Eruption dynamics and tsunami potential from submarine volcanoes. This project is based on recently acquired seafloor samples and geophysical data from extraordinary deposits at a modern submarine volcano. This project aims to determine the conditions that lead to explosive eruption underwater, the dynamics of associated sediment flows, and if these events can trigger tsunami. Expected outcomes include an unprecedented reconstruction of the architecture of submarine caldera volcanoes, new innova ....Eruption dynamics and tsunami potential from submarine volcanoes. This project is based on recently acquired seafloor samples and geophysical data from extraordinary deposits at a modern submarine volcano. This project aims to determine the conditions that lead to explosive eruption underwater, the dynamics of associated sediment flows, and if these events can trigger tsunami. Expected outcomes include an unprecedented reconstruction of the architecture of submarine caldera volcanoes, new innovative models applicable globally for a richer understanding of volcanic tsunami and eruptions that shape the seafloor. This project will provide significant benefits through mitigation of global marine natural hazards, and by improving knowledge on the volcanic hosts of ore deposits.Read moreRead less
Electrochemical Applications of Plastic Crystalline Electrolytes. A number of new and emerging electrochemical device applications such as lithium batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, electrochemical capacitors, actuators and bio-sensors are limited by their need for a liquid electrolyte. Many of these devices are considered vital to energy efficiency and the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions. The recent discovery of ambient temperature plastic crystalline electrolyte materials by the Monas ....Electrochemical Applications of Plastic Crystalline Electrolytes. A number of new and emerging electrochemical device applications such as lithium batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, electrochemical capacitors, actuators and bio-sensors are limited by their need for a liquid electrolyte. Many of these devices are considered vital to energy efficiency and the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions. The recent discovery of ambient temperature plastic crystalline electrolyte materials by the Monash Electrolytes group has raised the possibility of solving this problem. In this project new plastic crystalline electrolyte materials will be developed to suit these applications and their electrochemical properties investigated. Laboratory prototype devices will be prepared and tested and via collaborations with appropriate device developers, their performance evaluted.Read moreRead less
Erosion Morphodynamics and Evolution of Shore Platforms. Rocky coasts consist of a cliff and often a platform at the base which protects the cliff from wave energy. Such coasts undergo continuous erosion that may threaten property. Climate change may worsen this situation. Despite the importance of platforms in coastal management they remain poorly studied. This project seeks to improve scientific knowledge and understanding of the development and erosion of shore platforms, the relationships ....Erosion Morphodynamics and Evolution of Shore Platforms. Rocky coasts consist of a cliff and often a platform at the base which protects the cliff from wave energy. Such coasts undergo continuous erosion that may threaten property. Climate change may worsen this situation. Despite the importance of platforms in coastal management they remain poorly studied. This project seeks to improve scientific knowledge and understanding of the development and erosion of shore platforms, the relationships between shore platform and cliff retreat and the processes that drive erosion. As a result we will understand how rock coasts with platforms develop and change, especially as sea levels change and be better able to manage the coast in response to climate change. Read moreRead less
Developing new tools for chemical biology. We will develop new synthetic strategies to support the development of small molecule chemical probes that bind with high affinity and specificity to a target protein. Such chemical probes are invaluable in elucidating the role of specific proteins in biological pathways. Our novel strategy aims to be rapid, efficient in its use of materials and widely applicable to a range of different protein targets. The core of our approach involves using biophysica ....Developing new tools for chemical biology. We will develop new synthetic strategies to support the development of small molecule chemical probes that bind with high affinity and specificity to a target protein. Such chemical probes are invaluable in elucidating the role of specific proteins in biological pathways. Our novel strategy aims to be rapid, efficient in its use of materials and widely applicable to a range of different protein targets. The core of our approach involves using biophysical binding assays to characterise compounds that are produced on small scale using parallel chemistry. This approach will enable better chemical probes to be developed more rapidly at lower cost than is currently possible.Read moreRead less
