Thermoelectric devices for high-performing localised coolers. This project aims to develop a lightweight, low-energy-consumption, and high-durability wearable thermoelectric cooler for localised cooling using a novel industry-led approach, coupled with device design and materials engineering strategies. The key breakthrough expected is to design wearable thermoelectric coolers by using flexible substrates and thermoelectric materials with engineered chemistry and unique structures for achieving ....Thermoelectric devices for high-performing localised coolers. This project aims to develop a lightweight, low-energy-consumption, and high-durability wearable thermoelectric cooler for localised cooling using a novel industry-led approach, coupled with device design and materials engineering strategies. The key breakthrough expected is to design wearable thermoelectric coolers by using flexible substrates and thermoelectric materials with engineered chemistry and unique structures for achieving localised, instant, and controllable cooling with super low power input for personal usage in building and mining industry. Expected outcomes include innovative technologies for achieving high-efficiency cooling, which will provide significant economic and commercial benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Patterns of connectivity and hot-spots of recruitment: a basis for prioritising high value coastal rivers. Provision of water for agricultural, industrial and residential use is becoming increasingly difficult in Australia. By determining the need for important migratory fish species to have access to marine conditions, this project aims to assist managers to identify river systems where changing flow patterns will be particularly detrimental. The project will provide information about the ne ....Patterns of connectivity and hot-spots of recruitment: a basis for prioritising high value coastal rivers. Provision of water for agricultural, industrial and residential use is becoming increasingly difficult in Australia. By determining the need for important migratory fish species to have access to marine conditions, this project aims to assist managers to identify river systems where changing flow patterns will be particularly detrimental. The project will provide information about the need for artificial opening of estuary mouths, fish ladders and other practical means to ensure the continued survival of these species. Read moreRead less
New high energy density cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. This project aims to develop new high-energy-density and low-cost lithium-rich cathode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries that can store solar energy for Australian households and power the next generation electric vehicles. The project will design innovative strategies to suppress the voltage decay and capacity decline of the lithium rich materials over long-term cycling. The project expects to significantly improve ....New high energy density cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. This project aims to develop new high-energy-density and low-cost lithium-rich cathode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries that can store solar energy for Australian households and power the next generation electric vehicles. The project will design innovative strategies to suppress the voltage decay and capacity decline of the lithium rich materials over long-term cycling. The project expects to significantly improve battery performance at a lower price and make a substantial impact to the energy supply technologies and industries in Australia and benefit the environment in the long run.Read moreRead less
Next generation metagenomics. Applying the latest scientific advances supports society directly through promoting a knowledge based economy, as well as indirectly through securing agricultural productivity, improved biomedical applications and a greater understanding of our changing environment. Establishing these methods places Australia at the forefront of genomics technology with direct applications for Australian biomedical and biotechnology industries. Applying next generation sequencing fo ....Next generation metagenomics. Applying the latest scientific advances supports society directly through promoting a knowledge based economy, as well as indirectly through securing agricultural productivity, improved biomedical applications and a greater understanding of our changing environment. Establishing these methods places Australia at the forefront of genomics technology with direct applications for Australian biomedical and biotechnology industries. Applying next generation sequencing for metagenomics will provide a detailed understanding of microbial population structures and lead to advances in biomedicine, agriculture and environmental science. Read moreRead less
Improving academic outcomes by moderating anxiety in children with autism. The project aims to investigate links between anxiety and academic enablers for children with autism. As a group, these children are currently achieving at lower rates than their peers, with implications for their future social and economic wellbeing. Effective interventions to improve educational outcomes are lacking. This project will investigate how anxiety, a commonly occurring condition in autism, impacts attitudes a ....Improving academic outcomes by moderating anxiety in children with autism. The project aims to investigate links between anxiety and academic enablers for children with autism. As a group, these children are currently achieving at lower rates than their peers, with implications for their future social and economic wellbeing. Effective interventions to improve educational outcomes are lacking. This project will investigate how anxiety, a commonly occurring condition in autism, impacts attitudes and behaviours that facilitate students’ participation in and ability to benefit from academic instruction in the classroom. Findings are intended to provide an evidence base for the development of an intervention suitable for use by service providers to increase academic achievement in children with autism.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Used Water. The project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in hydrogen production by developing an innovative approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. The project will result in an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and develop guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade ....Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Used Water. The project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in hydrogen production by developing an innovative approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. The project will result in an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and develop guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade of existing wastewater treatment plants. The project will advance the practical applications of water electrolysis for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production and help Australia secure a leading position in the global emerging hydrogen economy.Read moreRead less
