Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. This project intends to research how complex metabolic pathways originate and evolve. This project will use cutting edge genome sequencing and molecular techniques to elucidate the heritable genetic basis of Baker’s yeast, which has been the selectively evolved to use xylose as a sole carbon source: something vital for second generation biofuel ....Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. Elucidating the genetic basis of newly evolved metabolic functions in yeast. This project intends to research how complex metabolic pathways originate and evolve. This project will use cutting edge genome sequencing and molecular techniques to elucidate the heritable genetic basis of Baker’s yeast, which has been the selectively evolved to use xylose as a sole carbon source: something vital for second generation biofuel production that wild yeast cannot do. This project will combine detailed molecular characterisation of highly adapted yeast strains with a novel "molecular palaeontology" approach to trace the evolutionary process and identify functionally significant loci under selection. Detailed characterisation of this trait will accelerate the development of future yeast strains and test fundamental evolutionary theories.Read moreRead less
Atomic scale information for the design of nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a new tool to measure the 3-D distribution of atoms within nanoparticles. For the rational design of nanoparticles, it is necessary to compare the atomic scale structure to the resulting performance. But this information is hard to access. This projects aims to develop new methods so that atom probe microscopy can be applied to experimentally measure the precise 3-D location and identity of the individual atom ....Atomic scale information for the design of nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a new tool to measure the 3-D distribution of atoms within nanoparticles. For the rational design of nanoparticles, it is necessary to compare the atomic scale structure to the resulting performance. But this information is hard to access. This projects aims to develop new methods so that atom probe microscopy can be applied to experimentally measure the precise 3-D location and identity of the individual atoms within nanoparticles, and apply them in the development of alloy catalyst nanoparticles that could make the sustainable production of liquid fuels from biomass commercially viable. These new tools would be useful across the wide range of engineering applications for which nanomaterials are currently being developed.Read moreRead less
Reducing gas and ash corrosion in advanced power generation. Advanced power generation using new coal combustion technologies increases energy efficiency and makes carbon dioxide capture possible, but increases the corrosion problems. This project aims to determine the corrosion behaviour of chromia-scale forming iron- and nickel-base alloys in the presence of deposits (coal ashes and salts) under carbon dioxide rich gas atmospheres. The increased understanding of alloy behaviour in hot corrosiv ....Reducing gas and ash corrosion in advanced power generation. Advanced power generation using new coal combustion technologies increases energy efficiency and makes carbon dioxide capture possible, but increases the corrosion problems. This project aims to determine the corrosion behaviour of chromia-scale forming iron- and nickel-base alloys in the presence of deposits (coal ashes and salts) under carbon dioxide rich gas atmospheres. The increased understanding of alloy behaviour in hot corrosive ashes and gases, will permit more effective materials design and selection leading to more efficient and economic technologies for reliable and low cost carbon capture in energy production, waste-energy conversion and related industries.Read moreRead less
High temperature corrosion induced by multiple secondary oxidants . Heat resisting chromia-forming alloys passivate successfully in clean, dry air at temperatures up to about 950°C. However, this performance is degraded by secondary oxidants (carbon, sulphur, chlorine, water vapour), leading to corrosion failure in important industries. The project aims to investigate the effect of these secondary oxidants on corrosion behaviour of chromia-forming alloys, to identify interactions between multipl ....High temperature corrosion induced by multiple secondary oxidants . Heat resisting chromia-forming alloys passivate successfully in clean, dry air at temperatures up to about 950°C. However, this performance is degraded by secondary oxidants (carbon, sulphur, chlorine, water vapour), leading to corrosion failure in important industries. The project aims to investigate the effect of these secondary oxidants on corrosion behaviour of chromia-forming alloys, to identify interactions between multiple oxidants within the scale, to establish the mechanisms of oxide scale penetration by foreign species, and to evaluate scales on different alloy types. The results will provide a basis for improved design/selection of heat resisting chromia-forming alloys, key to power generation industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100133
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
Expansion and Upgrade of the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. Expansion and upgrade of the Newcastle plant growth facility: The project will upgrade and expand the Newcastle plant growth facility to ensure a continuous supply of high quality plant material required for competitively-funded research programs. This outcome will be achieved by replacing plant growth cabinets that have passed their built-in 15 year redundancy by many years, and the addition of specialist cabinets for Arabidopsis res ....Expansion and Upgrade of the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. Expansion and upgrade of the Newcastle plant growth facility: The project will upgrade and expand the Newcastle plant growth facility to ensure a continuous supply of high quality plant material required for competitively-funded research programs. This outcome will be achieved by replacing plant growth cabinets that have passed their built-in 15 year redundancy by many years, and the addition of specialist cabinets for Arabidopsis research housed in a renovated PC2 space. Together, the infrastructure additions will enhance the productivity and excellence of core areas of plant biology research in plant development and nutrient transport, which are both areas of research that will be critical to address issues of food security in the future.Read moreRead less
