Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of diff ....Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of difficult but important traits such as disease resistance, reduced green-house gas emissions and product quality. The same methods can be extended to improve genetic improvement in plants and better prediction of human disease risk. Read moreRead less
Resolving the Genetics of Grain Pigmentation Traits in Rice . New critical knowledge will enable future breeding of quality black rice cultivars that can exploit the high UV Australian growing environment to enable domestic production of high-value, healthy black rice. The demand for functional foods with health benefits, including black rice, is increasing both domestically and internationally. The concentration of key functional compounds in black rice may be increased by growing optimised cul ....Resolving the Genetics of Grain Pigmentation Traits in Rice . New critical knowledge will enable future breeding of quality black rice cultivars that can exploit the high UV Australian growing environment to enable domestic production of high-value, healthy black rice. The demand for functional foods with health benefits, including black rice, is increasing both domestically and internationally. The concentration of key functional compounds in black rice may be increased by growing optimised cultivars under high-UV radiation, making Australia well placed to produce the highest quality black rice. Utilising a unique genetic resource this project will resolve how the interaction between crop genetics and the growing environment drives the concentration of functional compounds in black rice. Read moreRead less
Genomic selection: a new frontier for higher rates of genetic gain in wheat. The historical rates of genetic gain in wheat production are insufficient to meet the world's future needs for wheat-based food. Genomic selection (GS) is the most likely candidate tool that is capable of delivering the required level of genetic gain. This project will develop data-sets and statistical methods to implement GS in wheat.
Integrated Futures for the use of Motorised Mobility Devices. People using Motorised Mobility Devices (MMDs) face increased regulation. A pessimism exists about the future of MMDs because of the lack of evidence and explanation of MMD use in transport decision making. This project aims to fundamentally change knowledge about the everyday meanings and experiences of MMDs. The project seeks to provide comparative, trustworthy and in-depth baseline empirical data about how people who are reliant u ....Integrated Futures for the use of Motorised Mobility Devices. People using Motorised Mobility Devices (MMDs) face increased regulation. A pessimism exists about the future of MMDs because of the lack of evidence and explanation of MMD use in transport decision making. This project aims to fundamentally change knowledge about the everyday meanings and experiences of MMDs. The project seeks to provide comparative, trustworthy and in-depth baseline empirical data about how people who are reliant upon MMDs negotiate the current transport infrastructure. Expected outcomes with our Partner Organisation, Assistive Technology Services Australia, include a database of deliberative strategies. This project will benefit Australia’s urban and regional communities through a better understanding of transport. Read moreRead less
Rip currents: an evidence based approach to managing the greatest beach hazard. For the first time, an understanding of the action of swimmers caught in rip currents will be linked through interviews with rip current survivors and measurements of swimmer response and rip flow. This project will provide information that will improve existing rip current education and assist in reducing the unacceptably high drowning toll on Australian beaches.
Contraception understandings and experiences of Australian women. Most women use contraception for much of their lives, yet we know little about how they experience the effects on their bodies and relationships. This in-depth study will explore women's thoughts, feelings and experiences and the results will be used for training doctors and nurses in contraceptive counselling and prescribing.
Developing Zn-dense, high-yielding wheat by molecular marker technology. The objective of this project is to identify pathways leading to the accumulation of zinc — an important element for human nutrition — in wheat. The project aims to provide biochemical and molecular markers for breeding programs that will facilitate the selection of superior breeding lines for improved human nutrition and seed health. This project builds on studies using a wheat diversity panel with 90 000 gene-based single ....Developing Zn-dense, high-yielding wheat by molecular marker technology. The objective of this project is to identify pathways leading to the accumulation of zinc — an important element for human nutrition — in wheat. The project aims to provide biochemical and molecular markers for breeding programs that will facilitate the selection of superior breeding lines for improved human nutrition and seed health. This project builds on studies using a wheat diversity panel with 90 000 gene-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, where zinc–SNP associations were identified. The project also builds on recent studies that show particular metabolites and macronutrients around anthesis are linked to improved grain zinc concentration at maturity.Read moreRead less
Human resource information systems (HRIS) and the strategic significance of the human resource function. A large number of Australian organisations have invested in computer based HRIS. Used effectively, HRIS can allow HR to realise its strategic potential and to contribute to improved organisational performance. This project will contribute to the national research priority on frontier technologies, by enhancing understanding of the conditions that allow for smart information use, thereby contr ....Human resource information systems (HRIS) and the strategic significance of the human resource function. A large number of Australian organisations have invested in computer based HRIS. Used effectively, HRIS can allow HR to realise its strategic potential and to contribute to improved organisational performance. This project will contribute to the national research priority on frontier technologies, by enhancing understanding of the conditions that allow for smart information use, thereby contributing to the nation's economic competitiveness.Read moreRead less
Values Enactment Training, Values Congruence, and Emotional Intelligence: A Field Experiment. This research will develop a practical training strategy to reduce the gap between values statements and employee behaviour in Australian organisations. More specifically, the training at Main Roads WA will enhance the organisation's performance, competitiveness, and cost-effectiveness through better alignment of on-the-job behaviour with key corporate values. Potentially, road infrastructure improvemen ....Values Enactment Training, Values Congruence, and Emotional Intelligence: A Field Experiment. This research will develop a practical training strategy to reduce the gap between values statements and employee behaviour in Australian organisations. More specifically, the training at Main Roads WA will enhance the organisation's performance, competitiveness, and cost-effectiveness through better alignment of on-the-job behaviour with key corporate values. Potentially, road infrastructure improvement will result. This study will also provide better understanding and practical recommendations regarding the role of emotional intelligence in management training and values enactment. A third benefit shall be the delivery of practical human resource management recommendations to aid the realisation of values congruence across organisations.Read moreRead less
Work, care, retirement and health: ageing agendas. This project will undertake a gendered analysis of how Australians can retire well, taking account of their key resources (such as work, superannuation, the aged pension, and other assets) and key demands (such as to work longer and to care for others in the context of an ageing population and a more feminised workforce).