Congratulations to the 10 recently announced recipients in the 2024 Macquarie University Research Fellowship (MQRF) Scheme.

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Faculty of Science and Engineering

Dr Timothy Ghaly, School of Natural Sciences, for the project ‘Living soil: Harnessing soil microbes for ecological restoration and climate resilience’. Terrestrial ecosystems are becoming increasingly degraded, with significant economic and environmental costs. Ecological restoration practices can mitigate these costs. However, innovative approaches are urgently needed to improve restoration success, particularly under future climate scenarios. Restoration outcomes are strongly influenced by soil microbes, which are intimately linked with plant growth and tolerance to climate stress. The use of soil microbes has significant translational potential that, as of yet, remains unfulfilled. This project will develop novel methods and fill important knowledge gaps to allow the harnessing of soil microbes to encourage ecological restoration and resilience under a changing climate.

Dr Yunlong Luo, School of Natural Sciences, for the project ‘Interactions between micro-/nanoplastics and environmental microorganisms’. This project aims to investigate the interactions between micro-/nanoplastics (MNPs) and environmental microorganisms and to develop innovative biotechnologies for MNP remediation. Understanding MNP-microorganism interactions holds significant importance for studying the environmental impact of emerging plastic pollutants and also allows discovery of new enzymes, development of genetic engineering techniques and design of bioreactor systems. Expected outcomes include improved methods for analysing MNPs and microorganisms in complex environmental matrices and optimised bioreactor systems for eliminating MNPs. This project will provide various benefits through enhancing Macquarie’s research strength in biotechnology and contributing to environmental conservation, technological innovation and public awareness.

Ms Louise Tosetto, School of Natural Sciences, for the project ‘It’s a trap! Exploiting sensory systems of invasive fishes as a tool for control’. The eastern mosquitofish is a global and pervasive invader. It is found across many Australian streams causing extensive stress to habitat and native animals. This study takes an innovative approach to exploiting sensory cues used by invasive mosquitofish that could be applied in multi-sensory traps for control. This project will also provide a clear and methodical framework that can be used to exploit sensory systems in a range of invasive fishes. This work has the potential to provide a cost-effective and environmental approach to controlling invasive fish and will complement current methods used to manage invasive species throughout freshwater streams.

Dr Doudou Zhang, School of Engineering, for the project ‘Direct synthesis of earth-abundant bifunctional catalysts via one-step electrodeposition for efficient seawater hydrogen production’. This project aims to address challenges using seawater-based hydrogen production by developing high-performance, earth-abundant bifunctional catalysts through electrodeposition. Current electrocatalysis technology necessitates additional energy to purify water for hydrogen production rather than utilising seawater directly. Furthermore, the existing methods for synthesising catalysts with bifunctional properties for long-term seawater electrolysis are complex and limited. This project aims to address these challenges by developing high-performance, earth-abundant bifunctional catalysts through electrodeposition. Employing a combination of density functional theory and machine learning, active sites in (hydro)oxide catalysts will be engineered at the atomic scale. The expected outcomes include not only publications but also opportunities for funding and industry partnerships. The scalable electrodes and technology will revolutionise seawater-based hydrogen production.

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Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences

Dr Yuanyuan Deng, Macquarie Medical School, for the project ‘Targeting the synaptic GTPase-activating protein 1 for Alzheimer’s disease treatment’. This project seeks to examine the link between Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, and SynGAP1, a protein essential for brain development. The hypothesis is that the dysfunction of SynGAP1 could contribute to the abnormal neuron (brain cells) connections observed in AD. The project aims to explore how SynGAP1 is involved in AD and to investigate potential gene-therapies that target SynGAP1 protein. The anticipated outcome is the identification of novel approaches to safeguard or mend brain connections by targeting SynGAP1, which could lead to improved prevention or treatment strategies for the millions affected by AD.

Dr Andreea Heriseanu, School of Psychological Sciences, for the project ‘Optimal psychological approaches for cardiovascular risk and depression: Novel factorial randomised controlled trial of digital interventions’. This project will employ a highly-innovative multi-factor randomised controlled trial design to compare two different psychological approaches: (1) enabling critical health behaviour change (e.g. exercise, diet); (2) treating depression and maximising mental health; and their combination, for adults with Cardiovascular Disease [CVD] risk. Depression and CVD are highly co-occuring conditions. Depression increases risk for death from heart disease and is a barrier to self-management behaviours which prevent disease. This project Factors influencing treatment-related outcomes will be comprehensively examined to understand what approach works best for whom. This will improve understanding of effective psychological care for Australians with CVD risk.

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Faculty of Arts

Ms Ceridwen Dovey, Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language, and Literature, for the project ‘The Art of Planet Hunting: The role of artistry and imagination in visualising exoplanets’, which aims to understand what is at stake when astronomical artists synthesise scientific and creative knowledge to depict exoplanets (planets outside our solar system). This research is urgent because the golden age of exoplanet discovery has only just begun, thanks to next-generation advanced telescopes. While artists’ visualisations of exoplanets make an essential contribution to public understanding of the universe, there is little scholarship on artists as co-creators of astronomical knowledge. This project will develop new conceptual frameworks for analysing exoplanet imagery, grounded in both the aesthetics and ethics of how scientific data about exoplanets is creatively interpreted.

Dr Emma Mitchell, School of Social Sciences, for the project ‘Children caring: shadow care infrastructures sustaining low-income families’ uses a child-focused, creative approach to investigate how children’s care activities help sustain low-income families and impact child and family wellbeing. Children in low-income families are more likely to take on caring duties due to lack of income and available supports. The hidden care load children carry intensifies as the pandemic, environmental crisis and economic turbulence disrupt already stretched support infrastructures. Expected outcomes include the development of child-centred care theory and a better understanding of the care capacities and care gaps that shape children’s experiences of poverty. Benefits include refining supports for children and families to improve their quality of life and promote positive health and employment outcomes in the long–term.

Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Department of Security Studies and Criminology, for the project, ‘Reforming Australia’s policy approach to hostage diplomacy and wrongful detention’. This project offers the first comprehensive study of how states respond to the significant international issue of wrongful detention. It aims to analyse the Australian government and partner countries’ existing policies on wrongful detention to identify scope for meaningful domestic policy reform. By examining international best practice, this project will also investigate the broader geopolitical and diplomatic implications of the international growth of hostage diplomacy, and the prospects for tackling this emerging phenomenon through international collaboration. Intended outcomes include multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, a DECRA application, influencing policymaking and improving outcomes for victims and their families.

Dr Kurt Sengul, Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language, and Literature, for the project, ‘Media populism, democracy, and the public sphere in Australia’. This project aims to provide the first significant study of media populism in Australia across digital and traditional media. Adopting an innovative and interdisciplinary conceptual approach, it will benchmark evidence to help journalists, scholars and policymakers understand the implications of media populism for liberal democracy and an inclusive public sphere. The project will develop a new theory of media populism; inform policymakers on the role of media populism in processes of political polarisation, extremism and the erosion of democracy; and devise recommendations for media practitioners on how to avoid amplifying populist discourses for a more vibrant and multicultural public sphere.