Bacterial Cell Division: Discovering how it begins and the network of protein interactions it requires. All cells must coordinate cell division with chromosome replication to ensure that the DNA is partitioned equally into newborn cells. We will establish the defect of a novel mutant blocked in the earliest stage of cell division in bacteria to obtain unique information about this vital regulatory step. We will use our newly discovered protein interaction network to establish what role protein i ....Bacterial Cell Division: Discovering how it begins and the network of protein interactions it requires. All cells must coordinate cell division with chromosome replication to ensure that the DNA is partitioned equally into newborn cells. We will establish the defect of a novel mutant blocked in the earliest stage of cell division in bacteria to obtain unique information about this vital regulatory step. We will use our newly discovered protein interaction network to establish what role protein interactions play in integrating cell division with other biological pathways in the cell to ensure its tight regulation. Our discoveries will facilitate the design of new antibiotics that target cell division to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and bioterrorism organisms.Read moreRead less
Establishing how bacterial cells position the division site. Cell division is essential for life. It is required for bacterial infections and, if uncontrolled, causes diseases such as cancer. We will establish how bacterial cells position the division site precisely to ensure faithful production of newborn cells. We will use the latest technology in bacterial cell biology to provide novel, clear-cut information to maintain Australia at the leading edge of this important area of research. There i ....Establishing how bacterial cells position the division site. Cell division is essential for life. It is required for bacterial infections and, if uncontrolled, causes diseases such as cancer. We will establish how bacterial cells position the division site precisely to ensure faithful production of newborn cells. We will use the latest technology in bacterial cell biology to provide novel, clear-cut information to maintain Australia at the leading edge of this important area of research. There is an alarming increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria and an imminent threat of bioterrorism. This research allows the opportunity for the development of new antibiotics to protect Australia protected from these dangerous bacteria. Read moreRead less
Regulating the earliest step in bacterial cell division: Z ring assembly. Cell division is essential for survival. What are the cues that signal cells to divide at the right place and at the right time? How do cells ensure that when division occurs to produce two newborn cells, each one receives the correct amount of DNA? The answers to these questions are essential to understand how organisms reproduce and grow. But they remain unknown. This research addresses these questions in bacteria. Our d ....Regulating the earliest step in bacterial cell division: Z ring assembly. Cell division is essential for survival. What are the cues that signal cells to divide at the right place and at the right time? How do cells ensure that when division occurs to produce two newborn cells, each one receives the correct amount of DNA? The answers to these questions are essential to understand how organisms reproduce and grow. But they remain unknown. This research addresses these questions in bacteria. Our discoveries will have a significant impact on our understanding of the regulation of this vital process and will facilitate the design of novel antibiotics that target it.Read moreRead less
E-Learning Advocacy : Understanding Students' Experience of New Learning Environments to Promote Quality Sustainable Developments. Increasing investment in new learning environments (NLEs) including e-learning is guided by limited empirical research. Learning in NLEs involves more than a set of skills - it requires a new mindset. This project will delineate the different opportunities and demands, the nature and development of undergraduate students' experiences of NLEs and compare those with eq ....E-Learning Advocacy : Understanding Students' Experience of New Learning Environments to Promote Quality Sustainable Developments. Increasing investment in new learning environments (NLEs) including e-learning is guided by limited empirical research. Learning in NLEs involves more than a set of skills - it requires a new mindset. This project will delineate the different opportunities and demands, the nature and development of undergraduate students' experiences of NLEs and compare those with equivalent programs taught in more traditional ways. Major outcomes involve understanding learners' experiences when engaging in ICT settings, and an understanding of the mutual constructions of the experience. Such understanding will inform development of e-learning programs and the nature of support necessary for optimising learning.Read moreRead less
Exploring Aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry as a Paradigm for Advanced Functional Materials. This research proposal aims to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the deve ....Exploring Aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry as a Paradigm for Advanced Functional Materials. This research proposal aims to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the development of these industries within Australia. Such developments may also lead to breakthroughs in areas such as optoelectronics and cleaner energy production. Read moreRead less
Theory and applications of Bayesian and likelihood analyses for finite mixture, random effect and multinomial models. The expected outcomes of the project are: to establish the scientific
value of modern Bayesian methods for statistical inference in a wider
range of applications than previously available, to contribute to the greater unification of the current theories of statistical inference which are to some extent in conflict, and to provide a set of Bayesian analytic tools implemented in ....Theory and applications of Bayesian and likelihood analyses for finite mixture, random effect and multinomial models. The expected outcomes of the project are: to establish the scientific
value of modern Bayesian methods for statistical inference in a wider
range of applications than previously available, to contribute to the greater unification of the current theories of statistical inference which are to some extent in conflict, and to provide a set of Bayesian analytic tools implemented in widely available, free and open-source statistical software.
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One coordinate carbon and boron: Universal progenitor ligands. Compounds with bonds between metals and carbon (organometallic chemistry) underpin innumerable important industrial processes from fine chemicals to bulk agrochemical and polymer synthesis. Yet the simplest example, a single atom of carbon bound to a metal has only recently been discovered and is poorly understood. Australia's fledgling boron fine chemicals industry similarly benefits from metal-based processes. However, compounds wi ....One coordinate carbon and boron: Universal progenitor ligands. Compounds with bonds between metals and carbon (organometallic chemistry) underpin innumerable important industrial processes from fine chemicals to bulk agrochemical and polymer synthesis. Yet the simplest example, a single atom of carbon bound to a metal has only recently been discovered and is poorly understood. Australia's fledgling boron fine chemicals industry similarly benefits from metal-based processes. However, compounds with a single boron atom bound to a metal remain unknown. This proposal addresses metal-carbon and metal-boron chemistry from the most basic perspective, that of a single atom of boron or carbon, including the development of novel synthetic approaches and skills for the characterisation of such curious species.Read moreRead less
The Impact of Risk Management on Higher Degree Research Policy and Pedagogy in Australian Universities. In the context of heightened concerns about the outcomes of Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs in Australia, this project seeks to make a systematic inquiry into the ways that higher degree policy and pedagogy are impacted by the recent focus on risk management as an organisational imperative in universities. It will do so by investigating whether and how the social, cultural and institutio ....The Impact of Risk Management on Higher Degree Research Policy and Pedagogy in Australian Universities. In the context of heightened concerns about the outcomes of Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs in Australia, this project seeks to make a systematic inquiry into the ways that higher degree policy and pedagogy are impacted by the recent focus on risk management as an organisational imperative in universities. It will do so by investigating whether and how the social, cultural and institutional processes related to the management of risk are changing HDR policy and pedagogy in science- and social science-related departments within four Australian universities - a Group of Eight, an ATN, a 'dual mode/regional and a Private university.Read moreRead less