Pore Engineering of Chromatography Membranes for Bioseparation. Protein separation and purification is an essential unit operation in manufacturing processes of therapeutic proteins. The project aims to advance the practical applications of chromatography membrane, an emerging technology for protein separation and purification, by tailoring membrane pore geometry and surface functionality to achieve enhanced separation performance. The project expects to generate advanced knowledge and technique ....Pore Engineering of Chromatography Membranes for Bioseparation. Protein separation and purification is an essential unit operation in manufacturing processes of therapeutic proteins. The project aims to advance the practical applications of chromatography membrane, an emerging technology for protein separation and purification, by tailoring membrane pore geometry and surface functionality to achieve enhanced separation performance. The project expects to generate advanced knowledge and techniques in the fields of reactive polymer synthesis, functional membrane fabrication and application in bioseparation. The innovative membranes developed in the project are able to improve the production capacity of therapeutic protein manufacturing processes, providing significant economic benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Towards selective breeding of pearl oysters - quantitative and population genetics of the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima. Successful selective breeding programs rely on two critical factors; i) an understanding of the genetic processes underpinning phenotypic expression of commercially important traits and ii) a reliable method to retain pedigrees so that the rate of inbreeding can be controlled. This project will utilise modern quantitative and molecular genetic approaches to genera ....Towards selective breeding of pearl oysters - quantitative and population genetics of the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima. Successful selective breeding programs rely on two critical factors; i) an understanding of the genetic processes underpinning phenotypic expression of commercially important traits and ii) a reliable method to retain pedigrees so that the rate of inbreeding can be controlled. This project will utilise modern quantitative and molecular genetic approaches to generate for the first time fundamental information on the role genetics has on growth and pearl quality traits in the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima. Outcomes from this project when integrated into a selective breeding program for this species will dramatically transform the international competitiveness of this valuable industry.Read moreRead less
Linking genes with the phenotype - creation of a genetic linkage map for the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima. R&D undertaken in this project will increase our fundamental understanding of the role genetics plays in production of a premium quality cultured South Sea pearl. When utilised in future selective breeding programs aimed at improving pearl quality traits the information generated will allow Australian pearling companies to be more productive and to maintain a competitive advan ....Linking genes with the phenotype - creation of a genetic linkage map for the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima. R&D undertaken in this project will increase our fundamental understanding of the role genetics plays in production of a premium quality cultured South Sea pearl. When utilised in future selective breeding programs aimed at improving pearl quality traits the information generated will allow Australian pearling companies to be more productive and to maintain a competitive advantage over their rivals. Many rural communities are dependent on pearling companies for their economic prosperity and community identity. Consequently, positive growth of the pearl industry as a result of the proposed R&D will greatly benefit the economic and social wealth of these rural populations.Read moreRead less
Novel genomic technologies to improve fertility in northern beef cattle. This project aims to develop new genomic technologies to enable accelerated improvement of cow fertility. Increased global demand for beef is driving northern Australian beef enterprises to develop innovative ways to increase productivity. A substantial industry challenge is poor fertility of cows, with weaning rates frequently less than 40%. The expected outcomes of this project are an improvement in weaning rates to enabl ....Novel genomic technologies to improve fertility in northern beef cattle. This project aims to develop new genomic technologies to enable accelerated improvement of cow fertility. Increased global demand for beef is driving northern Australian beef enterprises to develop innovative ways to increase productivity. A substantial industry challenge is poor fertility of cows, with weaning rates frequently less than 40%. The expected outcomes of this project are an improvement in weaning rates to enable accelerated genetic gain for fertility in these enterprises by delivering a low cost array, which assays thousands of DNA variants affecting fertility simultaneously. This should provide significant benefits such as a new genomic prediction method informed by gene expression data from a unique resource of Brahman cattle with exceptionally high fertility, generating significant industry benefits.Read moreRead less