$22.5 million to support 50 new early career research projects

6 May 2024 

$22.5 million to support 50 new early career research projects

The Australian Research Council (ARC) today announced $22.5 million in research funding for 50 Early Career Industry Fellowships over 3 years under the Industry Fellowships Programs to help build innovation in the industry, community organisation, not-for-profit, and other government and publicly funded research sectors, and to facilitate the adoption, translation and commercialisation of Australian research over time. 

ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Johnson, said that offering the opportunity for early career researchers to collaborate in an industry setting is critical to ensuring Australia’s capability in meeting future industry-identified challenges.      

“These early career researchers will help create pathways to support academic researchers in establishing careers in an industry setting, and industry-based researchers to work in a university environment. This plays an important role in increasing two-way mobility and skill-building in research collaboration, translation, and commercialisation,” Dr Johnson said.  

“The ARC has made this scheme flexible for early career researchers, maintaining a diversity of career pathways and strategic alignment between universities and industry.” 

Awarded ARC Early Career Industry Fellowships include:  

Dr Chantal Lanctot - Griffith University ($488,648): to determine the ecological impacts of firefighting chemicals used to control bushfires, providing scientific evidence needed to manage the safe use of firefighting chemicals around water catchments.  

Dr Molly Johnston - Monash University ($488,229): to address the gap between the demand and supply of donor eggs needed to service the needs of patients into the future and maintaining Australia’s position as a global leader in assisted reproduction. 

Dr Rachel Milte - Flinders University ($440,002): to develop evidence-based tools designed for aged care organisations to drive inclusivity in self-reporting by older people as part of the National Mandatory Quality Indicator Program.   

Dr Syamak Farajikhah - The University of Sydney ($461,518): to develop a portable device for point-of-need detection of multiple pathogens in food to reduce the risk of food borne diseases.  

Dr Sailin Liu - The University of Adelaide ($411,291): will develop all-temperature aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) for applications in renewable and stationary energy storage, to promote clean and sustainable energy technology. 

For a full list of recipients, visit: Early Career Industry Fellowships 2024 | Australian Research Council

For more information about ARC Industry Fellowships Program, please visit the ARC Website.  

Media contact:   

ARC Communications 0412 623 056 or communications@arc.gov.au