In the latest ARC funding round announced by Education Minister the Hon Simon Birmingham, The Australian National University (ANU) won funding for 20 Discovery Early Career Research Awards (DECRAs), 38 Discovery Projects, and three Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grants.
Acting ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Harding said the ARC funding highlighted the breadth and significance of research across the University.
“The ARC funding is great news for ANU and will help fund research that tackles some of the biggest challenges facing Australia and the world,” Professor Harding said.
“It is great to see our researchers taking on the big challenges with projects that enhance the reputation of our University around the world. “On behalf of the University, I congratulate each of our winners and wish then success with their projects.”
The results highlighted the talents of female early-career researchers, with 13 of the 20 DECRA awards at ANU going to female researchers.
The College of Engineering and Computer Science was successful in securing funds for the following:
Discovery Early Career Research Awards (DECR) were awarded to Dr Fiona Beck, and Data61 colleague Dr Miaomiao Liu.
Discovery Project success goes to Dr Lexing Xie, Dr Patrick Haslum with Dr Sylvie Thiebaux, Professor Ian Petersen, Associate Professor Yuerui (Larry) Lu, Dr Nan Yang with Dr Xiangyun (Sean) Zhou, Professor Thushara Abhayapala with Dr Wen Zhang and Dr Prasanga Samarasinghe, and Dr Kylie Catchpole with Dr Tom White, Dr Fiona Beck, Dr Klaus Weber and Dr Daniel Walter.
Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) funding, Dr Paul Compston with Dr Dave Nisbet have been successful.
Professor Kylie Catchpole from the ANU Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering received $443,270 in Discovery Project funding to lead a project to develop stable and efficient perovskite solar cells.
“We are very excited to receive this funding,” she said. “Perovskite solar cells are an extremely promising way of increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of solar electricity.”
Dr Fiona Beck from the ANU Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering received $344,446 in DECRA funding to convert light to electricity.
“I am really thrilled with this result,” she said.
“It will enable me to grow my research group and support PhD students in an exciting new field.
“This research could enable a whole range of new devices for imaging and sensing, and allow us to generate fuels from sunlight more efficiently.”
A full list of successful projects is available on the ARC website.