University of Wollongong

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Functional and structural dissection of the human replisome. This project aims to develop technology to visualise the structure and enzymatic activities of the human replisome, the multiprotein assembly that copies DNA before cell division. A combination of novel single-molecule and state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy will be used to define how the human replisome coordinates DNA synthesis during times of replication stress. Key outcomes of this project include development of novel molecular visualisation technologies, leading to the first molecular description of dynamic processes used by the human replisome. Benefits include improved understanding of a fundamental biological process that often malfunctions in cancers, development of novel methodology, and interdisciplinary training. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Every time a cell divides, it must copy all of its DNA without any errors, and then split the DNA equally into two new cells, a process fundamental to life. The process of copying DNA is complicated and barriers to this process cause many diseases, including cancer. This project will examine how the protein machinery that copies our DNA overcomes these barriers. By using cutting-edge electron and light microscopes, this project will help us better understand this molecular process, by determining the individual shapes and visualise the dynamic behaviours of these protein complexes, for the first time. This project will generate new scientific techniques that will support the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries in Australia and provide new information that may lead to new therapeutic strategies to treat cancer and other diseases. The project will provide exceptional multidisciplinary training opportunities for Australian researchers and will build Australia’s capability in the rapidly expanding fields of biochemistry and high-resolution electron microscopy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Towards a molecular fingerprint for human-specific endogenous retroviruses. This project aims to understand how ancient viral sequences resident in the human genome can contribute to cellular processes. Using a novel molecular toolbox that combines affinity-directed proximity labelling mass spectrometry and single molecule microscopy, this project will characterise the cellular fingerprint of a human endogenous retrovirus family HERV-K (HML-2). This fingerprint will comprehensively describe how expressed HERV-K loci engage with the homeostasis network in human cells. This will provide significant benefits in the form of new knowledge concerning fundamental aspects of cellular homeostasis, and a state-of-the-art molecular biology toolbox ready to explore quantitatively the role of HERV-K in human health and disease. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Almost one-tenth of human DNA came from ancient infectious viruses. The presence of these DNA sequences, known as retroviruses, means our cells produce building blocks originally of viral origin. We lack understanding of how these viral building blocks impact the normal function of human cells and may lead to disease. To address this knowledge gap, this project will bring together powerful biochemical, biophysical and molecular biology techniques to provide unparalleled insight into how viral sequences embedded in the human genome affect molecular processes in human cells. This new knowledge will yield fundamental insights into human biology. This knowledge is of great economic value to Australia as it has the potential to super-charge diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and motor neuron diseases. This benefit will be realised by working with the Australian medical biotechnology sector, and through contributing to future fundamental research seeking to advance the health of Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Topological phonons in solids. This project aims to create a complete list of possible topological phonons in time-reversal-invariant systems via symmetry analysis, to determine ideal topological phononic materials, and to study topological phonon-related properties and possible applications. The significant outcomes of this project will be the generation of new knowledge that will help conclude the search for novel topological phonons and the prediction of novel topological phononic materials based on the complete classification list of topological phonons. The outcomes of this project should unlock the physics of the exotic topological phonons and lay a solid foundation for applying topological phononic materials based on their unprecedented properties. Field of research: 5104 - Condensed Matter Physics A phonon is a common particle that makes critical contributions to many physical properties, such as thermal conductivity, thermoelectricity or superconductivity. More recently topological phonon is a new physical phenomenon observed in quantum matter that is expected to assist the discovery of new quantum materials. This project will develop a comprehensive library of materials exhibiting this exciting and promising physical property. Researchers in quantum materials harness quantum mechanics to develop new or improved states of material leading to innovative devices and systems, with the goal of furthering our understanding of nature and creating new or improved technologies. These strange properties can be exploited to deliver devices that have new capability in telecommunications, defence and medical sciences such as digital power electronics for electric vehicles and power grids, or high energy radio-frequency electronics for radar applications. Furthermore, topological phonon materials are strongly aligned with quantum computing, thus opening new opportunities and possibilities in the areas of artificial intelligence and information technology. The knowledge generated from this project will place Australia at the forefront of global efforts in this rapidly advancing research field, and provide a strong fundamental platform for translational research in the future and benefit a range of Australian industries and manufacturers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Identifying key fire drivers in Australia; biomass, climate or people. This project aims to provide a greater understanding of Australia’s bushfire risk in the face of climate change. By comparing fire occurrence in three Australian bioclimates across two millennial-scale