, demonstrate how WSUD can be applied to mitigate flood risks and enhance community resilience to climate change and simultaneously address stormwater quality and urban heat impacts. The initiative will support many Australian municipalities facing challenges related to population growth and aging infrastructure by providing environmentally sustainable approaches to urban drainage development and renewal. Partnerships with Melbourne Water and Water Technology will further support government and authority efforts in creating liveable, green urban environments resilient to flooding. Additionally, the project will generate new opportunities to advance flood monitoring capabilities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Improving the accessibility of assessment and pedagogy at scale. This project aims to overcome barriers to equitable access to classroom teaching and assessment for students with disability by improving accessibility for all students. This project expects to produce empirical evidence of effectiveness across a range of school subjects, year levels and assessment types, and enhance educators’ knowledge and capacity. Expected outcomes include two new professional learning programs to support implementation of accessible assessment and pedagogies with fidelity and at scale. This project will have tangible and immediate benefits to our partners while simultaneously developing new knowledge and professional learning programs to benefit Australian students, educators, and schools. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education This project will work with 11 primary and secondary schools, including school leaders and teachers, to improve and test teaching and assessment approaches that better support students' comprehension, engagement, and academic achievement. These improved approaches, "Accessible Pedagogies" and "Accessible Assessment", help every student do their best in the classroom—especially those with learning difficulties. When teaching and assessments are made more accessible, students can learn more effectively and schools can better utilise their resources. Teachers can focus extra support on students who need it most, rather than trying to adapt lessons for every individual. The project will help schools introduce these new teaching and assessment methods in a way that fits smoothly into everyday school life, without increasing workload of teachers. It will also carefully study how well these approaches work across different student groups, year levels, subjects, and types of tasks. Both teacher-led and researcher-led versions of the program will be tested. What we learn from this work will be used to create professional learning materials that can be shared with schools across Australia, helping more teachers make their classrooms more inclusive and supporting better learning for all students.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Toward phonologically aware language models. Current language models process and “understand” language in a way that is fundamentally different to human cognition that is grounded in spoken dialogue. This project aims to add new knowledge about how phonological features, including intonation, stress, rhythm and systematic sound-meaning mappings contribute to language processing. It will leverage naturalistic speech comprehension and production paradigms with brain imaging to test a new framework that integrates phonological, semantic and syntactic representations in a combined feature space. The outcomes will inform a new generation of “phonologically aware” language models that more closely resemble human cognition, with users benefiting from the models' enhanced processing. Field of research: 5204 - Cognitive and Computational Psychology This project will enhance Australia’s knowledge-base, capability and technical innovation in investigating and characterising the brain mechanisms involved in processing spoken language. It will generate new knowledge on this topic with the aim of developing a new integrated framework to understand how speech sounds systematically interact with other aspects of language, such as meaning and syntax. The findings have the potential to inform future clinical research and improve the advice given to clinicians, patients and the broader community about the nature of spoken language and its impairments. The findings also have the potential to inform more effective and economical assessments and treatments of speech production and comprehension problems following brain disorders such as stroke or dementia, via assistive technologies. The project will increase Australia's research standing internationally by leading collaborative research with colleagues in the United States of America. It will also offer high quality postgraduate training in the increasingly competitive field of cognitive neuroscience that attracts dedicated funding internationally, conducted in a world-class intellectually stimulating environment.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Multiphase droplet chemistry shapes dynamic survival of airborne viruses. When airborne viruses are exhaled, they are embedded in a droplet of human respiratory fluid. These droplets are not just carriers of viruses but are complex microenvironments containing a mixture of salts, proteins and other substances that dynamically change over time depending on the environment where they have been exhaled. We aim to improve our fundamental understanding of the physicochemical dynamics of exhaled respiratory droplets in order to understand what drives the virus survival in indoor environments. This is essential for developing effective public health strategies, such as optimising indoor air quality and controlling environmental conditions, to create an environment less conducive to virus transmission. Field of research: 3701 - Atmospheric Sciences This project directly supports Priority 2: Supporting healthy and thriving communities, particularly in anticipating and responding to future pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks. Airborne virus transmission is a key driver of respiratory disease spread, yet the role of exhaled respiratory droplets in virus survival remains poorly understood. By investigating the physicochemical properties of these droplets, this research will identify the environmental factors that influence virus viability in indoor settings. The findings will inform strategies to optimize indoor air quality and environmental controls in hospitals, aged care facilities, workplaces, and public spaces. This knowledge is crucial for reducing airborne virus transmission and protecting vulnerable populations. Australia faces ongoing threats from emerging infectious diseases, making proactive research essential for pandemic preparedness. This project will improve understanding of airborne virus survival, leading to evidence-based interventions that minimize risks. The outcomes will support public health policy, guide building design for safer indoor environments, and strengthen national resilience against future outbreaks. Findings will be shared through media, talks, and social platforms, ensuring broad dissemination. Collaborations with health organizations, policymakers, and industry will translate results into practical guidelines, enhancing public safety and national resilience.

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

Understanding and exploiting allostery of AI-designed protein switches Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The Mismatch between Photochemical Reactivity and Molecular Absorptivity. It was a long-held belief in photochemistry that the color of a photoactive compound was the best guide to achieve the most efficient photochemical reaction. For example, if a molecule appeared blue, then complementary orange light was the optimum excitation source. Recently, our team has upended this paradigm. Our findings that maximum absorptivity (color) and maximum reaction efficiency are not necessarily congruent has far-reaching consequences for all production process that involve photochemical reactions, from 3D printing to surface curing, as much milder light sources can be used than previously thought. This project will investigate the underpinning cause of the mismatch and enable us to predict photochemical reactivity. Field of research: 3406 - Physical Chemistry Photochemistry is at the cusp of a paradigm shift. For the past 200 years, the ideal colour of light to progress a photochemical reaction was determined by inspection of the colour of the photoreactive chemical compound. We have demonstrated that this correlation is incorrect. Understanding why this paradigm is incorrect - as proposed herein - will unlock the possibility to predict the optimum (colour) wavelength for a photochemical process. Knowledge and prediction of the ideal wavelength for photochemical processes has enormous impact on our ability to use photochemical reactions that a ubiquitous in manufacturing, ranging from the curing of coatings to biomedical materials to light-driven 3D printing. Australia has the unique opportunity to position itself at the forefront of not only understanding which colour of light is required for a specific chemical reaction and application, but also exploit the effect. Critically, exploitation of the mismatch effect will allow for photochemical curing and production processes to proceed with less energy and more efficiently, making a critical contribution to sustainable manufacturing.

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

In Silico Design of New Catalysts for Nitrate Reduction to Green Ammonia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research