Monash Science nearly triples ARC DECRA Funding, celebrating five new projects for 2026
The Faculty of Science is celebrating an outstanding result in the latest round of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme, securing $2,530,200 across five projects, nearly three times our 2024 total of $957,541.
The awards reinforce Monash Science’s depth of research excellence and growing national influence in areas spanning climate change, planetary evolution, mineral systems, advanced mathematics, and astrophysics.
The ARC has awarded $102.7 million nationally to support 200 new DECRA projects.
Monash University was awarded $12,854,536 for 25 DECRAs, with the Faculty of Science delivering one of the strongest performances across the institution.
Faculty of Science Dean Professor Jordan Nash congratulated all recipients, noting the significance of this jump in competitive funding.
“To nearly triple our DECRA income in a single year is an extraordinary achievement,” Professor Nash said.
“These results showcase the ambition, creativity and intellectual strength of our early-career researchers, whose work is shaping Australia’s scientific future.”
Professor Nash also highlighted School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment’s standout success.
“The School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment has delivered three exceptional DECRA projects this year each tackling major questions about climate, planetary formation, and mineral systems,” he said.
“This concentration of excellence speaks to the world-leading capability we have in Earth and environmental sciences at Monash.”
Funded projects at a glance
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment (Three projects)
Dr Ariaan Purich: Antarctica is Changing – How Will This Affect Australian Climate?
Award: $529,762
Investigating how shifting Antarctic sea ice and meltwater processes influence Australia’s climate system, filling critical gaps in Antarctic–Australian climate research.
Dr Christopher Voisey: Shock Value – Electrical Phenomena in Charge of Ore Formation
Award: $517,005
Exploring how natural voltage generated by stressed quartz drives the formation of valuable mineral deposits, advancing mineral exploration and our understanding of metal cycling and hydrogen reservoirs.
Dr Ke Zhu: Nickel Isotope Insights into Planet Formation
Award: $530,079
Using high-precision nickel isotope analysis to unravel the formation of Earth, the Moon, Mars and asteroids, with major implications for planetary habitability and exploration.
School of Mathematics
Dr Cale Rankin: Monge–Ampère Equations and Optimal Transport: Geometry and Regularity
Award: $423,777
Developing new mathematical theory at the frontier of optimal transport, with applications from fluid modelling to neural networks, economics and geometry.
School of Physics and Astronomy
Dr Evgeni Grishin: Understanding Gravitational Interactions in the Hearts of Galaxies
Award: $529,577
Modelling how stars and black holes interact in galactic centres, advancing predictions of black hole mergers and extreme astrophysical phenomena.
These five projects strengthen the Faculty’s research depth across the physical, mathematical, Earth and space sciences—while showcasing the critical role early-career researchers play in driving innovation and discovery.
For a full list of funded projects, refer to the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026 Grant Announcement Kit.
Further information
Silvia Dropulich
Marketing, Media & Communications Manager, Monash Science
T: +61 3 9902 4513 M: +61 435 138 743
Email: silvia.dropulich@monash.edu