time periods, one prior to human settlement and one during active Indigenous management, this research expects to define which factors — climate, vegetation profile, or landscape management —most impact fire frequency and severity. Outcomes will likely create new knowledge on how past climates affected the Australian environment; enhance predictive ability for future fire risks under emerging climate scenarios; and provide new insights into how cultural burning can be incorporated into fire management plans to reduce catastrophic bushfires. Field of research: 3709 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Accurate reconstructions of past fire histories are essential to place current catastrophic fire events into context: are the 2019–20 fires really the worst ever experienced, or merely the worst in recorded history (<100 years)? Understanding the difference, and which factors most affect fire regimes (severity, intensity, and fire return interval) over the long term, will enable important advances in predicting future fire risks and planning effective mitigation strategies. This project aims to understand how fire regimes in eastern Australia over the past 15,000 years and from 125,000 years ago have responded to climate and vegetation. These two timeframes capture environments prior to human settlement, and during active Indigenous fire management, to unravel the benefits of cultural burning practices. Outcomes of this project will provide necessary knowledge to mitigate bushfire risk in Australia in the face of changing climates, supporting Australia’s Strategy for Nature, the National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy, and the National Science & Research Priority for Environmental Change.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines. This project aims to investigate the technological aspects of re-using underground mines as a source for low-carbon heat extraction and storage – while simultaneously providing sustainable solutions for mine rehabilitation. Expected outcomes of this project include a framework to evaluate the viability of a mine-water system as a geothermal heat source; experimental and field exploration of the proposed technology; and strategies to optimise the heat extraction process. Overall, the research provides significant benefits for renewable-based energy transformation while minimising the adverse impacts of post-mining landscapes. Field of research: 4019 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy Whilst mining has long been a significant contributor to Australia’s economic development, the nation is transforming towards a portfolio of diverse low-carbon energy and resources. As a country with a strong mining legacy, Australia has strong potential to convert underground mines to become low-enthalpy geothermal resources to provide heating, cooling and heat storage for homes and businesses. This project aims to develop a new method for harnessing heat from elevated rock temperatures of underground mines, integrating heat pump technology utilising existing mine workings with no drilling or excavation related to the geothermal system. The proposed technology further promotes the effective transition of post-mining landscapes supporting the communities in which it operates. Challenges associated with harnessing geothermal energy safely and economically from underground mines have been overlooked globally. Thus the proposed comprehensive research method contributes to knowledge advancement of a unique scientific problem while improving the country’s reputation to reach climate action targets.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Environmentally friendly lubricants for higher productivity in cold rolling. This project aims to develop an oil free aqueous lubricant for cold rolling to replace the existing oil-in-water emulsion. The lubricant will be molecularly engineered to combine synergy between nanomechanics and tribochemistry of boundary additives to deliver integrated functionalities in the strip rolling. During cold rolling , lubricant starvation often occurs at high speed and it has restricted the productivity of the rolling mill and affected the strip gauge and surface quality. Expected outcomes of this project include an innovative oil free lubricant with significant environmental benefits and an ability for manufacturers to improve productivity by operating at higher speeds, lower costs, and achieve superior strip surface quality. Field of research: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering The widely used oil-in-water emulsion as a rolling lubricant still have many drawbacks such as restricted productivity due to lubrication starvation and vibration at high speeds, high cost, strip cleanliness issues, and environmental concerns from oil pollution. The project aims to overcome the restrictive speeds for cold rolling of metals by developing an oil free lubricant which not only can fulfil all technical requirements on the rolling surfaces for a higher rolling speed to boost productivity, but also offer a low-cost production, easy storage , environmental friendliness and replace oil which is a dwindling resource. The advanced testing//characterisation program combined with a sophisticated molecular modelling will unlock the mechanism for the lubricant excellent performance in friction and wear. The lubricant package can thus be easily optimised and translated to automobile engines , metalworking fluid or high-speed bearings. The lubricant can offer targeted delivery and active release of anti-wear additives to the confined contact areas which traditional additives are not capable of. The project will provide long-term benefits to the Australian manufacturing industry (even beyond the steel and aluminium). The ability of metal manufacturers to produce quality products at a reduced cost will bolster their domestic and global competitiveness.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

