The Australian Government is funding 100 mid-career researchers to focus on finding solutions for key industry challenges and training the next generation of researchers under the ARC Future Fellowships scheme.
Ms Judi Zielke PSM, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Research Council (ARC), has welcomed the decision by the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, to provide $94 million in funding for the new Future Fellows for 2022.
“The ARC Future Fellowships scheme attracts and helps retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers, as they undertake research in areas of national importance,” Ms Zielke said.
“These new Future Fellowships are awarded to outstanding mid-career researchers, who will receive funding support for the next 4 years to undertake innovative research in many exciting areas, with many potential benefits for Australians.”
Some of the 2022 Future Fellows and their projects include:
- Macquarie University – identifying the genetic basis of microbial plastic degradation from the gut of caterpillars, which could lead to technologies able to break down the billions of tons of unrecycled plastics.
- Australian National University – investigating aspects of quantum entanglement – where changing one quantum particle changes another, even far apart – a phenomenon key to unlocking the potential of quantum technologies such as including quantum computing, which will speed up everything from vaccine development to transport networks.
- University of Adelaide – using state-of-the-art modelling to improve the assessment of the economic and social impacts of droughts in rural communities, leading to improvements in drought policies that strengthen community resilience in rural and regional Australia.
- Curtin University – investigating aspects of hybrid breeding in important crops like wheat and barley that will provide new tools for large-scale breeding that could boost yields of hybrid varieties by up 20%.
For full details of the 2022 ARC Future Fellowship funding outcomes, please visit the ARC website.
