Academy Fellows awarded with Australian Laureate Fellowships
Academy Fellows awarded with Australian Laureate Fellowships
July 07, 2020
(L to R) Professor David James, Professor Harvey Millar, Professor Martina Stenzel and Professor Toby Walsh.
Four Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science are among the 2020 Australian Research Council (ARC) Australian Laureate Fellows, announced on 6 July by the Hon. Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education.
The ARC Fellowship scheme provides funding for academics to lead research projects in priority areas of national interest. The scheme funds world-class endeavours in both basic and applied research and supports the appointment of early-career researchers.
The four Academy Fellows among the 14 recipients of the ARC funding scheme include Professor Martina Stenzel, Professor Toby Walsh, Professor David James and Professor Harvey Millar. Their research projects span diverse research areas of critical importance, including nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, the genetics of ageing and plant science.
The Fellowships have been awarded to the research leaders for the following projects:
Professor Martina Stenzel FAA, Scientia Professor in polymer chemistry at the University of New South Wales and Chair of the National Committee for Chemistry, will develop a toolset that allows the design of very small nanoparticles that display enhanced biological activity for applications in nanomedicine, catalysis and sensors.
Leading artificial intelligence (AI) researcher Professor Toby Walsh FAA of the University of New South Wales will work on building fairer, more efficient and trustworthy AI systems to improve the competitiveness of Australian businesses and the delivery of health services.
At the University of Sydney, pioneering metabolic systems and cellular biology researcher Professor David James FAA will dissect how genes interact with the environment to better understand the ageing process and lay the foundation for personalised health strategies.
Plant protein biochemist and newly elected Academy Fellow Professor Harvey Millar FAA of the University of Western Australia will study processes and genes that regulate degradation of proteins in wheat and barley plants to benefit Australia’s grain industries.