High-throughput single-molecule directed evolution. DNA polymerases are essential enzymes in many biotechnological tools, including DNA sequencing and PCR tests. However, existing DNA polymerases have limitations, resulting in inaccuracies and inefficiencies. Existing methods to improve polymerases lack sensitivity to screen for subtle, yet pivotal traits. This project aims to overcome this limitation by developing a new single-molecule directed-evolution system to evolve better polymerases. With this new technology we aim to identify DNA polymerases with improved performance that benefit biotechnological applications. Additionally, these single-molecule directed-evolution methods will benefit the wider scientific community and lay the foundation for further advances in directed evolution. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology DNA polymerases are protein machines that copy DNA. These polymerases are essential in many biotechnological applications, including PCR tests and DNA sequencing. However, existing DNA polymerases have limitations that can result in inaccuracies and inefficiencies. Current methods to develop better DNA polymerases are limited in their ability to enhance specific traits. This project aims to overcome this limitation by developing a new, high-throughput directed-evolution system. This new single-molecule directed-evolution tool will allow the design of new polymerases for bioindustry applications, such as rapid diagnostics to facilitate early recognition and treatment of infectious diseases. Furthermore, novel biomolecules generated using our new method can be used to enhance food production in Australia and overseas by enabling safe and efficient genome improvements. The knowledge from this project will impact the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry in Australia by increasing our general understanding of how DNA polymerases copy DNA. Additionally, this increased understanding will contribute to the training of highly skilled scientists in Australia and contribute to a higher-quality workforce, thereby future proofing australia's biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Middle Age Earth: ocean chemistry and evolution in the Boring Billion. This project aims to investigate the role of ocean chemistry on the evolution of eukaryotes during the “Boring Billion” (1800-800 million years ago) and how sedimentary rocks record past ocean chemistry, by using innovative geochemical proxies. This project expects to generate new knowledge in geochemistry, sedimentology and paaleo-biology using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes include a quantitative understanding of the formation of sedimentary rocks, and of the links between evolution and marine nutrient and metal abundance. This should provide significant benefits, such as understanding the formation and alteration of ore-bearing sedimentary rocks and how life has evolved during Earth's Middle Age. Field of research: 3705 - Geology This project will address a significant knowledge gap of our understanding of how changes in ocean chemistry shaped life during a period of Earth’s history commonly proposed as having stalled evolution. To achieve this goal, the project will produce new methods to assess how sedimentary rocks can be used to reliably estimate past ocean chemistry, and compare robust geochemical records with new fossil and biomarker records. These outcomes will benefit Australians: (i) Economically. The study period is key to the formation of numerous ore deposits in sedimentary rocks in Australia and this project will provide tools to better understand the formation of these rocks; (ii) Environmentally. The project will inform on how environmental changes shape life; (iii) Socially. We will be training the next generation of scientists to cutting-edge research and innovative tools.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Asymmetric Biomembranes for Blue Energy Harvesting. This project aims to develop a new class of biomembranes for efficient ion-selective transport, to address the challenge of low power density facing the realisation of blue energy harvesting. This will be achieved using innovative chemistries guided by theoretical modelling to endow membranes with unique features: heterogeneities in surface charge and pore structure. Expected outcomes include a new concept for membrane design, advancement of knowledge in energy conversion, creation of a new prototype power device without need of any external forces, and significant advances in self-powered wearable electronics potentially revolutionizing industries such as healthcare and entertainment. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering The application of wearable electronics has expanded significantly in recent years to various industries, such as health and wellness, smart home, virtual and augmented reality, and workplace safety. Critical to the development of these electronics is the need for safe and disposable power sources, and this remains a paramount challenge. This project will provide a solution to this type of power source which is in critical need. This will be achieved by developing innovative membranes based on naturally-sourced materials to drive forward the development of blue energy harvesting, an energy captured through a naturally occurring osmotic process. Compared to commonly used batteries, this power has the advantages of no disruptive electrochemical reactions with no harmful byproducts. This project relies on new methodologies to generate fundamental knowledge, innovative membrane materials and prototype devices. It will provide cost-effective synthetic methods and membrane design concepts. This will be key in enhancing Australia’s international competitiveness in the emerging areas of blue energy harvesting and wearable power sources. This project will have a profound impact on Australia’s renewable energy harvesting and advanced manufacturing, as well as other membrane-based technologies and industries, with enormous social and economic benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Magnetorheological Elastomer Based Tuned Mass Damper. This project aims to protect buildings utilising an advanced tuned mass damper (TMD) which has characteristics of adaptability, is energy and sensor free and has negative stiffness via the integration of magnetorheological elastomers, a self-sensing self-powered element and negative stiffness technologies. This project expects to theoretically and experimentally study the performance of the TMD on structural protection from wind loads and earthquakes. The expected outcomes of this project will advance TMD practice and structural protection technology, and benefit the building protection industry, both domestically and globally. This will provide significant benefits to the working efficiency and safety of building occupants. Field of research: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering Earthquake-induced vibration poses a great threat to building and occupants' safety in Australia. The building vibration caused by huge wind also induces motion sickness in the occupants and decreases their working