The University of Queensland has led the nation in the latest round of funding from the Australian Research Council that will enable research into areas such as aerial robotics, drug and alcohol services for Indigenous people, and preparing Australia for the Asian Century.
The $40,349,676 million awarded to UQ yesterday comprises $26,837,986 for Discovery Projects, $10,796,690 for Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA) and $2,715,000 in Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) funding.
UQ received more proposals and funding dollars awarded across these three schemes than any other Australian university and achieved a number one placement in the DECRA scheme.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj congratulated UQ researchers on their success, which he said reflected the outstanding foundations UQ provides for research, and in particular promising early career researchers.
“We are delighted to have led the nation in outcomes in the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award scheme,” Professor Høj said.
“After finishing second in the inaugural 2012 round of the scheme it is pleasing that UQ has been able to build on that base and highlight to the ARC the wonderful environment our institution provides for the best and brightest young researchers.”
UQ also maintained its top two position in ARC Discovery funding, placing second in the country with 76 proposals awarded.
“Coupled with the DECRA outcomes, the results highlight the breadth and depth of research talent at UQ,” Professor Høj said.
“We have achieved excellent success rates and secured over 10 per cent of the national funding pool in both schemes.
“I thank the Minister and the Australian Research Council for its continued support of research, and in particular with the DECRA scheme, for supporting the very future of Australian research.”
Early career researcher projects supported by the DECRA scheme include:
• Improving alcohol prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drug and alcohol services
• Quantum enhancement for ultra-precise atomic sensors
• Optimisation of transit priority in a transportation network
• Aerial robots contacting objects in dynamic environments
• Empire, sovereignty and Chinese and Indian security perceptions and strategies in the Asian century
The largest individual UQ Discovery Project grant was awarded to Professor Alan Mark of the Faculty of Science School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, who receives $946,000, including a Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award (DORA), for a three-year study of membrane proteins.
The LIEF funding will provide for facilities to aid research into new engineering solutions; partnerships in health, education, policing and community services; multi-lingual publishing; and super-resolution microscopy, among others.
More details: arc.gov.au
Media: Tegan Taylor at UQ Communications (07 3346 7887, 0413 601 248 or t.taylor@uq.edu.au)
