Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms, molecules and nuclei. This theoretical project aims to predict enhanced effects of parity (P), time reversal (T), CP and Lorentz invariance violation, which may be measured using atomic spectroscopy and nuclear physics methods. This project expects to contribute to search for physics beyond standard model, including standard model extensions predicting axion, dark matter and T,P-violating electric dipole moments. Expected outcomes include predictions ....Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms, molecules and nuclei. This theoretical project aims to predict enhanced effects of parity (P), time reversal (T), CP and Lorentz invariance violation, which may be measured using atomic spectroscopy and nuclear physics methods. This project expects to contribute to search for physics beyond standard model, including standard model extensions predicting axion, dark matter and T,P-violating electric dipole moments. Expected outcomes include predictions of new enhanced effects in nuclei, atoms and molecules. By-products and benefits include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations, which are expected to have numerous applications including photon and electron processes, properties of superheavy elements and atomic clocks.Read moreRead less
Violation of fundamental symmetries in atomic phenomena. Violation of the fundamental symmetries is predicted by unification theories of elementary particles. The aim of this project is to propose new enhanced effects of parity, time reversal and Lorentz invariance violations and perform their calculations needed to test unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. By-products of this project include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations and theory of pro ....Violation of fundamental symmetries in atomic phenomena. Violation of the fundamental symmetries is predicted by unification theories of elementary particles. The aim of this project is to propose new enhanced effects of parity, time reversal and Lorentz invariance violations and perform their calculations needed to test unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. By-products of this project include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations and theory of processes involving atoms and nuclei in chaotic excited states. These codes and theory are expected to have numerous applications (e.g. search for Dark Matter and atomic spectra of superheavy elements, atomic clocks and electron and photon processes).
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Using venoms to map critical and evolutionary conserved vulnerabilities. We have developed and applied new functional genomic approaches to study venom evolution. Using CRISPR screening, we find that unrelated venoms act on cells by exploiting the same vulnerabilities. By functionally mapping these vulnerabilities for all venom classes, we can begin to develop universal venom antidotes. Conversely, much of what we know about venom mechanisms comes from a small percentage of the biodiversity with ....Using venoms to map critical and evolutionary conserved vulnerabilities. We have developed and applied new functional genomic approaches to study venom evolution. Using CRISPR screening, we find that unrelated venoms act on cells by exploiting the same vulnerabilities. By functionally mapping these vulnerabilities for all venom classes, we can begin to develop universal venom antidotes. Conversely, much of what we know about venom mechanisms comes from a small percentage of the biodiversity within a venom, and we have developed genomic tools to study the venom “dark matter”. This work will lead to the full molecular characterisation of venom biodiversity, and new venom components will be useful for research or as novel medicines.Read moreRead less
Testing links between genomic and morphological evolutionary rates. This project aims to identify, understand, and characterise patterns of evolutionary rates across different levels of biological variation. The project expects to generate knowledge about the tempo and mode of evolution by using a phylogenetic approach to test fundamental models of evolutionary rates, including the link between rates of genomic and morphological evolution. Expected outcomes of this project include detailed insig ....Testing links between genomic and morphological evolutionary rates. This project aims to identify, understand, and characterise patterns of evolutionary rates across different levels of biological variation. The project expects to generate knowledge about the tempo and mode of evolution by using a phylogenetic approach to test fundamental models of evolutionary rates, including the link between rates of genomic and morphological evolution. Expected outcomes of this project include detailed insights into the tempo and mode of macroevolution, better modelling of genomic and phenotypic evolution, and improved design of studies in evolutionary genomics. Benefits of the project include greater understanding of the evolutionary processes that have generated the diversity of the Australian biota.Read moreRead less
Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost a ....Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost and time. This project should overcome a major barrier to studying gene function with unprecedented detail, thereby opening new avenues for future research into biological processes. Thus, the outcomes from this project should impact on the entire field of biomedical research, and advance Australia's biotech industry.Read moreRead less