efficiency, thus leading to a financial loss for Australian companies. This project aims to protect buildings utilising an advanced device called a tuned mass damper (TMD) that can reduce building vibration. This device will have advanced engineering features in terms of performance, functionality, and energy saving. It will also be resistant to power outages to account for a wide range of scenarios that cause building vibration. This research will fill the knowledge gap in building vibration protection via cutting-edge technologies. The success of this project will provide a reliable and sustainable solution that will enable the Australian industry to develop high-standard TMD systems for structural control, thereby benefiting Australian civil and manufacturing industries, increasing Australian building safety and reducing the financial loss of Australian companies caused by building vibrations. With excellent vibration reduction performance, the proposed tuned mass damper can easily be retrofitted to buildings. The investigators will actively liaise with industrial collaborators to commercialise the proposed tuned mass damper and apply this advanced technology in practical applications.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Law And Policy Framework For Remote Sensing In Maritime Enforcement. This project aims to address a gap in national and international law relating to the use of modern technology in fisheries enforcement. It will advance the fight against illegal fishing by developing model legal frameworks to underpin the use of remotely sourced data in fisheries surveillance and enforcement. Expected outcomes include enabling Pacific Island Countries to rely on remotely sourced data to combat illegal fishing, conduct enforcement operations and prosecute fisheries offences. This should provide significant benefits, such as reducing the cost of fisheries enforcement, increasing the tools available to combat illegal fishing, and enhancing the capacity of Pacific Island Countries to protect their fisheries and maritime zones. Field of research: 4803 - International and Comparative Law This project is about improving maritime enforcement in the Pacific. It seeks to optimise national laws and policies for the conduct of fisheries surveillance and enforcement by providing for the use of information derived from modern technology, including remote sensing and satellite monitoring—something which is not currently addressed in national, regional and international frameworks. The project will provide a template for reform, allowing prosecution of vessels engaged in illegal fishing based upon electronic evidence. Illegal fishing represents an existential challenge for many Pacific Island Countries, whose economies are highly dependent upon revenues from fisheries in their vast maritime zones. The project will produce clear pathways for these countries to address the challenges inherent in protecting their fisheries and maximise their ability to respond effectively, using modern technologies. Australia has a substantial interest in the economic well-being and stability of the Pacific Island Countries and is a strong supporter of the rules-based maritime order and the law of the sea, as evidenced in the Foreign Affairs White Paper, so the project will assist to achieve this objective. The results of the project will be of broad interest. They will be presented directly to Pacific Island Governments and the Forum Fisheries Agency, as well as through publications and presentations available to regional organisations, civil society, courts and tribunals.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Reaching for tax breaks: Household financial decisions and tax policy. The project aims to investigate how two tax incentives – franking credits and negative gearing of investments – impact individual taxpayer risk-taking behaviour, voluntary savings and retirement outcomes. The project will develop a new measure of tax efficiency based on if, and how, individuals take advantage of franking credits and negative gearing. It will identify what factors drive the use of franking credits and negative gearing and whether their use is associated with better retirement outcomes. The findings of the project will potentially lead to an improvement in individuals’ financial literacy, retirement outcomes and reduce reliance on the aged pension. Field of research: 3502 - Banking, Finance and Investment The project investigates how two income tax incentives available to individuals in Australia – negative gearing of investments and franking credits – influence the risk-taking behaviour, and retirement outcomes, of individuals in Australia. The research will assess what type of individuals use these tax incentives and whether their use is concentrated among certain groups of tax payers. A vital question this research will address is whether the use of negative gearing and franking credits by individuals leads to less reliance on the aged pension when individuals retire. The research will have considerable economic benefits as it will assess whether these tax incentives are improving voluntary savings in Australia and helping individuals be better prepared for retirement. Any potential inequity related to these two tax incentives will be identified. The findings have the potential to influence public policy and will be shared with Federal Government organisations, such as Federal Treasury and the Australian Tax Office. The findings are of interest to every Australian individual, and it is anticipated that the mainstream media will be able to assist in disseminating our results to a broad audience.