The University of Queensland has performed exceptionally well in the Australian Research Council funding scheme, consistent with its status as one of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
The ARC funding announced today (October 11) is regarded as a key indicator of research quality and standing.
The round incorporates six grant schemes: Discovery Projects; Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development; Linkage Projects (Round 1); Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF); Linkage International Awards; and Linkage International Fellowships.
UQ topped the nation for Federal Government funding for projects fostering research collaboration between industry and higher education.
UQ received almost 18 percent of total funding under the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme with 25 grants approved that will receive $10.58 million from the ARC and a further $6.50 million cash from industry partners.
This included a grant of $2 million over five years awarded to sugarcane researcher Professor Robert Birch from UQ’s School of Integrative Biology.
In collaboration with industry partner, CSR Sugar Limited, Professor Birch is investigating “SugarBooster” technology with the potential to underpin a value-added sugarcane industry. It will examine higher sucrose yield as a key to sustainable export profitability, as well as making the development of renewable biofuels from sugarcane more feasible. Contact Professor Birch, telephone (07) 3365 3347.
For Discovery Project grants, UQ received almost $35 million with 91 successful grants – the third highest amount of funding in Australia, after the University of Sydney ($40.53 million) and the Australian National University ($35.09 million).
UQ’s result represented 13 percent of the total $274.76 million awarded and 73 percent of the Discovery Project grants for the Queensland universities.
UQ performed outstandingly well in Discovery Project Fellowships. It received 28 of the 197 awarded under four separate schemes – the Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships (13), Australian Research Fellowships, Queen Elizabeth II Fellowships (8) and Australian Professorial Fellowships (7).
In Queensland, UQ received 78 percent of fellowships awarded.
UQ ranked second for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grants with seven of 10 applications approved worth $2.2 million. The result represented 65 percent of all LIEF funds awarded to Queensland universities in the 2007 round.
UQ also received the highest number of Linkage International Awards in the country, receiving four grants worth $68,000 from seven applications.
The University ranked first in Linkage International Fellowships, with five grants worth $348,000 approved. This was the highest amount of funding awarded under the scheme to any Australian university and represented 20 percent of the available pool.
UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor David Siddle said both UQ’s Linkage and Discovery grant outcomes represented an "outstanding" result and spoke volumes for the quality and standing of UQ`s research.
"I congratulate our researchers on their success in this latest round," Professor Siddle said.
Other significant grants to UQ included:
• $1.55 million over five years to Professor Peter Koopman of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience for a Discovery Project on how the Y chromosome makes a male. The project will identify and suggest ways to diagnose and deal with conditions related to malfunctions of the chromosome. The work is expected to pave the way for biotechnological applications in the areas of stem cell technology, pest management, wildlife conservation and animal breeding. Contact Professor Koopman, telephone (07) 3346 2059.
• $1.094 million ARC Linkage Projects grant over three years to a project led by Professor Justin Marshall of the Vision, Touch and Hearing Research Centre, with industry partner DeepOcean Quest – CREA, to design a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia. The project, a first for Australia, will aim to explore and discover life at depths from 50-3000m off the Great Barrer Reef through to Lord Howe Island, off Tasmania, and in the deep canyons of Western Australia and South Australia. Contact Professor Marshall, telephone (07) 3365 1397.
• $1.11 million ARC Linkage Projects funding over four years to a project led by Associate Professor Ian Godwin of the School of Land and Food Sciences to develop new turf grasses with reduced water and nutrient requirements for domestic, sportsground and amenity lawns. Industry partners on the projects are Jimboomba Turf Company, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI & F) and the Council of Mayors. Contact Dr Godwin, telephone (07) 3365 2141.
Media inquiries: Shirley Glaister at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049).
.jpg)
