50 new Future Fellows announced

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced $38.6 million of funding to support 50 new research projects as part of the Future Fellowships initiative.

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull government is “committed to making Future Fellowships an ongoing program by awarding 100 four-year fellowships a year”, noting that the scheme will form an important part of the newly announced innovation agenda.

“These 50 Fellows will build on the nation’s innovation efforts and deliver research outcomes that will improve the lives of everyday Australians,” Birmingham said.

“Like Dr Timothy Dargaville from Queensland University of Technology, whose $812,460 Future Fellows funding will help him develop a 3D moulding process that could be used for tissue transplants.”

Some of the other 2015 Future Fellows and their four-year funded projects include:

• Dr Mark Waters from The University of Western Australia, who will receive $689,052 to investigate new ways to improve crop productivity.
• Dr Erinna Lee from La Trobe University, who will receive $718.192 to determine the precise molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions.
• Dr Qiaoliang Bao from Monash University, who will receive $824,960 to engineer novel 2D nanomaterials with the potential to help with high-power conversion efficiency for the electronic and energy industries.
• Professor Zaiping Guo from the University of Wollongong, who will receive $889,000 to explore new materials for ultra-efficient, long-life sodium-ion batteries.

The full list of Future Fellows can be found on the ARC website.