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Bridging the gap between Key-Evolving Signatures and Their Applications. This project aims to address the gap between cryptography primitives and their applications. Key-evolution signatures are effective in resolving secret key compromises. Theoretically, they can be adopted to secure Proof-of-Stake in blockchain against long-range attacks. Unfortunately, there are many remaining issues to address that make adoption insecure. This project is significant since it will enrich theoretical cryptography contributions and ensure their practical and secure applications. The expected outcomes are innovative technologies, guaranteeing security whilst solving real-life problems. The project will deliver significant and innovative technology for enabling effective and secure blockchain systems. Field of research: 4604 - Cybersecurity and Privacy Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm is a promising candidate that eventually can replace the commonly used Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithm in blockchain applications to solve existing vast energy consumption issues. Unfortunately, PoS suffers from the well-known long-range attack, which is very challenging. This project aims to develop innovative techniques to construct cryptographic primitives to solve security concerns in PoS blockchain applications. The outcomes of this project will directly lead to more practical and secure blockchain platforms to boost blockchain adoption in Australia, which aligns with lists of critical technologies in the national interest and the landscape described in the National Blockchain Roadmap proposed by the Australian Government. The expected outcomes of this project include new techniques that enhance cryptographic algorithms to solve practical problems and their adoption to secure blockchain applications. This will provide direct benefits to lower costs and contribute to a more innovative economy, which will benefit Australian and international communities. This project also offers a significant capacity-building opportunity to place Australia in a position to lead developments in blockchain technology. A clear project plan and the solid experiences of CIs will facilitate the success of this project. We will also communicate the research results to the industry to seek opportunities to collaborate and commercialise the results.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Robust Defences against Adversarial Machine Learning for UAV Systems. This project aims to investigate robust defences for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems to protect them against adversarial Machine Learning (ML) attacks. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of cybersecurity using innovative approaches to safeguard UAV systems from attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in ML models. The expected outcomes of this project include improve techniques for understanding and developing robust ML models and enhanced capacity to design secure UAV systems. This should provide significant benefits, such as improving the security of UAV technology and increasing the reliable use of UAVs for transport and logistics services to support urban and regional communities in Australia. Field of research: 4604 - Cybersecurity and Privacy As part of critical technologies in the national interest, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-related technologies offer significant economic, environmental and social benefits to Australia, in logistics, environmental monitoring, smart farming, bushfire and disaster management and so on. However, Machine Learning (ML) models on UAV systems are vulnerable to adversarial attacks. This impedes the large-scale adoption of UAVs by industry. This project aims to develop robust defences for UAV systems to protect them against adversarial ML attacks. To enhance the security of navigation and decision-making processes in UAV systems, this project will investigate various adversarial attacks on UAVs and develop effective countermeasures against them. The improved security of UAV systems resulting from this research will facilitate the reliable adoption of UAVs to support urban and regional communities. Deloitte Access Economics estimates that the Australian UAV industry will create 5,500 new jobs annually, increase Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $14.5 billion and delivery cost savings of $9.3 billion across all sectors by 2040. This project will integrate research outcomes in real-world UAV systems and promote the research by engaging with industry and the community through research showcases and social media. Hence, this project aligns with the Australian Government’s strategy of promoting and protecting critical and emerging technologies to strengthen Australia's future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Building Tools to Create Molecular Complexity for Next Generation Drugs. This Fellowship aims to solve manufacturing challenges in the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the development and production of hard-to-make complex molecules, which display better safety profiles and are often more potent pharmaceuticals. This Fellowship will close the academia-industry innovation gap to solve this problem through the deployment of advanced catalytic reaction technology. The benefits will be increased competitiveness of the Australian pharmaceutical industry, access to better medicines and industrial training of an Industry Fellow to ensure long-term academia-industry collaboration. Field of research: 3405 - Organic Chemistry The proposed research will link the University of Wollongong, and the Australian pharmaceutical company Pharmaxis to deliver new chemical tools for the Australian Pharmaceutical industry. These new tools will make previously inaccessible or difficult to make molecules available for exploitation in commercial settings and do so in an environmentally sustainable fashion. Critically, this will expand the industry product pipeline and upgrade chemical manufacturing ability in Australia. The Fellowship will provide industry-relevant training to the Fellowship holder and the joint PhD student and direct academic research to industry-relevant problems in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The research is designed to lead to ongoing collaboration with the partners, and the approach will be expanded to other companies in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Building Better Herbicides With 3D Boron and Silicon Building Blocks. This fellowship aims to develop a modern toolkit for building herbicidal molecules, comprised of 3D chemical building blocks containing boron and silicon. The significance of the project is that it uses strategies that have delivered successful pharmaceuticals, such as molecular shape and complexity, and applies these to crop protection to address serious challenges such as genetic resistance, which threatens the effectiveness of almost 70% of herbicide types. The expected outcomes are safer, more effective herbicides, resulting in benefits of increased crop production and alleviated pressure on our agricultural sector, farmers and the environment. Field of research: 3405 - Organic Chemistry This research is a collaborative effort between the University of Wollongong and Bayer CropScience to develop a modern chemical toolkit for delivering safer, more effective herbicides to the Australian agricultural sector. The project draws on principles that have largely been applied to the pharmaceutical industry so far, such as molecular shape and complexity, and redirects them to tackle serious challenges in the agricultural sector, such as genetic resistance, crop damage and environmental impact. The research aligns with the Australian government’s goal of increasing agricultural production to $100 billion by 2030 (Ag2030) and brings the international agrochemical industry to Australia to enable industry-relevant training to the fellow involved and lead to further collaborations. The research is designed to translate directly into the industry product pipeline and the developed chemical toolkit is envisioned to be applicable in the wider agrochemical arena beyond the fellowship.