LIEF grants provide vital research infrastructure

More than $2 million was awarded to University of Adelaide researchers, from the more than $28 million distributed to 35 projects through the scheme.

University of Adelaide’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Anton Middelberg, said the infrastructure funding is vital to the University’s place as a world-leading research institution.

“Our researchers are world-leaders in innovation and developing cutting-edge technology, and we couldn’t undertake these significant projects without the support of the Federal Government and the Australian Research Council, so we thank them for their investment,” he said.

A project led by Professor Maziar Arjomandi, from the University of Adelaide’s School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, received $1,200,000, which will go towards the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities for atmospheric wind, dust and plume measurements.

This will provide the University with the capability to quantify the effect of climate change, surface topography and urbanisation on near-surface microclimates where humans live.

These high-quality observations of the near-surface atmosphere at fine temporal and spatial resolutions will enable researchers to better predict microclimate, mitigate air pollution impacts and exploit local conditions for improved urban planning and agricultural yield.

Another University of Adelaide project, led by Professor Tara Pukala of the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, was awarded $880,000, which will go towards the establishment of a nationally significant facility that will allow researchers to better understand the natural world and accelerate cutting-edge biotechnology advances.

The facility is dedicated to structural proteomics, which aims to identify all the proteins within a cell or organism, and determine how their 3D structures control their spatial and temporal interactions to regulate biological function.

It will combine high-resolution ion mobility mass spectrometry with advanced separation, hydrogen/deuterium exchange and imaging platforms, and will enable new molecular insights to intersecting life and chemical sciences.

“The LIEF Scheme provides funding to research collaborations for the acquisition of research equipment and infrastructure allowing Australian researchers to undertake excellent basic and applied research and training,” said ARC Chief Executive Officer, Judi Zielke.

“This funding ensures Australian researchers have world-class infrastructure to support their transformative research across a wide range of disciplines.”

More details about the LIEF grants are available, including a full list of all the researchers involved in each project.