QUT has been successful in 19 projects under the 2026 ARC Discovery Projects scheme totalling $12.64 million.
The projects span a wide range of disciplines from advancing green hydrogen production and transforming carbon dioxide into renewable energy, to designing smart tech that helps people live independently and reimagining the future of art, language and environmental regulation.
ARC Chief Executive Officer Professor Ute Roessner said the projects highlighted the breadth and ambition of Australia's research community.
"By funding projects across many different disciplinary areas, the ARC is empowering researchers in the science and technology fields, social sciences and humanities, to pursue bold ideas, foster collaboration, and generate knowledge that strengthens Australia's prosperity, resilience and wellbeing," Professor Roessner said.
The Mismatch between Photochemical Reactivity and Molecular Absorptivity
Distinguished Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik and Dr Xiuwen Zhou from the QUT School of Chemistry and Physics, jointly with Dr Sarah Walden from Griffith University, have been awarded $702,189 for the project The Mismatch between Photochemical Reactivity and Molecular Absorptivity.
The project challenges a long-standing principle in photochemistry that a compound's colour indicates the most efficient light source for driving its photochemical reaction.
Professor Barner-Kowollik said his team's discovery that the absorption spectrum of a molecule and its maximum photochemical efficiency are not necessarily aligned challenges a two-century-old paradigm.
"This project aims to uncover the fundamental reasons behind this mismatch, ideally allowing us to predict the ideal wavelength for any given photochemical process," he said.
"By understanding and exploiting this effect, we can make light-driven manufacturing significantly more energy-efficient and sustainable."
Interfacial Engineering Advances High-Performance Thermoelectric Devices
Professor Zhi-Gang Chen, from the ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality (ZeroPC), Centre for Materials Science and QUT School of Chemistry and Physics, has been awarded $748,000 for the project Interfacial Engineering Advances High-Performance Thermoelectric Devices, with co-Chief Investigator Dr Meng Li.
The project seeks to revolutionise thermoelectric technology by addressing key limitations in thermoelectric interface materials, including poor stability, high contact resistance and suboptimal performance, which currently restrict overall device efficiency.
Professor Chen said the research aims to develop innovative interfacial designs and a high-throughput workflow for optimising electrical and thermal resistances to achieve record-high performance.
"This project is expected to boost thermoelectric device efficiency by more than 25 per cent, paving the way for stable, high-density devices that can convert waste heat into useful electricity," he said.
"By advancing thermoelectric technology, we can help drive Australia's transition to a net zero emissions future and strengthen the nation's leadership in renewable energy innovation."
Boosting Power Grid Resilience by Leveraging Distributed Energy Sources
Professor Yu-Chu (Glen) Tian from the QUT School of Computer Science has been awarded $759,721 for the project Boosting Power Grid Resilience by Leveraging Distributed Energy Sources.
The project aims to enhance the resilience and flexibility of Australia's national power grid as it transitions toward renewable energy.
Professor Tian said existing emergency control systems, which depend on large power plants and bulk loads, are becoming less effective with the retirement of coal-fired generation and increased integration of renewable sources.
"This project will develop an innovative emergency control mechanism that connects distributed energy resources into the system and enables decentralised, real-time decision-making through edge computing," he said.
"By improving grid flexibility and reducing the risk of blackouts, this research will strengthen Australia's energy security and support a sustainable, low-carbon energy future."
Other chief investigators include QUT Adjunct Professor Gerard Ledwich and Professor Jiong Jin from Swinburne University of Technology.
Efficient Bayesian Analysis by Exploiting Fast Approximate Models
Professor Christopher Drovandi from the QUT School of Mathematical Sciences has been awarded $542,799 for the project Efficient Bayesian Analysis by Exploiting Fast Approximate Models.
The project aims to develop innovative methods that accelerate statistical analysis of complex mathematical models by optimally combining fast model approximations with high-accuracy simulations.
Professor Drovandi said the research seeks to make it possible to process a much wider range of computationally intensive models used across science and industry.
