The Australian Research Council has awarded five new Future Fellows at The University of Queensland, from a total of only 50 awarded across the nation.
Three of the Fellowships have been awarded to UQ researchers, and two will enable European-based researchers to join the University. The new Fellows are:
- Professor Petr Cejka, relocating from the University of Zurich to the School of Biomedical Sciences
- Dr Sonia Henriques, at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- Professor Christine Wells, at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
- Associate Professor Robbie Wilson, in the School of Biological Sciences
- Dr Firuz Zare, relocating from Danfoss Power Electronics in Denmark to the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
A total of 130 UQ researchers have been awarded ARC Future Fellowships over the past seven years.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Robyn Ward congratulated the new Fellows and welcomed the new researchers to the University.
“Like the Prime Minister, we are excited about Australia’s innovation future,” Professor Høj said.
“We are delighted with the span of expertise these Fellowships cover. They bolster some of UQ’s greatest strengths, build on past achievements and lay the foundation for exciting new research.”
Professor Ward said bringing Professor Cejka’s research group to Australia was an important addition to the nation’s research strength.
“Petr’s project seeks to understand the processes underlying genome editing,” she said.
“It may lead to industry partnerships due to potential applications in synthetic biology, and will strengthen Australia’s international collaborations.”
Professor Ward said all UQ’s new Fellows were leaders in their fields and their research would bring important benefits globally.
“Christine Wells is revolutionising the way stem cell researchers and bioinformaticians share data and interact in this rapidly growing field,” Professor Ward said.
“The work from her Fellowship will have broad application in stem cell biology and open new avenues in tissue engineering.
“Robbie Wilson’s research will enhance understanding on how native species cope with changing natural environments and improve management strategies for vulnerable marsupials.”
She said Dr Zare came from one of Denmarks’s most innovative and internationally awarded companies.
"His research isvital in helping the world conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in strengthening Australia’s electricity network.
“He will develop advanced tools to give a better understanding of power quality issues of the residential, commercial and industrial distribution networks in Australia.”
Professor Ward said Dr Henriques’s research would enhance understanding of how cell membranes worked as barriers to macromolecules, and also had huge potential in reducing global carbon emissions.
“Sonia’s research program has the potential to generate economic benefits from new strategies for biofuel production and may find multibillion-dollar markets,” she said.
Contact: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 7086.