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Islands in the Ice: Interpreting the future of Antarctic ecosystems. This program aims to better understand polar regions by combining data from key locations around the Antarctic continent to determine how vegetation in ice-free, coastal areas has responded to recent climate change. It will improve spatial and temporal climate data for Antarctica’s coastline, thus enabling more accurate modelling of the rates of environmental change and how this is affecting Antarctica's unique biodiversity. Outcomes will impact on climate science, policy development and Antarctic decision-making. The innovative technologies developed will be applied in a new continent-wide terrestrial observing system, enabling Australia and other nations to better manage their obligations to protect Antarctic biodiversity. Field of research: 4101 - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Antarctica’s climate is closely coupled to both the global, and especially the Australian, environment. Antarctica is experiencing rapid climatic shifts from ozone depletion and climate heating, but the impact on biodiversity in its ice-free areas is still poorly understood. This Laureate program aims to provide the toolkit for the terrestrial component of a proposed observing system for East Antarctica, which will become the foundation for a whole-of-continent observing system. It will link past changes in climate to current ecosystem health and harness technological innovations to model future risks for Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. Outcomes will include: i) innovative and interdisciplinary methods that will enable non-destructive real-time monitoring of Antarctic ecosystem health (incorporating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and smart drone platforms); ii) identification of biodiversity most at risk; and iii) strategies to protect and/or remediate at-risk ecosystems. This research program will allow Antarctica’s Environmental Managers to assess the health of these unique plant communities and provide scientifically evaluated plans for protection and management of biodiversity, enabling Australia to deliver on its State of the Environment and International Antarctic Treaty obligations. It will ensure that Australia reclaims the lead in delivering impactful Antarctic terrestrial biology and world-leading understanding and protection of unique global ecosystems.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

A novel austenitic stainless steel bipolar plate for hydrogen fuel cells. This project aims to develop a green, efficient and cost-effective manufacturing process to produce a new stainless steel bipolar plate (BP) for hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs). This project expects to solve the long-standing issues in traditional BP materials that are either brittle, costly or susceptible to corrosion in acidic, high-humidity and temperature environments. The expected outcomes are a breakthrough in steelmaking and HFC industries by significantly reducing industrial pollution and operational costs and enhancing the overall performance of HFCs. This project will advance clean energy manufacturing in Australia and instil a new impetus to achieving the nation’s net-zero target by 2050 in the context of long-distance hauling. Field of research: 4014 - Manufacturing Engineering Hydrogen energy is deemed a clean fuel due to zero or low emissions and flexibility in fuel sources. Hydrogen energy is expected to form an important part of Australia’s and the world’s decarbonisation strategy, especially when hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) vehicles are playing a superior role in long-haul travel and freight transport than battery electric vehicles. This project will significantly advance steel rolling theory and nanolubrication technology together with subsequent heat treatment and stamping of rolled sheets to produce a new bipolar plate (BP) with high performance for HFCs in a green, efficient and cost-effective manufacturing process. This project aligns well with the National Manufacturing Priority area of Recycling & Clean Energy, aiming to initiate a revolution replacing traditional BP materials to meet the demands of future clean energy manufacturing. The successful completion of this project will make significant contributions to Australia’s steelmaking and HFC industries and thus help address the nation’s environmental challenges in net-zero emissions by 2050. The research outcomes will be promoted by reinforcing the university-industry research alliance and partnership in rolling, lubrication and processing of steels and realising the commercialisation of the novel BP products and associated manufacturing and processing technologies, leading to a long-term collaboration in advanced manufacturing for Australia’s clean energy transition in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Touch and Tension: Molecular Determinants of Human Mechanosensation . Feelings of touch and muscle tension are initiated by mechanosensory neurons found within the peripheral nervous system. Knowledge of human mechanosensory neurons has predominantly relied on rodent studies because of the limited availability of human tissue, which is not ideal. Our team has developed novel technologies for generating human mechanosensory neurons ‘in the dish’. The major aim of this project is to use human stem cell-derived mechanosensory neurons as a platform to extensively study their molecular and functional properties. The significant benefits are the advancement of knowledge in the human mechanosensory system, which to date has been lacking, and in the long-term progress commercial development of novel drugs. Field of research: 3209 - Neurosciences This project is