"This project will retain the precision of detailed models while dramatically improving their efficiency, enabling faster insights in fields such as epidemiology and systems biology," he said.
"Beyond advancing data science, the outcomes will reduce reliance on supercomputing resources and help train the next generation of statistical data scientists."
The team also includes chief investigators Dr David Warne and Dr Leah South from QUT and partner investigators Associate Professor David Nott from the National University of Singapore and Associate Professor Ben Lambert from the University of Oxford.
Next Generation Environmental Regulation: Integrating Regulatory Technology
Professor Anna Huggins from the QUT School of Law has been awarded $543,170 for the project Next Generation Environmental Regulation: Integrating Regulatory Technology.
The project aims to develop new approaches for effectively integrating regulatory technology into environmental regulation to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy.
Professor Huggins said rapid technological advances offer major opportunities to improve environmental regulation but can also create legal and societal risks if used inappropriately.
"This project will identify strategies for the safe, effective and context-sensitive adoption of regulatory technology, helping environmental agencies to better target risks, monitor compliance and respond to breaches," she said.
"By strengthening regulatory innovation and capacity, the research will deliver public resource savings, improve environmental outcomes and support Australia's transition to more effective, technology-enabled regulation."
Co-investigators include Professor Cameron Holley from UNSW, Professor Darren Sinclair from the University of Canberra, and partner investigator Professor Robert Glicksman from George Washington University.
Mobile-Energy-as-a-Service: Delivering Sustainable Electromobility
Professor Mahinda Vilathgamuwa from the QUT School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics has been awarded $354,445 for the project Mobile-Energy-as-a-Service: Delivering Sustainable Electromobility, with co-investigators Dr Shamsunnahar Yasmin and Professor Raja Jurdak.
The project introduces a novel approach that uses electric vehicle (EV) batteries as mobile energy sources to ease pressure on the electricity grid during peak demand and support the integration of renewable energy.
Professor Vilathgamuwa said the project will develop evidence-based, user-specific pricing and digital planning tools to enable EV users to optimise their travel while navigating differentially priced energy zones.
"By exploring Mobile-Energy-as-a-Service, we can stabilise electricity supply, improve renewable energy adoption, and support Australia's transition to carbon neutrality," he said.
"The outcomes will provide practical strategies for smart city energy planning, benefiting both industrial and residential users, while engaging policymakers, industry, and the public to promote widespread adoption of sustainable energy solutions."
Uncreative Australia: Impacts of Declining Participation in Arts Education
Professor Sandra Gattenhof from the QUT School of Creative Arts has been awarded $374,252 for the project Uncreative Australia: Impacts of Declining Participation in Arts Education.
The project investigates why young people are abandoning creative arts studies and the long-term effects on Australia's cultural and creative industries.
Professor Gattenhof said the research will use in-depth interviews and co-design workshops to understand the motivations behind students' educational choices and explore solutions to strengthen the creative arts workforce.
"By centring the voices of young people, we hope to provide an evidence base for education and arts policy, ensuring sustainable creative education and innovation," she said.
"The findings will guide investment in the sector, support a thriving creative workforce, and enhance Australia's cultural influence while engaging students, parents, policymakers, and industry through accessible platforms and public outreach."
Co-investigators include Professor Donna Hancox and Dr Freya Wright-Brough from QUT, alongside Dr Abbey MacDonald from University of Tasmania, Professor Craig Batty from University of South Australia, Associate Professor Peter Cook from University of Southern Queensland and Professor Daniel Harris from RMIT University.
Navigating Deformable Spaces – How to Localise in a Shifting World
Professor Will Browne, from the QUT School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics, with fellow QUT investigators Professor Cameron Brown, Dr Maryam Haghighat and Professor Ross Crawford, have been awarded $755,357 for the project Navigating Deformable Spaces – How to Localise in a Shifting World.
