Monash awarded more than $5.9M in ARC Future Fellowships scheme

Six Monash researchers have been awarded a combined total of more than $5.9 million through the Australian Research Council Future Fellowships scheme for 2023.

The four-year Fellowships support mid-career researchers with undertaking research into areas of national priority, enhancing national and international research collaboration, and creating beneficial impacts for national and international communities.

The Monash Fellows include:

  • Dr Yuman Zhu – Faculty of Engineering
  • Professor Yolande Strengers – Faculty of Information Technology
  • Dr James Coxon – Faculty of Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Dr Carly Cook – Faculty of Science
  • Dr Dragoslav Vidovic – Faculty of Science
  • Associate Professor Zihua Guo – Faculty of Science

Dr Yuman Zhu was awarded $797,280 to use 3D printing technology to create new titanium alloy components that are lighter and stronger to support leading-edge industries, such as aeroplane manufacturing.

Professor Yolande Strengers was awarded $1,113,421 to generate knowledge and resources on the social effects of using ‘cute’ home helper robots in everyday lives. This aims to support with innovating informed robot designs, consumer protections and policies to improve social outcomes.

Dr James Coxon was awarded $985,272 to establish the causal role of brain regions in learning motor skills, through cutting-edge techniques in neuroimaging and brain stimulation. The project can assist with generating knowledge on how motor memories are created and strategies for learning skills.

Dr Carly Cook was awarded $974,296 to identify how to improve protection for biodiversity outside of designated Protected Areas by advancing the concept of Conserved Areas. The project will generate insight into how Conserved Areas are recognised and develop vital tools to ensure effective biodiversity conservation.

Dr Dragoslav Vidovic was awarded $999,296 to create a unique set of aluminium compounds and establish new directions in the field of Lewis acid catalysis, with the overall aim of alleviating the negative environmental impacts caused by human activities.

Associate Professor Zihua Guo was awarded $1,054,902 to develop new analysis methods associated with the Schrodinger operator, and to solve several challenging problems regarding dispersive partial differential equations (PDE). The results aim to benefit the fields of mathematics and physics, including in fluid mechanics and quantum mechanics.

The six researchers are among 100 Future Fellows who have been collectively awarded $97 million by the Australian Government through the 2023 scheme.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Rebekah Brown, said the Future Fellowships scheme offers Monash researchers opportunities to support important projects that benefit the national and international community.

“Monash is home to incredible research talent and these grants will support mid-career researchers in their commitment to achieving research impact in areas of priority for Australia. Congratulations to all the Monash Fellows on this remarkable achievement.”