$25 million win shines light on research

Research

University of Adelaide researchers have been awarded more than $25.5 million in national competitive funding over the past month for new discoveries and knowledge of great potential benefit to the community and our nation.

A total of 48 new research projects - grants totalling $15.3 million - were announced as part of the Australian Research Council's (ARC) major grants announcement for projects starting in 2012 to benefit our environment, our health, culture, technology and the economy.

A further $10.2 million of ARC funding was awarded to 20 early and mid-career researchers under the inaugural Discovery Early Career Research Awards and prestigious Future Fellowships schemes. This funding will help retain some of the top minds already working at the University of Adelaide and support new researchers joining the University next year from the United States, France, Germany and from other Australian universities.

These excellent results followed the previous month's announcement of a record $44.8 million in 2012 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)grants for 61 new health and medical projects.

"ARC grants are awarded to researchers who are considered to be among the very best in their fields, whose work and collaborative relationships will provide new knowledge and new opportunities for our nation," said the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Brooks.

"This research is helping us find answers in areas of great importance to the nation and the world - advancing solar energy, protecting us from disease, assessing the seismic safety of structures and many more.

"These results, following soon after our record $44.8 million funding from the NHMRC, reinforces our position among the nation's research leaders."

The new ARC funding covers:

37 new Discovery Projects including -

• $900,000 to Professor Gus Nathan (Centre for Energy Technology) - Heat transfer in novel solar thermal reactors to process minerals and solar fuels;

• $860,000 to Dr Adrienne Paton (School of Molecular and Biomedical Science) - Novel perspectives on the function of AB5 toxin B subunits in pathogenic bacterials;

• $320,000 to Professor Michael Griffith (School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering) - Improved analysis techniques for seismic assessment of unreinforced masonry buildings with flexible floor/roof diaphragms;

• $162,449 to Dr Emma Baker (School of Social Sciences) - Pathways to health and wellbeing through housing: a new causal understanding of relationships, processes and interventions;

• $150,000 to Dr Ralph Bayer (School of Economics) - Effective and efficient corporate tax enforcement.

Among the Discovery Projects were three out of the nation's 26 Discovery Outstanding Researchers Awards to Professor Gus Nathan, Dr Adrienne Paton and Associate Professor Samer Akkach.

The University also received funding for nine Linkage Projects and two Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities projects, both categories with external partners such as government and industry.

Eight Future Fellowships were awarded to Associate Professor Andrew Bradley (joining the School of Computer Science); Associate Professor Dusan Losic (joining the School of Chemical Engineering); Assistant Professor Francesca McInerney (joining the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences); Professor Corey Bradshaw (Environment Institute, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences); Associate Professor Philip Gerrans (School of Humanities); Dr Thomas Leistner (School of Mathematical Sciences); Dr Daniel Navarro (School of Psychology); and Associate Professor Andrew Rosser (School of Social Sciences).

The University received 12 of the inaugural Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards ($375,000 each) to support and provide opportunities for standout early career researchers.

Story by Robyn Mills