The project aims to develop novel methods that enable robotic systems to navigate safely and accurately in environments that change shape, overcoming limitations of current technologies that assume static conditions.
Professor Browne said the research will combine machine learning, vision-based foundation models and rule-based explanations to allow robots to anticipate and respond to dynamic changes in their surroundings.
"By incorporating uncertainty into decision-making, this project will allow autonomous robots to maintain performance in unpredictable conditions, from robotic-assisted healthcare applications to environmental recovery," he said.
"The outcomes and novel methods will become increasingly important as robots embodying AI agents become commonplace."
Multiphase Droplet Chemistry Shapes Dynamic Survival of Airborne Viruses
Professor Zoran Ristovski from the QUT School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has been awarded $519,100 for the project Multiphase Droplet Chemistry Shapes Dynamic Survival of Airborne Viruses.
The project investigates how the complex physicochemical dynamics of exhaled respiratory droplets influence the survival of airborne viruses in indoor environments.
Professor Ristovski said understanding these microenvironments is critical for developing effective public health strategies, including optimising indoor air quality and environmental controls.
"By identifying the environmental factors that affect virus viability, this research will help reduce airborne transmission in hospitals, aged care facilities, workplaces, and public spaces," he said.
"The outcomes will inform evidence-based interventions, support public health policy, guide safer building design, and strengthen Australia's resilience against future infectious disease outbreaks, with findings widely communicated to policymakers, industry, and the public."
QUT's Professor Kirsten Spann and Dr Robert Groth are co-Chief Investigators alongside Dr Sadegh Niaziesfyani from Western Sydney University and partner investigator Dr Allen Haddrell from the University of Bristol.
Understanding and Exploiting Allostery of AI-Designed Protein Switches
Professor Kirill Alexandrov and Dr Zhong Guo from the QUT School of Biology and Environmental Science have been awarded $992,428 for the project Understanding and Exploiting Allostery of AI-Designed Protein Switches.
The project investigates how allostery, the ability of proteins to convert biochemical signals into functional responses, emerges in AI-designed ligand-binding proteins and how this can be harnessed to create efficient and predictable protein biosensors.
Professor Alexandrov said the research will uncover the biophysical basis of synthetic allostery, advancing both fundamental understanding and practical applications in protein engineering.
"These biosensors will have transformative applications across environmental monitoring, agriculture and biotechnology, enabling detection of pollutants, veterinary pathogens and disease biomarkers while supporting sustainable practices and green chemistry," he said.
"The project will strengthen Australia's leadership in synthetic biology, drive innovation in biotechnology, and ensure outcomes are widely disseminated through collaboration with national initiatives such as the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and CSIRO's Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform."
Green Hydrogen Generation from High-Current-Density Electrocatalysis
Professor Ziqi Sun from the QUT School of Chemistry and Physics has been awarded $727,460 for the project Green Hydrogen Generation from High-Current-Density Electrocatalysis.
The project aims to advance large-scale green hydrogen production by developing a mechanistic understanding and innovative electrodes for high current, density electrocatalysis.
Professor Sun said the research will bridge the gap between lab-scale studies and industry-scale hydrogen production, enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
"By improving scalable and cost-effective hydrogen generation, this project will support Australia's transition to sustainable energy, strengthen the global hydrogen economy, and promote energy security," he said.
"The outcomes will advance Australia's competitiveness in green hydrogen technology, contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide strategic, economic, and social benefits, with findings communicated to industry, policymakers, and the broader public through targeted workshops, collaborations, and public engagement."
Dr Hong Peng from The University of Queensland is a co-investigator.
How Personal Networks Build Capacity to Respond to Compound Natural Hazards
Dr Angela Guerrero Gonzalez from the QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment has been awarded $720,277 for the project How Personal Networks Build Capacity to Respond to Compound Natural Hazards.
The project investigates how individuals' personal networks, both formal and informal social ties, shape their ability to respond effectively to consecutive and compound natural hazards, such as sequential floods or cyclones followed by heavy rainfall.
