Towards an all-optical Internet. The Federation Fellowship will build on the applicant's established and highly successful research program into key technologies for the all-optical Internet. Unlike the current Internet, which relies heavily on electronics for switching and routing, the all-optical Internet will use optics for these functions. The all-optical Internet will enable a vast increase in network capacity and will revolutionize telecommunications. The research program wil produce impor ....Towards an all-optical Internet. The Federation Fellowship will build on the applicant's established and highly successful research program into key technologies for the all-optical Internet. Unlike the current Internet, which relies heavily on electronics for switching and routing, the all-optical Internet will use optics for these functions. The all-optical Internet will enable a vast increase in network capacity and will revolutionize telecommunications. The research program wil produce importatnt innovations and will advance the Australian knowledge base in optical comunications and photonics. The research will assist Asutralia to capitalize on this new technology and to become a significant player in the next phase of the information revolution.Read moreRead less
Stochastic Modelling of Genetic Regulatory Networks: Subtitle - Genetic Regulation is a Noisy Business. The completion of the human genome marked the culmination of one hundred years of reductionist science in cell biology. Although further bioinformatics analysis will continue, the focus is shifting towards synthesis and understanding how the regulatory genetic components dynamically interact to form functional phenotypes. The key to this is the understanding of the roles of stochasticity in ....Stochastic Modelling of Genetic Regulatory Networks: Subtitle - Genetic Regulation is a Noisy Business. The completion of the human genome marked the culmination of one hundred years of reductionist science in cell biology. Although further bioinformatics analysis will continue, the focus is shifting towards synthesis and understanding how the regulatory genetic components dynamically interact to form functional phenotypes. The key to this is the understanding of the roles of stochasticity in cellular processes. This project will explore these roles and will develop an integrated complex systems modelling, simulation and visualisation framework. This will be used on an exemplar application for lineage commitment in haematopoiesis and for exploring and validating genetic regulatory models in general.Read moreRead less
Ultrafast photonic integrated circuits: Unlocking the bandwidth. Australia's prosperity increasingly depends on its communications infrastructure and supporting technologies. We will develop optical technologies to deliver vast increases in bandwidth at low cost. This will be achieved by building a photonic integrated circuit from a breakthrough material that offers ultrafast all-optical switching capability. This infrastructure will be critical to almost all areas of Australian society: commerc ....Ultrafast photonic integrated circuits: Unlocking the bandwidth. Australia's prosperity increasingly depends on its communications infrastructure and supporting technologies. We will develop optical technologies to deliver vast increases in bandwidth at low cost. This will be achieved by building a photonic integrated circuit from a breakthrough material that offers ultrafast all-optical switching capability. This infrastructure will be critical to almost all areas of Australian society: commerce, personal communications, e-health and entertainment, and will improve the quality of life and the economic competitiveness of urban, rural and regional Australia. The outcomes will include the creation of spin-off companies to commercialise the optical technologies.Read moreRead less
Optical Semiconductors for next-generation lasers, optical processors, and integrated optical chips. We are on the verge of an optical processing revolution. The silicon industry evolved from valves to transistors and finally to processors - Optical processing is the next step in the evolution of lasers from gas to solid state, and ultimately to integrated optical chips. Australia had a significant lead in semiconductors during the 1970?s, but unfortunately lost this lead due to a lack of local ....Optical Semiconductors for next-generation lasers, optical processors, and integrated optical chips. We are on the verge of an optical processing revolution. The silicon industry evolved from valves to transistors and finally to processors - Optical processing is the next step in the evolution of lasers from gas to solid state, and ultimately to integrated optical chips. Australia had a significant lead in semiconductors during the 1970?s, but unfortunately lost this lead due to a lack of local market. The emergence of biotechnology and telecommunications offer strong local markets for this new integrated optical technology. This project aims to create a world-leading Research capability in Australia to drive the evolution of integrated optoelectronics, and provide a commercial path to create a leading Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Nonparametric Statistical Methods -- New Directions, Theory and Applications. The research program will take Australia to the forefront of contemporary work in nonparametric statistics, and assist greatly in the training of a new generation of Australian statistical scientists. It will contribute significantly to restoring the health of this strategically important field, in Australian universities and in the nation more generally. The projects outlined in the proposal address problems arising ....Nonparametric Statistical Methods -- New Directions, Theory and Applications. The research program will take Australia to the forefront of contemporary work in nonparametric statistics, and assist greatly in the training of a new generation of Australian statistical scientists. It will contribute significantly to restoring the health of this strategically important field, in Australian universities and in the nation more generally. The projects outlined in the proposal address problems arising in astronomy, economics, engineering, defence, health and image analysis, but the potential areas of impact are broader even than this. This diversity illustrates the extraordinary potential, and strategic significance, of statistics to Australia. Read moreRead less