Spatially orthogonal multifunctional materials for catalytic cascades. This project aims to develop and implement new strategies to create, visualise, and apply multifunctional catalysts in which the location of (and communication between) active sites is precisely controlled to unlock ultraselective cascade reactions. Catalysis is a key enabling technology contributing to 35 % of the global economy, with new catalysts underpinning socioeconomic advancement through fuels, chemicals, and pharmace ....Spatially orthogonal multifunctional materials for catalytic cascades. This project aims to develop and implement new strategies to create, visualise, and apply multifunctional catalysts in which the location of (and communication between) active sites is precisely controlled to unlock ultraselective cascade reactions. Catalysis is a key enabling technology contributing to 35 % of the global economy, with new catalysts underpinning socioeconomic advancement through fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals production, and environmental depollution. This interdisciplinary project expects to discover next-generation nanoengineered catalysts, and to develop innovative energy- and resource-efficient chemical processes, which should offer significant benefits to Australian science, industry, and the environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,475.00
Summary
Pushing the limits of fluorescence microscopy with adaptive optics. This project aims to establish an adaptive optics, super-resolution optical microscopy facility to image cellular events with the highest possible spatial resolution, in a whole cell or tissue context. Sophisticated computer-controlled deformable mirrors will be used to correct the way light is distorted as it passes through specimens, thereby overcoming aberrations found in thick and complex samples. This adaptive optics system ....Pushing the limits of fluorescence microscopy with adaptive optics. This project aims to establish an adaptive optics, super-resolution optical microscopy facility to image cellular events with the highest possible spatial resolution, in a whole cell or tissue context. Sophisticated computer-controlled deformable mirrors will be used to correct the way light is distorted as it passes through specimens, thereby overcoming aberrations found in thick and complex samples. This adaptive optics system will enable researchers to study complex behaviour of biological specimens, at the optical resolution limit in plant and animal tissues, leading to basic biology and biotechnology outcomes in biofuels, biomaterials and biomedicines.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100770
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,375.00
Summary
Lignin in ionic liquids: electrochemical approaches towards delignification and depolymerisation. Wood contains a wealth of biomaterials, such as cellulose which can be used to make biofuel and lignin which can be used to make pharmaceuticals. Separating out the cellulose is essential yet difficult, plus lignin must be broken up into smaller fragments; this project will look at using electrochemistry to achieve these processes more efficiently.
In-situ catalytic upgrading of bio-oil using scrap tyre char. This project aims to develop advanced, cost-competitive catalysts based on scrap tyre char, an otherwise low-value by-product. These catalysts will be optimised for use in upgrading bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis of woody eucalyptus, an abundant biomass resource across Australia. The project is expected to promote the commercialisation of bio-oil production and enhance the valorisation of scrap tyre char. This is expected to reduc ....In-situ catalytic upgrading of bio-oil using scrap tyre char. This project aims to develop advanced, cost-competitive catalysts based on scrap tyre char, an otherwise low-value by-product. These catalysts will be optimised for use in upgrading bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis of woody eucalyptus, an abundant biomass resource across Australia. The project is expected to promote the commercialisation of bio-oil production and enhance the valorisation of scrap tyre char. This is expected to reduce the carbon footprint from Australian industry, and promote the recycling and reuse of waste scrap tyres.Read moreRead less
Targeting nano-catalysts for sustainable biorefining and chemical processes. This joint computational-experimental project aims to address one significant global challenge of developing sustainable technologies for important chemical processes. The project expects to discover new advanced nano-catalysts via a rapid single-step process which will replace toxic and corrosive liquid acids, and low efficient solid acids, used in emerging biorefining and petrochemistry. Advanced spectroscopic studies ....Targeting nano-catalysts for sustainable biorefining and chemical processes. This joint computational-experimental project aims to address one significant global challenge of developing sustainable technologies for important chemical processes. The project expects to discover new advanced nano-catalysts via a rapid single-step process which will replace toxic and corrosive liquid acids, and low efficient solid acids, used in emerging biorefining and petrochemistry. Advanced spectroscopic studies, in synergy with state-of-the-art ab initio calculations will be used to explore nanostructure-performance relationship in depth. Such cutting-edge knowledge will have profound implications on designing innovative catalysts with tailored activity for sustainable production of biofuels and chemicals.Read moreRead less