Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100992
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,237.00
Summary
New methods to capture protein dynamics of the TSC-mTOR signalling axis. Protein flexibility, the way proteins move, has a major role in how they function. However, we still do not have the tools to analyse this flexibility. Our cells have evolved many complex and flexible systems to sense and respond to their environment. For example, the TSC-mTOR system is found across life, from baker’s yeast to humans, however it remains poorly understood. This proposal will study TSC as an exemplar to devel ....New methods to capture protein dynamics of the TSC-mTOR signalling axis. Protein flexibility, the way proteins move, has a major role in how they function. However, we still do not have the tools to analyse this flexibility. Our cells have evolved many complex and flexible systems to sense and respond to their environment. For example, the TSC-mTOR system is found across life, from baker’s yeast to humans, however it remains poorly understood. This proposal will study TSC as an exemplar to develop novel machine-learning approaches to capture protein flexibility and shape. This proposal will advance fundamental understanding of the TSC-mTOR pathway and build transformative methodologies to study flexible proteins more broadly.Read moreRead less
In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse. This project aims to comprehensively characterise the activation principles of gamma delta T cells. These cells have an understudied but central role in vertebrate immunity and development. A missing piece of the puzzle is how gamma delta T cells sense stress and how this signal leads to activation. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and structural biology. This proposal uses high-ski ....In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse. This project aims to comprehensively characterise the activation principles of gamma delta T cells. These cells have an understudied but central role in vertebrate immunity and development. A missing piece of the puzzle is how gamma delta T cells sense stress and how this signal leads to activation. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and structural biology. This proposal uses high-skilled techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule imaging and holds ancillary benefits to postgraduate students. Anticipated outcomes include influential publications, building a critical mass of expertise in Australia and fostering international collaborations with Australia at the epicentre.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101061
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,848.00
Summary
Single particle imaging: x-ray imaging of individual dynamic biomolecules. X-ray lasers produce powerful ultra-short pulses of light that can take temporal snap shots of small radiation-sensitive biological complexes. Thanks to superconducting technology, the next generation of x-ray lasers will be able to produce x-ray pulses at greater rates than ever before. But because of the sheer number of possible molecular configurations, these molecular movies will have only a small amount of data per f ....Single particle imaging: x-ray imaging of individual dynamic biomolecules. X-ray lasers produce powerful ultra-short pulses of light that can take temporal snap shots of small radiation-sensitive biological complexes. Thanks to superconducting technology, the next generation of x-ray lasers will be able to produce x-ray pulses at greater rates than ever before. But because of the sheer number of possible molecular configurations, these molecular movies will have only a small amount of data per frame, posing an enormous challenge for current imaging methods. I aim to meet this challenge by developing an innovative multi-conformational image reconstruction algorithm. This will provide a new window into the molecular dynamics of biological systems, the building blocks of life, and enable rational drug design.Read moreRead less
Atomic scale ion microscopy via laser cooling and correlated imaging. This project will develop next-generation focused ion beam microscopy and nanofabrication using a novel cold ion source based on photoionisation of a laser-cooled atom beam. The low temperature and complex internal state structure of the constituent atoms combine to allow generation of ions with unprecedented brightness and resolution. We will use three unique and innovative ideas: field ionisation of atoms in so-called 'excep ....Atomic scale ion microscopy via laser cooling and correlated imaging. This project will develop next-generation focused ion beam microscopy and nanofabrication using a novel cold ion source based on photoionisation of a laser-cooled atom beam. The low temperature and complex internal state structure of the constituent atoms combine to allow generation of ions with unprecedented brightness and resolution. We will use three unique and innovative ideas: field ionisation of atoms in so-called 'exceptional' states to reduce chromatic aberration; electron-ion correlations to enhance control of the ions at the nanoscale; and atom-atom interactions to isolate and manipulate individual ions. The new technology will enable advances in semiconductor nanofabrication and material characterisation.Read moreRead less
Sewer corrosion reduction through model-supported ventilation control. Ventilation is one of the key technologies for sewer corrosion control. However, its design and operation are currently based on experience and empirical equations, often leading to unsatisfactory results. By integrating in-depth laboratory and pilot-sewer studies under defined conditions with extensive field investigations, this multidisciplinary project aims to develop critical models to predict the corrosion process in res ....Sewer corrosion reduction through model-supported ventilation control. Ventilation is one of the key technologies for sewer corrosion control. However, its design and operation are currently based on experience and empirical equations, often leading to unsatisfactory results. By integrating in-depth laboratory and pilot-sewer studies under defined conditions with extensive field investigations, this multidisciplinary project aims to develop critical models to predict the corrosion process in response to ventilation and dynamic wastewater and atmospheric conditions, enabling model-based sewer ventilation design and operation. The project also aims to deliver novel, field-demonstrated ventilation strategies. The project findings will be incorporated in the Australian ventilation design and operation guidelines.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101093