aimed at discovering new knowledge about the human mechanosensory nervous system, which plays a fundamental role in sensing tactile stimuli (such as touch and vibration) and muscle movements in the body. The current gap in knowledge of our understanding of the biology mediating mechanosensation in humans has greatly hampered the identification of pharmacological targets that can modulate mechanosensory function in the body. This is critically needed as loss of mechanosensory function is strongly associated with aging poorly and a vast number of disease conditions, including diabetes, cancers and neurological disorders, all of which negatively impact Australian society and economy including the costs of care. The knowledge and discoveries gained through this project will in the long term translate to the commercial development of novel drugs that modulate specific sensory functions in humans, thereby benefiting the health and well-being of society and positively contributing to the economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The evolution of venom and its role in shaping biodiversity. This project aims to study how venom, nature's most powerful weapon, evolves and shapes biodiversity. Using the iconic Australian and New Guinean venomous snakes as a model, this project expects to develop a novel approach to profile venom composition from museum specimens, test competing hypotheses on the evolution of venoms, and test for the association between the evolution of venoms and the evolution of diversity in species richness and morphology. Expected outcomes include the largest venom database for any animal group and a better understanding of how venoms evolve and what role they play in earth’s biodiversity. The generated venom data has potential to be used in future studies to aid in the development of anti-venoms and drugs. Field of research: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology Australia is home to the largest and most diverse venomous snake group in the world, yet we know the venoms of very few of them, leaving an untapped resource for drug discovery. Venom-based drugs already treat conditions ranging from cancer, arthritis, stroke and heart disease. A more comprehensive knowledge of the venom composition of Australia’s snakes has potentially life-saving implications. Using a new method to profile venom composition, this project will represent a world-first by uncovering the venom of almost all Australian venomous snakes, which will be used to answer questions about changes in our snake population. The findings will be translated into a free online database, containing the hundreds of toxins identified for each of 187 snake species. This critical resource will be used in future drug discovery research and leveraged by the pharmacological and medical sectors in the form of life-saving drugs and in therapeutic treatments. In so doing, the project will contribute fundamental research to the future health of Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Regulations in Privacy-Preserving Blockchain Systems. This project aims to develop an integrated regulatory paradigm for privacy-preserving blockchain. This project expects to reduce cybercrimes and illegal transactions in blockchain and provide solutions for the regulation concerns raised in the national blockchain roadmap, using interdisciplinary approaches and new primitives. Expected outcomes of this project include providing versatile regulation services covering the whole lifetime of transactions while maintaining transaction privacy and user anonymity. This should provide significant benefits to the economy by reducing the financial loss caused by blockchain abuse worldwide ($76 billion per year) and promoting Australia’s blockchain ecosystem (grow to AU$68.4 billion by 2030). Field of research: 4604 - Cybersecurity and Privacy Blockchain put simply is a system in which a record of transactions, such as bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, is maintained across several computers. This project will provide technological solutions to empower blockchain regulation that reduces cybercrime due to blockchain abuse, which causes a global financial loss of $76 billion per year. In doing so it will address the need to balance privacy and enforcement of regulation in digital transactions. The expected outcome of this project is to provide a more secure and regulation-friendly blockchain with versatile regulation services, covering the whole lifecycle of a transaction. Specifically, it is to deter malicious users from blockchain abuse with regulation policies, to trace the identity of malicious users and to rectify polluted transactions, while still preserving privacy for honest users in the system. This research will directly benefit Australia by providing algorithmic solutions to blockchain regulation, a key concern in the National Blockchain Roadmap released by the Australian government. The outcomes of this project will demonstrate feasibility of these new technologies, to be translated in collaboration with other researchers and the national regulator.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Towards a Green and Sustainable Energy-efficient Metaverse. This project aims to establish a world-class facility for conducting research on green and sustainable energy-efficient metaverse technologies. The metaverse is widely anticipated as the next technological breakthrough that will revolutionise the way we interact, learn, work, shop and entertain in the new digital economy. However, metaverse technologies, including virtual reality, AI, big data, cybersecurity and blockchains, require a tremendous amount of computation and energy to serve millions of concurrent users. The proposed facility is expected to support the development of energy-efficient algorithms and systems for the metaverse, and establish Australia’s leadership in this emerging area of major economic and societal impact. Field of research: 4604 - Cybersecurity and Privacy The metaverse is a persistent online 3D universe that will revolutionise the way we interact, learn, work, shop and entertain in the new economy. According to a report by Citi, the metaverse market value could exceed US$13 trillion by 2030. It is predicted that by 2026, 25% of people will spend at least an hour per day in the metaverse. However, to provide a realistic, immersive experience to millions of concurrent users, the metaverse relies on highly energy-demanding technologies, including virtual reality, AI, big data, cybersecurity, blockchains and cloud computing. This project aims to establish a state-of-the-art national facility for conducting research on green and sustainable energy-efficient metaverse technologies. The proposed facility will enable the Australian research community to precisely measure and adaptively optimise the energy consumption of metaverse algorithms and systems. The outcomes of this project are expected to position Australia as a leader in adopting sustainable metaverse technologies for manufacturing, education, commerce and entertainment, especially post COVID-19.