Evolution and mechanisms of interactions in biofilm communities. This project aims to study the long-term experimental evolution of a mixed species bacterial biofilm community. This project expects to gain understanding of the genetic and physiological basis of community evolution. Expected outcomes of this project will be an understanding of how synthetic communities evolve. This will significantly benefit the use of synthetic communities relevant to fields such as antibiotic design, biotechnol ....Evolution and mechanisms of interactions in biofilm communities. This project aims to study the long-term experimental evolution of a mixed species bacterial biofilm community. This project expects to gain understanding of the genetic and physiological basis of community evolution. Expected outcomes of this project will be an understanding of how synthetic communities evolve. This will significantly benefit the use of synthetic communities relevant to fields such as antibiotic design, biotechnology, bioremediation, and synthetic biology where evolution can be inhibited or exploited, respectively.Read moreRead less
Electroweak phase transition: A cosmological window to new particle physics. The observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the visible universe arguably represents the major challenge to contemporary particle physics and cosmology. This project explores new theoretical, phenomenological and computational aspects of the electroweak phase transition and the generation of the cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe together with their links to new physics that may manifes ....Electroweak phase transition: A cosmological window to new particle physics. The observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the visible universe arguably represents the major challenge to contemporary particle physics and cosmology. This project explores new theoretical, phenomenological and computational aspects of the electroweak phase transition and the generation of the cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe together with their links to new physics that may manifest at present and future high-energy colliders and gravitational wave observatories. Read moreRead less
New Physics and the quark/lepton family replication puzzle. This project aims to investigate how new physics impacts on the puzzling threefold replication of the elementary particles known as quarks and leptons; these particles provide the foundations for the structure of atoms. This theory project seeks to do so in the context of a concentrated worldwide experimental program whose objective is to produce hugely more information about the mysterious replication. Expected outcomes include the con ....New Physics and the quark/lepton family replication puzzle. This project aims to investigate how new physics impacts on the puzzling threefold replication of the elementary particles known as quarks and leptons; these particles provide the foundations for the structure of atoms. This theory project seeks to do so in the context of a concentrated worldwide experimental program whose objective is to produce hugely more information about the mysterious replication. Expected outcomes include the construction of new theories that deepen our understanding of elementary particles and their interactions. This should provide significant benefits to intellectual culture and the training of early-career researchers as flexible problem solvers able to innovate in any context in industry or government service.Read moreRead less
Scale invariance: A new paradigm for particle physics and cosmology. The origin of mass and mass hierarchies remains arguably the major unresolved problem in particle physics. This project aims to introduce and explore a conceptually new paradigm to address this problem by promoting scaling invariance as a fundamental symmetry of Nature. Namely, we will establish an entirely new realisation of quantum scale invariance within a theoretically consistent picture of the relativistic theory of gravit ....Scale invariance: A new paradigm for particle physics and cosmology. The origin of mass and mass hierarchies remains arguably the major unresolved problem in particle physics. This project aims to introduce and explore a conceptually new paradigm to address this problem by promoting scaling invariance as a fundamental symmetry of Nature. Namely, we will establish an entirely new realisation of quantum scale invariance within a theoretically consistent picture of the relativistic theory of gravitation and explore its phenomenological, cosmological and astrophysical implications. The anticipated results will likely lead to transformational advancements in particle physics and cosmology and serve as an important theoretical guide for new physics searches in ongoing and future experimental programs worldwide. Read moreRead less
Protecting cereal grain development at high temperatures. This project aims to investigate new temperature-responsive factors that regulate cereal grain development to protect grain production under heat stress. The new research will leverage international collaborations with access to cutting-edge genetic and technological resources, and refine novel X-ray imaging techniques in Australia, to observe how temperature affects flower structure and function in barley and rice. Favourable mutations t ....Protecting cereal grain development at high temperatures. This project aims to investigate new temperature-responsive factors that regulate cereal grain development to protect grain production under heat stress. The new research will leverage international collaborations with access to cutting-edge genetic and technological resources, and refine novel X-ray imaging techniques in Australia, to observe how temperature affects flower structure and function in barley and rice. Favourable mutations that optimise plant yield and fitness will be defined and explored in other, more complex, cereals such as wheat. Expected outcomes will be fundamental breakthroughs in understanding how plants respond to, and buffer, the effects of heat to lead to translational breeding strategies that bolster grain yield.Read moreRead less