ARC supports UQ research and innovation

Emerging researchers from The University of Queensland have secured more than $10 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award scheme.

The 24 UQ projects will support Australia’s research capacity by advancing knowledge and innovation across a range of disciplines.

From the development of sustainable hydrogen storage to support Australia’s path toward net zero, to research on the impact of climate change on rural health workforces, the scheme will enable UQ researchers to address significant challenges and gaps in knowledge.

UQ received the greatest share of funded research projects, with the ARC announcing more than $86 million to 200 early-career researchers across Australia.

UQ Discovery Early Career Researcher Award recipients:

• Dr Adam Bulley – advance knowledge on how people deliberate important everyday decisions.
• Dr Zhian Chen – investigate the role of a key messenger protein in preventing immune cell exhaustion.
• Dr Ben Cristofori-Armstrong – investigate protein interactions to develop agrochemicals and pain-relieving medications.
• Dr Adam Hulme – examine the impact of climate change on the future of the rural health workforce.
• Dr Liang-Dar Hwang – investigate the genetic basis of human taste and smell perception to improve food flavours and eating behaviours.
• Dr Chang Lei – develop an ultra-sensitive platform for single-cell metabolomics analysis.
• Dr Odette Leiter – investigate how exercise affects the generation of new nerve cells to support learning and memory in schools and workplaces.
• Dr Ji Lu –investigate the impacts of environmental pollutants on the colonisation and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
• Dr Yadan Luo – develop machine learning capability to enable simultaneous image, sound and language comprehension, while reducing energy consumption.
• Dr Mostafa Kamal Masud – use nanotechnology to create a highly sensitive platform for exosome and exosomal miRNA analysis.
• Dr Margaret Moore – investigate how the brain generates, uses and integrates sources of predictive information to develop efficient visual perception.
• Dr Ngoc Nguyen – develop hydrogen-carrying combustible ice for sustainable and efficient large-scale hydrogen storage.
• Dr Thu Nguyen – examine how digital media shapes people’s lived experience in Vietnam using ethnographic research.
• Dr Saphira Rekker – examine misleading corporate climate pledges to implement a global platform where corporate Paris Compliance information will be shared transparently.
• Dr Tapani Rinta-Kahila – investigate the impact of artificial intelligence on the development and retention of essential skills in workers.
• Dr Rossana Ruggeri – examine the properties of Dark Energy, one of the most profound mysteries of modern physics, by extracting information from the largest 3D map of the cosmos.
• Dr Lilian Schimmel – investigate the impact of tissue stiffness on the signalling mechanisms that drive formation and maintenance of blood vessels.
• Dr Leah Sharman – examine loneliness as a feature of domestic violence and its long-term impacts on victim survivors and service workers.
• Dr Timothy Staples – investigate patterns and drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem change to develop tools to improve ecosystem management, conservation decision-making and environmental mediation.
• Dr Adnan Sufian – investigate the factors leading to the initiation and continuation of internal erosion in dams to inform control measures and risk assessments.
• Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa – develop electrochemical carbon capture technology based on water to enhance the ability to capture cardon dioxide.
• Dr Mu Xiao – develop a cost-effective and emission-free methanol conversion for on-demand hydrogen production.
• Dr Dan Yuan – develop technology to automate water sample processing and techniques for sorting algae and insects.
• Dr Jing Zhao – develop technology for neutralising bauxite refinery wastes to support management strategies, carbon emissions and soil depletion.

Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 (0)429 056 139.