Monash Engineering researchers awarded ARC Linkage grant

Monash Engineering researchers are one of the 56 new projects announced to receive a share of the $29.9 million in funding under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project scheme 2024 Round 1.

The team led by Dr Yuman Zhu and Professor Aijun Huang of Monash's Department of Material Science and Engineering have been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant worth $377,980 over three years to customise advanced aluminium alloys for additive manufacturing. The other additive manufacturing expert investigators on the project team include Professor Peter Hodgson, from Deakin university,  Professor Martin Heilmaier of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and industry partner Hugh Tevelein from Australian Additive Engineering.

The project aims to establish the comprehensive profiles of Al-Mn-Sc alloys specifically for 3D printing by advancing their alloy design, processing and mechanical performance to  generate new knowledge in the area of aluminium alloys utilising additive manufacturing.

The research team, in collaboration with industry partner, Additive Engineering aims to deliver a variety of superior aluminium powder alloys to 3D-print diverse products for different application scenarios. Providing significant benefits, such as improving industrial partner’s competitiveness, boosting economy and environmental sustainability and enhancing Australia’s international standing in cutting-edge research on advanced manufacturing.

The Linkage Projects scheme provides opportunities for Australian researchers to collaborate with industry partners and community organisations to innovate new solutions and secure commercial and other benefits of research. A list of all the ARC’s Linkage Projects funded in this 2024 Round 1 is available here.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) also announced $38 million in funding for 36 new research projects over 5 years under the 2025 ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme.

Monash Engineering researchers are involved in four successful 2025 ARC LIEF projects.

• Professor Ha Bui and Professor Jayantha Kodikara are involved in ultrafast dynamic tomography and x-ray based rheography facility project led by University of Sydney awarded $1.4M
• Professor Michael Preuss, Professor Christopher Hutchinson and Dr Fatemeh Azhari are working on an in-situ high-energy X-ray synchrotron platform for engineering materials, project led by RMIT University and awarded $1.4M
• Associate Professor Amin Heidarpour is involved in a University of Melbourne project awarded $341K to investigate electric radiant heating panels for structural fire testing.
• Professor Arthur Lowery and Dr William Corcoran are working on a National Atomic Layer Etching Facility. The project led by University of Adelaide was awarded $989,620

A list of all successful 2025 ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme projects is available here.