UNSW experts awarded $32.8 million to drive ambitious research

Developing an AI platform for spatial biology

• Awardee: Dr Hamid Alinejad Rokny
• Grant: $1,167,038
• Dr Rokny will develop OmniSB, an artificial intelligence platform that analyses genetic and cellular data to map tissue structures, identify cell interactions and predict biological responses. The project will produce open-source tools, datasets and training resources, with potential applications across health, agriculture and biotechnology.

Designing low-cost, heat-tolerant aluminium alloys

• Awardee: Associate Professor Xiaopeng Li
• Grant: $1,324,104
• This project will develop lightweight, durable aluminium alloys for additive manufacturing in high-temperature environments. The research could support advances in aerospace, transport and defence while strengthening Australia’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Developing PFAS remediation technologies

• Awardee: Dr Jieying Liang
• Grant: $1,006,616
• Dr Liang will develop energy-efficient technologies to remove PFAS chemicals from contaminated environments. The project combines biocatalysis, advanced materials and nanotechnology to support environmental restoration and Australia’s transition to a net-zero future.

Developing safer carbon and hydrogen storage

• Awardee: Professor Peyman Mostaghimi
• Grant: $1,307,914
• This project will develop advanced models to improve the safety of storing carbon dioxide and hydrogen in underground reservoirs. The research aims to reduce the risk of leakage and support large-scale energy storage and Australia’s net-zero transition.

Advancing future 6G wireless networks

• Awardee: Associate Professor Derrick Wing Kwan Ng
• Grant: $1,307,284
• This project will develop spatially reconfigurable antenna arrays and new communication strategies for high-speed 6G networks. The research aims to improve network performance, reduce operating costs and strengthen Australia’s leadership in critical communications technologies.

Developing solar-driven green ammonia production

• Awardee: Dr Kaiwen Sun
• Grant: $1,168,096
• Dr Sun will develop a solar-driven system to produce green ammonia using stable, low-cost materials. The research could support clean energy storage and transport while advancing Australia’s capabilities in solar and net-zero technologies.

Improving perovskite solar cells

• Awardee: Dr Meng Zhang
• Grant: $1,005,736
• Dr Zhang will investigate how next-generation perovskite solar cells form and how defects affect their performance. The project aims to improve the efficiency and stability of advanced solar technologies and support their future commercial deployment.

Designing resilient urban stormwater systems

• Awardee: Dr Kefeng Zhang
• Grant: $1,133,896
• This project will examine how nature-based stormwater systems perform over time under changing environmental conditions. The research will support better design and management of urban infrastructure, helping protect waterways and strengthen the climate resilience of Australian cities.

Turning nitrate pollution into valuable ammonia

• Awardee: Associate Professor Min Zheng
• Grant: $1,328,307
• A/Prof. Zheng will develop a biological-chemical process to convert nitrate pollution into ammonia, which can be used in agriculture and as a potential clean fuel. The project aims to reduce environmental impacts and support circular economy practices.

Developing green structures for carbon removal

• Awardee: Dr Da Chen
• Grant: $1,146,854
• Dr Chen will develop lightweight construction materials that absorb carbon dioxide. Using artificial intelligence and advanced structural design, the project aims to support lower-emission construction and accelerate the development of green building technologies.

Developing soft robotic models of the heart

• Awardee: Dr Thanh Nho Do
• Grant: $1,166,536
• Dr Do will develop a soft robotic simulator to investigate how motion, pressure and fluid flow affect the heart. The research could improve the design of cardiac prosthetics and assistive devices while creating new tools for medical research and training.

Developing future transport models

• Awardee: Professor Taha Hossein Rashidi
• Grant: $1,329,808
• This project will develop new transport models that better reflect changing travel patterns, including remote work, online shopping and the use of different transport modes. The research will support evidence-based planning and more resilient infrastructure investment.

Developing energy from air humidity

• Awardee: Dr Tao Wan
• Grant: $952,036
• This project will develop materials that convert moisture in the air into electricity for low-power devices and the Internet of Things. The research aims to create durable, self-sustaining energy technologies that operate across a range of environments.

Understanding the brain mechanisms behind decision-making

• Awardee: Dr Philip Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel
• Grant: $1,164,400
• Dr Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel will investigate why some people avoid harmful choices while others continue to repeat them. The research will examine brain activity, motivation, learning and gene expression to improve understanding of decision-making and inform future treatments and artificial intelligence systems.

