Ten Griffith University academics are among the 200 early career researchers who have been named in the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRAs).
Griffith's 10 new DECRAs represent the Science, Health, Griffith Business School and Arts/Education/Law academic groups, with the research projects winning a combined total of $4,579,244 from this round's $92.9 million funding.
Griffith's new DECRAs are:
Dr Christopher Ambrey (Adjunct Research Fellow, Cities Research Institute), awarded $452,019 for 'On the hardship that is homelessness'. Homelessness is a global human rights violation and exists, even among States that have adequate resources to remedy it. This study builds on earlier research efforts to investigate: (1) how people fall into and climb out of homelessness; (2) the consequences homelessness has for wellbeing; and (3) how these consequences evolve the longer individuals are homeless. This study is expected to generate new knowledge in our understanding of homelessness by employing underutilised longitudinal data; coupled with sophisticated nonlinear panel data techniques. Ultimately, real service practice and policy changes, informed by theory and based in evidence, are expected to improve the lives of people at-risk of, or experiencing homelessness.
Dr Shevan Wilkin (Adjunct Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution), awarded $484,941 for 'Ochre as a preservation reservoir for archaeological biomolecules'. The use of ochre in ancient artwork and adornments is widespread. As ochre is metal oxide-rich, its antimicrobial properties act as a preservative agent for intermixed organic binding agents. This project, through proteomic analysis of ochre-laden residues on archaeological materials, will explore the plant or animal products used to facilitate ochre use in the past. Proteins can illuminate the tissues (blood, milk, saliva) mixed with ochre, allowing insights into ancient human-animal-plant interactions. The completion of this project will: 1) clearly demonstrate the viability of ochre-based residues as a reservoir for biomolecules, and 2) provide insights into primary and secondary products from wild and domesticated species in the past.
Dr Liang Wang (Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy), awarded $427,691 for 'Single-Atom Electrode for Hydrogenation Reactions at High Current Densities'. This project aims to develop a new type of single-atom electrodes for electro-catalytic hydrogenation to produce value-added products at industrial-scale current densities. A single-atom tailoring strategy together with precise control of the electrode micro-architectures will be applied to maximise device performance. The expected outcomes include the establishment of basic rules on the fabrication of high-efficiency single-atom electrodes and a fundamental understanding of the relationships between the morphological properties of single-atom sites and catalytic activities. The project secures Australia's leading position in materials science and renewable energy, bringing economic benefit through the commercialisation of novel electrodes.
Dr Dechao Chen (Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre), awarded for 'Quantum Dot Hybrids for Methanol Photoreforming'. This project aims to develop heavy-metal-free quantum dots hybrid materials for solar-driven reforming of methanol into high-value chemicals accompanied with carbon emissions-free, zero-pollution hydrogen production. The project expects to contribute new knowledge in the colloidal synthesis of quantum materials by overcoming the challenges of organic-inorganic synthesis barriers and providing platform technologies for handling highly efficient photocatalysts. This project will address the critical challenges in methanol photoreforming, and significantly contribute to Australia's sustainable hydrogen industry and value-adding export economy.
Dr Ryan Heneghan (Australian Rivers Institute), awarded $458,693 'Sustainably feeding the world: the potential of climate-adaptive fisheries'. This project aims to uncover the ability of climate-adaptive fisheries management to counteract climate change impacts on the world's marine ecosystems. Existing global marine ecosystem models lack the speed and certainty to robustly explore this potential, meaning a step-change approach is needed. Leveraging advanced mathematical and statistical methods, this project will develop new tools to deploy global models for strategic, long-term marine ecosystem management. The outputs will allow rapid and accurate long-term planning for sustainable use of the world's shifting marine resources under climate change. Benefits include advances in climate-adaptive fisheries management to sustainably feed the world's growing population.
Dr Yun Shi (Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics), awarded $483,691 for 'Molecular Functions of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Metabolites'. This project aims to investigate the functions of metabolites from the breakdown of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential molecule for all cellular life forms. These metabolites are likely to play important biological roles in bacteria, plants, and animals, especially in their immune systems. This project expects to determine the structure and function of these metabolites at the molecular level, filling a critical knowledge gap in NAD+-mediated signalling processes. Expected outcomes of this project include advanced knowledge of NAD+-mediated signalling and innate immunity pathways. This should provide significant commercial and economic benefits via the development of technologies against pathogens in plants and animals.
Dr Jessica Kirk (Centre for Governance and Public Policy), awarded $401,029 for 'Improving the global management of health (mis)information'. This project aims to investigate how health mis/disinformation is managed globally and assess which kinds of governance initiatives are most effective in addressing this problem. Through an in-depth comparison of four global initiatives, this project expects to answer current research gaps concerning the best practices, challenges, and barriers in addressing health mis/disinformation globally, as well as further our understanding of how contemporary global governance operates. The expected outcome of this project is an evidence base to enhance and develop global responses to health mis/disinformation. This should provide significant benefit to Australia's efforts to improve regional and global health security.
Dr Jianyin Huang (Australian Rivers Institute), awarded $477,931 for 'Major hidden source of land-based nutrients affecting Australian estuaries'. The project aims to investigate a previously undiscovered driver of declining water quality in Australian rivers and estuaries, namely organic and particulate nutrients. Innovative research approaches, which combine chemical characterisation, measures of ecosystem response and machine learning, will be used to unpack the complex behaviours of particulate matter in delivering a significant source of bioavailable nutrients affecting waterways. The insights of this project will enhance model predictions of water quality and inform catchment management approaches. The benefits include cleaner water, healthier estuarine habitats, more robust fishing and tourism industries, and protection of important sites such as the Great Barrier Reef.
Dr Emanuele Polino, awarded $445,055 for 'Understanding and control of quantum nonlocality in complex scenarios'. The future quantum internet and cybersecurity are dependent on quantum nonlocality, referring to the strong correlations between distant quantum physical systems. Nonlocality has been studied mostly in two-party scenarios. This project aims to understand and realize multiparty scenarios. It expects to create significant new knowledge on complex quantum networks, generating new nonlocality forms. Anticipated outcomes include innovative quantum optics protocols and causal inference techniques enabling quantum nonlocality in diverse networks, opening new paths for quantum technology. Expected benefits will impact the future quantum internet with the ultimate cybersecurity for transferring economic, personal, health, and government data.
Dr Emma Palmer, awarded $484,123 for 'Universal Jurisdiction for International Crimes in the Asia-Pacific'. This project aims to investigate how universal jurisdiction is used to prosecute atrocities in the Asia-Pacific. Advancing international relations theories about how norms are adapted in different contexts, it expects to generate new knowledge about how universal jurisdiction can be applied to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide in domestic courts - regardless of where the violence occurred, or the perpetrator or victims' nationalities. Expected outcomes include an evidence base for improved decision-making and collaborations for practitioners and officials investigating and prosecuting international crimes in the Asia-Pacific. Benefits include improved access to justice and enhanced responses to atrocity crimes.
"The ARC Discovery Program has an impressive track record in generating new knowledge that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge, and it offers exciting opportunities for Australia's promising early career researchers to develop in supportive environments," ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Johnson said.
"As well as boosting Australia's research and innovation capacity, DECRA projects result in new technologies and ideas, leading to new jobs, economic growth, and ultimately improved quality of life for Australians."