Membrane-associated structure and the effect of metals on Abeta peptide from Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease currently affects 5% of Australians over 65, and will triple by year 2050 without an effective therapy. Much research to understand the causes of the disease has focused on the distinctive amyloid deposits found in patients' cerebral tissue. Recent evidence suggests that nerve cell death is actually directly caused by soluble forms of the protein fragments and metals that form th ....Membrane-associated structure and the effect of metals on Abeta peptide from Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease currently affects 5% of Australians over 65, and will triple by year 2050 without an effective therapy. Much research to understand the causes of the disease has focused on the distinctive amyloid deposits found in patients' cerebral tissue. Recent evidence suggests that nerve cell death is actually directly caused by soluble forms of the protein fragments and metals that form these deposits. We will investigate the specific molecular structure of these fragments with metals in relation to vesicles which mimic the nerve cell surface. This information may facilitate future biomedical efforts work to develop therapies, as well as develop general techniques to study similar structural problems.Read moreRead less
Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. ....Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. This project addresses these issues using model materials in thin-film and bulk-crystal forms. Capacitance dilatometry, optical, electron and scanning-probe microscopies, and x-ray techniques, will unlock an understanding of the physical and metallurgical conditions controlling these transformations.Read moreRead less
Congestion control in complex networks with higher-order interactions. Traffic congestion significantly costs the Australian economy and environment. This project aims to develop ground-breaking network models of urban traffic systems to build a new congestion control framework. The purpose of network modelling is to capture the interdependence between different parts of traffic systems, which facilitates studying congestion cascade within the network. The project expects to generate next genera ....Congestion control in complex networks with higher-order interactions. Traffic congestion significantly costs the Australian economy and environment. This project aims to develop ground-breaking network models of urban traffic systems to build a new congestion control framework. The purpose of network modelling is to capture the interdependence between different parts of traffic systems, which facilitates studying congestion cascade within the network. The project expects to generate next generation of network models for more effective congestion control. Expected outcomes include novel congestion control technologies that adjust traffic signals in real-time to optimally utilise the available road space. This should provide significant economic and environmental benefits to Australians by easing traffic jams.Read moreRead less
BioPPSy: An open source BIOchemical Property Prediction SYstem. Computer software will be developed for the prediction of the pharmacokinetic properties of small molecules to assist in the development of new compounds with drug-like properties. The software will be made freely available to promote its use and further development.
Interrogating diarylquinoline toxicity with targeted organic synthesis. Bedaquiline is the only new first-line treatment with a new mechanism of action to treat TB in the last 40 years, approved by the FDA on 31 December 2012. Alarmingly, this compound, has significant toxicities. The hypothesis tested in this project is that decreasing lipophilicity and basicity in this class of compounds while retaining target affinity will decrease toxicity but retain anti-TB activity. The project aims to: sy ....Interrogating diarylquinoline toxicity with targeted organic synthesis. Bedaquiline is the only new first-line treatment with a new mechanism of action to treat TB in the last 40 years, approved by the FDA on 31 December 2012. Alarmingly, this compound, has significant toxicities. The hypothesis tested in this project is that decreasing lipophilicity and basicity in this class of compounds while retaining target affinity will decrease toxicity but retain anti-TB activity. The project aims to: synthesise novel heteroarylalkylamines distinct from bedaquiline and designed to be more polar, less basic, and metabolically more stable; and, test all successfully synthesised target compounds for mechanism-based anti-tuberculosis activity, hERG-mediated cardiotoxicity, metabolic instability, and phospholipidosis.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired tuneable catalysts for renewable ammonia production. The project will design a new solar-powered system for electrosynthesis of ammonia to replace the current energy intensive, non-sustainable process that generates 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. An innovative new system will be developed by combining cutting edge electrochemical, spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Expected key outcomes include novel concepts in the design of advanced materials, and an efficient process for the gr ....Bioinspired tuneable catalysts for renewable ammonia production. The project will design a new solar-powered system for electrosynthesis of ammonia to replace the current energy intensive, non-sustainable process that generates 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. An innovative new system will be developed by combining cutting edge electrochemical, spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Expected key outcomes include novel concepts in the design of advanced materials, and an efficient process for the green ammonia synthesis. Given the strategic importance of ammonia as a future energy carrier for the export of Australian renewables and as a major source of fertilisers, this project should provide significant national economic and ecological benefits and is expected to have a broad reaching global impact.Read moreRead less