19 Monash researchers have been awarded a total of more than $8 million through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme.
The DECRA scheme provides funding for 200 new research projects across Australia, supporting early-career researchers with excellent and innovative research that address a significant gap in knowledge.
Among the recipients are:
Dr Andrew Gunn ($414,000) to use novel experiments and theoretical advances to predict how wind-blown landscapes respond to changes in climate. This prediction will then be applied to dune fields in Australia to generate new knowledge on how the climate shaped them in the past and how they will respond to anthropogenic climate change.
Dr Edward Lam ($339,237) to develop new mathematical and artificial intelligence algorithms to control autonomous trucks and drones delivering retail goods and disaster relief. It intends to benefit transport and logistics by improving freight productivity and reducing costs and delivery times.
Dr Joshua Hendrikse ($470,999) to investigate synergies between exercise, brain stimulation and neuroplasticity by applying an interdisciplinary approach combining exercise physiology and cognitive neuroscience techniques. The project aims to develop methods to harness neuroplasticity and improve brain function.
Dr Michaela Prescott ($436,237) to connect Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) to other actors and processes involved in river transformation. By working in partnership with holders of Local and Indigenous knowledge, the project aims to develop recommendations and strategies for LINKS to inform river management.
Dr Zarina Vakhitova ($405,321) to improve understanding of cyber abuse intervention by ordinary citizens through utilising innovative research methods. The project aims to increase knowledge about the mechanisms to prevent cyber abuse victimisation and to produce an evidence-based intervention training program.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Rebekah Brown, said the ARC DECRA scheme will support early-career researchers in their work to significantly benefit the community, industry and the country.
“This funding demonstrates the breadth and depth of research talent at Monash, as well as a shared commitment to address challenges such as climate change and community health. Congratulations to all 19 recipients on this fantastic achievement. These are prestigious and highly competitive awards and each of these DECRA fellows should be extremely proud”
The full list of Monash recipients are below. Details on their research projects can be found here.
Recipient | Project | Funding awarded |
Dr Joshua Hendrikse | Synergies between physical exercise, brain stimulation, and neuroplasticity | $470,999.00 |
Dr Michaela Prescott | Partnering with local knowledge systems to impact river management | $436,237.00 |
Dr Charles Bayly-Jones | New methods to capture protein dynamics of the TSC-mTOR signalling axis | $448,237.00 |
Dr Alexander Reichenbach | Identifying hypothalamic circuits that integrate stress and metabolism | $459,051.00 |
Dr Petronio Augusto Santos Nogueira | Noise-reduction mechanisms in jet engines: chevrons are the answer | $458,183.00 |
Dr Arisbel Batista Gondin | Molecular insights into the allosteric regulation of opioid receptors | $453,237.00 |
Dr Bradley Spicer | Molecular characterisation of pore-forming proteins as pest control agents | $435,000.00 |
Dr Yanlu Xing | Unlocking Rare Earth Elements from the Earth Crust | $390,000.00 |
Dr Andrew Gunn | Landscape-climate disequilibrium in dune fields | $414,000.00 |
Dr Lauren Murray | Building Molecular Complexity Through Enzyme-Enabled Synthesis | $424,875.00 |
Dr Christopher Smedley | Diversity Oriented Clicking – Streamlined Synthesis of Molecular Frameworks | $426,600.00 |
Dr Rowan Page | Translational Design: Product Development for Research Commercialisation | $407,598.00 |
Dr Heather Morris | Theory use in social care practice: improving implementation and outcomes | $399,000.00 |
Dr Benjamin Thompson | Sustainable Business Models for Marine Conservation | $419,845.00 |
Dr Koji Hirata | Rethinking Mao’s China from a Global Economic Perspective: A History | $414,837.00 |
Dr Zarina Vakhitova | Harnessing the power of ordinary people to prevent cyber abuse | $405,321.00 |
Dr Molly McCarthy | Contemporary social and environmental risks for youth offending | $445,017.00 |
Dr Edward Lam | Hybrid optimisation for coordinating autonomous trucks and drone | $339,237.00 |
Dr Chunyang Chen | Quality Assurance of Mobile Applications by Effective Testing and Repair | $442,302.00 |
