Dr Cameron Parsell received $388,376 for his project on sustainable housing.

The Australian Research Council has invested $37.6 million in University of Queensland research, recognising the potential practical benefits of UQ’s research excellence.

The ARC funded 106 projects at UQ, assisting research focussed on issues such as addressing homelessness, improving agricultural methods and examining international law.

UQ has attracted funding across three ARC schemes:

·  In Discovery Projects, 79 UQ proposals share a total of $27.9 million – the second highest amount for any university in the country.

·  A total of 23 UQ researchers share more than $8 million under the Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards scheme. In addition to being first in the country in the number of awards, UQ holds the number-one cumulative position for this scheme, and is a destination of choice for the best early career researchers in the country.

·  Four Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities projects were funded for a total of $1.5 million.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj congratulated the successful UQ researchers.

“I am confident they will build on UQ’s outstanding record of delivering optimum returns on ARC funding, by undertaking excellent research that translates into great benefits for society, industry and the environment – our ‘excellence-plus’,” Professor Høj said.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anton Middelberg said the ARC funding would help young researchers achieve important outcomes to benefit society.

“It is tremendous to welcome a new crop of recipients of Discovery Early Career Research Awards, among whose ranks are the innovators who will help address major current and looming problems facing Australia and the world,” he said.

Significant highlights of today’s funding announcement include:

• The Institute of Molecular Bioscience’s Professor David Craik has secured $659,100 for his circular proteins work in UQ’s largest Discovery Project grant this round. Professor Craik’s work to develop ultra-stable peptides to be used in drug leads and agricultural products offers benefits for both the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.

• School of Biological Sciences researcher Dr Kerrie Wilson has secured $395,500 for a project to improve sustainability in production landscapes such as farmland.

5 Nov 2014