Dr Guerrero Gonzalez said the research will provide the first national-scale analysis of personal network structures that enhance disaster preparedness and response.
"By understanding how social connections support resilience, this project will inform practical strategies for governments and practitioners to strengthen community capacity and reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events," she said.
"The findings will be translated into co-designed toolkits, guidelines, and engagement activities, helping communities respond more effectively, save resources, and build a more resilient Australia in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural hazards."
She will be joined by Associate Professor Michele Barnes from The University of Sydney and Dr Pavel Krivitsky from The University of New South Wales.
Supporting Independent Living with "Seeing" Technologies
Associate Professor Laurianne Sitbon from the QUT School of Computer Science has been awarded $747,855 for the project Supporting Independent Living with "Seeing" Technologies.
The project engages people with cognitive disabilities in the design of next-generation home assistive technologies that leverage advances in vision-language artificial intelligence to support independent living.
Professor Sitbon said the research will prioritise ethical and privacy-conscious approaches, enabling users to co-design smart mirrors and social robots that help them safely navigate and interact with their home environments.
"By establishing design guidelines, co-design approaches, and evaluation frameworks, this project will create a new paradigm for multi-modal assistive technology, benefiting both users and carers," she said.
"The outcomes will drive innovation in Australia's assistive technology market, improve quality of life for people with cognitive disabilities, reduce reliance on institutional care, and inform policies aligned with Australia's Disability Strategy (2021–2031)."
Other QUT researchers involved in the project include Dr Jessica Korte, Associate Professor Jared Donovan and Professor Glenda Caldwell.
In Silico Design of New Catalysts for Nitrate Reduction to Green Ammonia
Professor Aijun Du from the QUT School of Chemistry and Physics has been awarded $694,274 for the project In Silico Design of New Catalysts for Nitrate Reduction to Green Ammonia.
The project aims to develop sophisticated catalysts that enable sustainable nitrate reduction to ammonia, reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, and nitrate contaminants in wastewater.
Professor Du said the research will focus on engineering the catalyst microenvironment to uncover novel theoretical principles that can be translated into practical, environmentally responsible catalytic processes.
"By designing highly active and finely tuned catalysts, this project will support greener ammonia production, promote low-emission technologies, and advance Australia's environmental and energy sustainability goals," he said.
"The outcomes will benefit both the economy and the environment, create new research capability, and train the next generation of PhD students and early-career researchers, while findings will be shared widely through workshops, social media, and a dedicated project website."
Lighting the Path to Recovery: Addressing Delirium Risks in ICU Design
Associate Professor Veronica Garcia Hansen from the QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment has been awarded $588,952 for the project Lighting the Path to Recovery: Addressing Delirium Risks in ICU Design.
The project will develop dynamic, evidence-based circadian lighting solutions to support sleep, recovery, and wellbeing for critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
Professor Garcia Hansen said current ICU lighting often fails to meet the melanopic equivalent daylight illumination thresholds needed to promote healthy circadian rhythms.
"This research will, for the first time, assess lighting and sleep in a real ICU setting to establish patient-centred lighting recommendations that reduce delirium risks and foster recovery," she said.
"The outcomes will benefit not only patients and clinicians but also inform hospital design, lighting industry innovation, and government health policy ensuring safer, more restorative environments for critically ill Australians."
Alongside Professor Garcia Hansen, the project team comprises QUT's Dr Francisca Rodriguez Leonard, Professor Mehlika Inanici from the Seattle University of Washington, Professor John Fraser from Prince Charles Hospital, Associate Professor Vineetha Kalavally from Monash University, Dr Irene Szollosi from Prince Charles Hospital and Oystein Tronstad from The Prince Charles Hospital Critical Care Research Group.
Solar-Driven Biotransformation of CO2 into Renewable Energy
Professor Yang Liu from the QUT School of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been awarded $799,533 for the project Solar-Driven Biotransformation of CO2 into Renewable Energy.