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Space RAdiation Monitoring System (SRAMS) for safe space missions. The goal of the project is to develop a comprehensive space radiation monitoring system (SRAMS) that can evaluate: i) the radiation related hazards for astronauts, ii) the radiation damage in electronics during space missions and iii) the ground radiation facility environment used in radiation hardness assurance tests. SRAMS will also address important issue in space by minimizing manned or satellite space mission aborts due to space radiation adverse effects on astronaut’s health and electronics failure, and translates into an enormous economic value proposition. SRAMS will be paramount for leveraging the quantifiable standards of the space-radiation qualification facilities that are important for boosting the Australian Space industry. Field of research: 5107 - Particle and High Energy Physics The hostile radiation environment of space poses significant biological consequences for astronauts on deep space missions as well as a threat to any satellite mission due to radiation damage of electronics. This project is dedicated to the development of a comprehensive space radiation monitoring system for manned and satellite space missions that continuously evaluate the biologically relevant threat for astronauts and damage to electronic components due to space weather conditions, so as to mitigate them in a timely manner and avoid catastrophic mission failures. The proposed monitoring system is unique as it is able to measure the dose equivalent for astronauts. It also measures the total ionizing and displacement doses in electronics and characterises the radiation field for Single Event Effects prediction without prior knowledge of the mixed radiation field. Adoption of the system by space industry for in–flight monitoring and on-ground testing for radiation space qualification of electronics will essentially improve the reliability of satellites leading to a direct and enormous economic benefit.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Giant magnetic-thermoelectricity in topological materials . This project aims to explore magnetic field-induced exotic thermoelectricity in emerging topological materials and develop novel magnetic-field-mediated heat-to-electricity generators and coolers. The significance and outcomes of this project will be the discovery of new magnetic topological materials with thermoelectric conversion efficiency superior to traditional thermoelectric materials and unlocking the physics of the exotic magnetic-field-correlated thermoelectric phenomena. The outcomes of this project will offer new avenues for novel applications of quantum topological materials and establish a solid foundation for the next generation of thermoelectric devices for various applications. Field of research: 5104 - Condensed Matter Physics Thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices convert heat into electricity (or vice versa) enabling both power generation and refrigeration. Their critical advantage is in no moving parts and zero emission of toxic gases. TEs are mechanically robust and can be readily integrated with most electronic devices, especially computers, server farms, and mobile phones. Their wider use, however, has been limited by their low energy conversion efficiency. This project takes a novel approach to tackle this problem, by using newly discovered metallic materials, exhibiting superior TE performance, when subjected to a magnetic field. This will enable the development of high-efficiency TE materials for power generation and cooling. These materials and technology will underpin environmentally sustainable transport applications and enhanced fuel efficiency, for example, in car exhaust systems. For large scale industrial applications, TEs developed here will have great potential to be used in steel making, gas pipelines, and quantum electronics, providing clear pathways for meeting net zero energy targets by 2050.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Weather, climate & geological risks: derivative pricing & risk management. This project aims to create new mathematical models and approaches for the fair valuation and hedging of financial derivatives, tackling funding for climate change adaptation and catastrophic disaster risk management. Businesses use derivatives to strategically mitigate financial losses from adverse climate conditions and geological hazards. Expected outcomes are improved models for weather variables and hazard risk assessment; richer methodology from the fusion of mathematical techniques, data analysis and earth sciences perspectives; and quantitative solutions to pressing societal concerns. Significant benefits also include highly qualified personnel training and international collaboration on common multidisciplinary research priorities. Field of research: 4901 - Applied Mathematics Climate change has huge impacts on insurers, financial stability and the economy, with average annual losses of USD $50 billion. The Bureau of Meteorology recently declared a third La Niña officially under-way for Australia, and warned of more frequent occurrences of widespread flooding and temperature extremes. Thus it is imperative to manage the costs resulting from the harmful effects of climate change and catastrophic geological risks. This project will create new mathematical models and approaches for the fair valuation and hedging of financial contracts dealing with climate and geological risks. Combining mathematical techniques, data analysis and earth sciences perspectives, new models for weather variables and hazard risk assessment, and practical platforms for implementing solutions will be developed. With the construction and validation of new mathematical tools, Australian businesses will be well-positioned to better mitigate financial losses resulting from adverse climate conditions and geological hazards. The results will be shared with Insurance Council of Australia, Geoscience Australia and CSIRO.