Principles of Quantum Information Science. The use of quantum mechanical systems to carry and process information is enabling a revolution in information technology through innovations such as quantum computation and quantum teleportation. This project investigates the fundamental theory of quantum information science. The project aims to formulate general principles governing the power and behaviour of quantum information. These principles will, in turn, enable the development of powerful new ....Principles of Quantum Information Science. The use of quantum mechanical systems to carry and process information is enabling a revolution in information technology through innovations such as quantum computation and quantum teleportation. This project investigates the fundamental theory of quantum information science. The project aims to formulate general principles governing the power and behaviour of quantum information. These principles will, in turn, enable the development of powerful new applications of quantum information. Principal areas to be addressed include: general conditions for a physical system to be usable for quantum computation, the development of new algorithms for quantum computers, the development of new quantum communication protocols, and the theory of quantum entanglement.Read moreRead less
The evolution of female mating frequency and its consequences. This project explores the evolutionary significance of female mating frequency for male and female reproductive biology. The research proposes to use innovative approaches to examine the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, will focus on the evolution of sperm form and function, and will examine the fitness benefits of promiscuity from the females' perspective. The research uses both vertebrates and invertebrates as model organi ....The evolution of female mating frequency and its consequences. This project explores the evolutionary significance of female mating frequency for male and female reproductive biology. The research proposes to use innovative approaches to examine the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, will focus on the evolution of sperm form and function, and will examine the fitness benefits of promiscuity from the females' perspective. The research uses both vertebrates and invertebrates as model organisms to test predictions and assumptions of theoretical models relevant to both internal and external modes of fertilization. The design of this project will allow cutting-edge, theoretically informed and experimentally grounded conclusions to be drawn regarding selection under sperm competition.Read moreRead less
COMPLEX NETWORKS: DYNAMICS, OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL. Complex networks such large power grids, the Internet, transportation networks and co-operation networks of all kinds provide challenges for frontier technologies particularly computing, communication and control. In particular, advanced societies have become dependent on large infrastructure networks to an extent beyond our capability to plan and control them. The recent spate of collapses in power grids and virus attacks on the Internet i ....COMPLEX NETWORKS: DYNAMICS, OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL. Complex networks such large power grids, the Internet, transportation networks and co-operation networks of all kinds provide challenges for frontier technologies particularly computing, communication and control. In particular, advanced societies have become dependent on large infrastructure networks to an extent beyond our capability to plan and control them. The recent spate of collapses in power grids and virus attacks on the Internet illustrate the need for research on modelling, analysis of behaviour, planning and control in such networks. This project aims to establish research in this area for Australia's benefit.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Frontiers of Feasible Computation. The project aims to delineate the boundary between feasible and infeasible computational problems. A problem is considered feasible if there is an algorithm to solve it in worst-case time bounded by a polynomial in the input size. This is probably impossible for the important class of NP-complete problems. However, typical examples of NP-complete problems can often be solved in polynomial time, because worst-case problems are rare. The project is ....Exploring the Frontiers of Feasible Computation. The project aims to delineate the boundary between feasible and infeasible computational problems. A problem is considered feasible if there is an algorithm to solve it in worst-case time bounded by a polynomial in the input size. This is probably impossible for the important class of NP-complete problems. However, typical examples of NP-complete problems can often be solved in polynomial time, because worst-case problems are rare. The project is relevant to public-key cryptography, where breaking an encryption scheme should be infeasible, and to many real-life situations where NP-complete problems need to be solved, either exactly or approximately.Read moreRead less
Chemical Mimics Of Bioactive Protein Surfaces. Frontier chemical technology will be developed and applied to construction of new compounds that mimic unstable fragments of bioactive protein surfaces. New materials can contribute to National Research Priorities by presenting new ways of impacting on infection, diseases of the aged, and preventative medicine (drugs, vaccines, diagnostics). The technology and materials will advance basic science at the chemistry-biology interface; permit new applic ....Chemical Mimics Of Bioactive Protein Surfaces. Frontier chemical technology will be developed and applied to construction of new compounds that mimic unstable fragments of bioactive protein surfaces. New materials can contribute to National Research Priorities by presenting new ways of impacting on infection, diseases of the aged, and preventative medicine (drugs, vaccines, diagnostics). The technology and materials will advance basic science at the chemistry-biology interface; permit new applications in medicine, science and industry; present new economic opportunities for building and strengthening Australian companies; attract and train outstanding young people in interdisciplinary science; and enhance the international reputation of Australian science and technology.Read moreRead less