The project will look to develop an innovative solar-powered electro-active Biotic-Abiotic Hybrid (e-BAH) process to convert CO2 into renewable energy, combining environmental biotechnology, omics, bioinformatics, materials science and bioreactor engineering.
Professor Liu said the research will provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, improving CO2 reduction efficiency while supporting Australia's greenhouse gas emission targets.
"By engineering world-leading bioreactors for solar-driven CO2 conversion, this project will enhance renewable energy production, stimulate new technology sectors, and create economic and social benefits," she said.
"The outcomes will promote energy independence, support community engagement with renewable practices, and be translated into industry and policy initiatives through stakeholder collaboration, workshops, and public outreach."
Also part of the research team are QUT's Professor Graeme Millar, Dr Yingdi Zhang and Dr Yang Lu, Dr Zhetai Hu from The University of Queensland, Dr Zhenzhen Wu from Griffith University and Professor Dr Meng Nan Chong from Monash University Malaysia.
Toward phonologically aware language models
Professor Greig de Zubicaray, from the QUT School of Psychology and Counselling, and Professor Katie McMahon, from the School of Clinical Sciences, have been awarded $790,395 for the project Toward Phonologically Aware Language Models.
The research aims to advance understanding of how phonological features, such as intonation, stress, rhythm and sound-meaning patterns, contribute to human language processing, and to apply this knowledge to develop language models that more closely mirror human cognition.
Professor de Zubicaray said the project will integrate phonological, semantic and syntactic representations using brain imaging and naturalistic speech paradigms.
"This research will not only deepen our understanding of how the brain processes spoken language but also inform the next generation of language models and assistive technologies," he said.
"The outcomes have the potential to improve clinical assessment and treatment of speech and language impairments following brain injury or disease, while strengthening Australia's leadership in cognitive neuroscience and language research."
Associate Professor Laura Gwilliams from Stanford University is a partner investigator.
Next Generation Hybrid Columns to Mitigate Vehicular Impacts
Professor Tommy Chan, Dr Sabrina Fawzia and Associate Professor Hafizah Binti Ramli from the QUT School of Civil and Environmental Engineering have been awarded $662,343 for the project Next Generation Hybrid Columns to Mitigate Vehicular Impacts.
The research aims to improve the safety and resilience of roadside bridges and buildings by developing advanced hybrid columns capable of withstanding vehicle collisions.
Professor Chan said the innovative design combines fibre-reinforced polymer and steel tubes filled with sustainable, rubberised concrete made from recycled tyres to enhance impact resistance and structural integrity.
"Our goal is to protect lives and reduce economic losses from vehicle collisions by creating stronger, more sustainable structural elements," he said.
"The findings will inform new design models and national guidelines for impact-resistant columns, helping engineers and industry adopt safer, greener materials and practices."
Advancing Fluid Separation via Engineered 3D-Printed Porous Media
Professor Emilie Sauret and Professor Yi-Chin Toh from the QUT School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering have been awarded $617,915 for the project Advancing Fluid Separation via Engineered 3D-Printed Porous Media.
The research aims to transform fluid separation processes, such as separating oil from water, by developing innovative 3D-printed porous materials that can naturally and efficiently separate immiscible fluids without relying on additional energy or chemicals.
Professor Sauret said the project draws inspiration from how fluids move through natural rock formations.
"By engineering the structure and surface properties of 3D-printed porous materials, we can guide fluids to separate spontaneously," she said.
"This approach could deliver cleaner, more sustainable solutions for industries from wastewater treatment to biofuel production."
Main photo (clockwise from left): Associate Professor Laurianne Sitbon, Associate Professor Veronica Garcia Hansen, Professor Glen Tian, Professor Anna Huggins, Distinguished Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik, Professor Yang Liu, Professor Chris Drovandi, Professor Zoran Ristovski, Professor Mahinda Vilathgamuwa, Professor Zhigang Chen, Dr Angela Guerrero Gonzalez and Professor Sandra Gattenhof.
