Monash science researchers awarded $957,541 in funding as part of ARC DECRA scheme
Congratulations to Monash science researchers from the School of Biological Sciences who have received $957,541 in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding for two projects under the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme.
The successful projects include one which focuses on the origin story of immune cells effects of the gut microbiome, and another which aims to unravel the evolutionary effects of mitochondria on sperm and male fitness.
The ARC today announced more than $92.9 million in funding for 200 research projects as part of the ARC DECRA program.
Monash University was awarded $9,433,962 for 20 projects of which $957,541 will go to the Faculty of Science to fund two projects.
The ARC DECRA scheme provides focused research support for early career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions.
The Monash Science research projects that will commence in 2025 by the DECRA awardees include:
Dr Joanne O’Donnell, School of Biological Sciences
Awarded: $487,991
Project: The origin story of immune cells effects of the gut microbiome
This project aims to investigate how the microbes that live in the gut determine how immune cells behave throughout the body. This will help us understand how gut microbes change how bodies function. By using an innovative approach that allows immune cells in the gut to be labelled and tracked, this project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the how gut microbes and the immune system act together to alter how the body works. Expected outcomes include developing new techniques and new scientific theories to advance our understanding of gut immune cells, gut microbes and change how we study them. This work will also build new national and international collaborations to enhance national research capacity.
Dr Rowan Lymbery
Awarded: $469,550
Project: Mitochondrial haplotype, sexual selection, and paternal effects
This project aims to uncover the mechanisms by which mitochondrial mutations affect sperm traits, how such mutations alter sexual selection and reproductive success, and whether they influence offspring viability through paternal effects. Theory predicts that mitochondrial genes should affect sperm production and function, but this has never been comprehensively tested. Leveraging cutting-edge methods, this project expects to generate new knowledge in mitochondrial evolution, sexual selection, and reproduction. Expected outcomes and benefits include fundamental discoveries with broad implications across fields of evolution, ecology and male reproductive biology, and development of mutually beneficial international collaborations.
For more information on the ARC DECRA scheme, please visit the ARC website.
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