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,587.00
Summary
Development and application of super-sensitive spinning quantum sensors. This project aims to use physical rotation of diamonds on timescales faster than quantum decoherence to set new detection limits for precision quantum sensing of electric and magnetic fields. This potentially allows us to see for the first time how the Coriolis force acts on current flowing in a frame rotating 700,000,000 times faster than the earth. The project's expected outcomes are electro-magnetic sensors with unpreced ....Development and application of super-sensitive spinning quantum sensors. This project aims to use physical rotation of diamonds on timescales faster than quantum decoherence to set new detection limits for precision quantum sensing of electric and magnetic fields. This potentially allows us to see for the first time how the Coriolis force acts on current flowing in a frame rotating 700,000,000 times faster than the earth. The project's expected outcomes are electro-magnetic sensors with unprecedented sensitivity that could find application in areas ranging from detecting household wiring to locating magnetic anomalies for defence. These outcomes should fill a blind spot of quantum magnetometry, have commercial impact and expand our knowledge of quantum physics in the rotating frame.Read moreRead less
Experiment-numerical-virtual Generative Design for Nondeterministic Impacts. This project will establish an advanced nondeterministic design methodology to uncover the optimised material properties and 3D printed metastructural capacity in real-time against impact loading. It will develop a rigorous framework that integrates numerical simulation, experiment, and machine learning-based virtual modelling to tackle practical challenges in design and manufacture of impact-proof materials and structu ....Experiment-numerical-virtual Generative Design for Nondeterministic Impacts. This project will establish an advanced nondeterministic design methodology to uncover the optimised material properties and 3D printed metastructural capacity in real-time against impact loading. It will develop a rigorous framework that integrates numerical simulation, experiment, and machine learning-based virtual modelling to tackle practical challenges in design and manufacture of impact-proof materials and structures with intrinsic uncertainties. The generative design-calibration system unifying experimental-numerical-virtual processes will largely reduce the need for repetitive large-scale experimental tests. This project benefits civil, aerospace, automotive, and defence with competitive advantage through technological innovation.Read moreRead less
Hitting bacteria with a Bam: Lectin-Like Antimicrobials as New Antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance in disease-causing bacteria is a rapidly growing problem, making the development of new antibiotics of critical importance. This project aims to develop naturally produced lectin-like protein antibiotics as novel antimicrobial agents. To achieve this, the project will produce an extensive library of these antibiotics and test them for potency and specificity. Using cutting-edge techniques, it will d ....Hitting bacteria with a Bam: Lectin-Like Antimicrobials as New Antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance in disease-causing bacteria is a rapidly growing problem, making the development of new antibiotics of critical importance. This project aims to develop naturally produced lectin-like protein antibiotics as novel antimicrobial agents. To achieve this, the project will produce an extensive library of these antibiotics and test them for potency and specificity. Using cutting-edge techniques, it will determine how these antibiotics kill cells on a molecular and cellular level. It is anticipated this research will create the tools and knowledge required to exploit lectin-like protein antibiotics to fight bacterial infection, which will lead to their use in the prevention of crop and livestock losses due to disease.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101467
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,778.00
Summary
The geometric structure of spatial noise. Spatial noise is ubiquitous in nature and science: as interference in medical imaging, in oceanography, in the modelling of telecommunication networks etc. Despite this diversity of sources, spatial noise can be studied in a unified way by considering mathematical models that capture its essential features. This project aims to study spatial noise by analysing its geometric structure, for instance by considering the number of contour lines of the noise, ....The geometric structure of spatial noise. Spatial noise is ubiquitous in nature and science: as interference in medical imaging, in oceanography, in the modelling of telecommunication networks etc. Despite this diversity of sources, spatial noise can be studied in a unified way by considering mathematical models that capture its essential features. This project aims to study spatial noise by analysing its geometric structure, for instance by considering the number of contour lines of the noise, and the way these lines connect different regions of space. The project further aims to apply this analysis to construct statistical tests that can distinguish different classes of spatial noise, with potential applications across all of the disciplines mentioned above.Read moreRead less