Mapping the evolution of galaxies

• Awardee: Dr Jesse van de Sande
• Grant: $981,808
• Dr van de Sande will use data from advanced astronomical surveys to examine how stars move and how galaxies evolve. The project will connect observations of the Milky Way with other galaxies to improve understanding of the forces that shape galaxies over time.

Exploring the origins of stars and planets

• Awardee: Dr Laura Venuti
• Grant: $978,223
• Dr Venuti will investigate the earliest stages of star and planet formation using data from the TESS and Gaia space missions. The research will examine how stellar environments influence the dusty discs from which planets develop.

Searching for dark matter

• Awardee: Dr Yevgeny Stadnik
• Grant: $1,132,363
• Dr Stadnik will develop new methods to search for evidence of dark matter and the origins of the matter-antimatter imbalance in the universe. The project will advance fundamental physics, build international research collaborations and train the next generation of scientists.

Developing atomic-scale quantum sensors

• Awardee: Associate Professor Bent Weber
• Grant: $1,329,808
• A/Prof. Weber will develop a quantum microscope capable of examining magnetic and electronic properties at atomic scale. The research could deepen understanding of quantum materials and support the development of future quantum technologies.

Understanding the genetic code of animal development

• Awardee: Associate Professor Emily Wong
• Grant: $1,317,810
• A/Prof. Wong will investigate how non-coding DNA sequences control when and where genes are activated during animal development. The project aims to improve understanding of gene regulation and how the non-coding genome has evolved.

Making DNA modification faster and more accessible

• Awardee: Dr Felix Rizzuto
• Grant: $1,166,016
• Dr Rizzuto will develop a faster, cheaper and simpler method for modifying DNA. The technology could support advances in biotechnology, biosensing, nanotechnology and the development of new biomaterials.

Strengthening climate change predictions

• Awardee: Dr David Hutchinson
• Grant: $1,005,016
• Dr Hutchinson will use evidence from past greenhouse climates to improve projections of future climate change. The research will focus on polar warming, ocean circulation and cloud behaviour to strengthen climate modelling and Australia’s preparedness for a changing climate.

Developing new mathematical tools for understanding symmetry

• Awardee: Dr Giles Gardam
• Grant: $1,062,496
• Dr Gardam will investigate fundamental questions about how infinite mathematical groups behave. Using techniques including symbolic computation and computer science methods, the research aims to resolve major problems in pure mathematics.

Understanding how viruses infect cells

• Awardee: Associate Professor David Jacques
• Grant: $1,323,568
• A/Prof. Jacques will investigate how retroviral capsids interact with human cells during infection, including how HIV reaches the cell nucleus. The research could contribute to new approaches in medicine, virology, biotechnology and biosecurity.

Improving our understanding of hearing

• Awardee: Dr Navid Bavi
• Grant: $1,168,363
• Dr Bavi will investigate how specialised proteins in the inner ear convert electrical signals into the mechanical forces that enable hearing. The research will improve understanding of cochlear function and lay foundations for new approaches to protecting hearing.

Understanding inequality and time poverty

• Awardee: Associate Professor Susanne Roehr
• Grant: $1,250,406
• A/Prof. Roehr will develop a new framework for understanding how unequal access to time affects people and communities. The research aims to inform fairer policies relating to work, care, ageing and wellbeing.

Exploring immersive art and the climate crisis

• Awardee: Dr Susanne Thurow
• Grant: $1,005,418
• Dr Thurow will investigate how immersive digital art and technologies such as 3D visualisation can change the way people understand the climate crisis. The research will develop new approaches for communicating environmental change through creative practice.

Examining military knowledge in the age of digital twins

• Awardee: Associate Professor Michael Richardson
• Grant: $1,326,386
• A/Prof. Richardson will examine how digital twins are changing military knowledge and decision-making. The project will consider the opportunities, risks and limits of these technologies, with a focus on accountability and public scrutiny.

Supporting adolescent wellbeing

• Awardee: Associate Professor Rebecca Collie
• Grant: $1,326,500
• A/Prof. Collie will examine how young people’s belief in their ability to shape their emotional and social experiences affects their wellbeing and development. The findings will inform evidence-based approaches for schools and other support systems.