Three RSC researchers awarded ARC Future Fellowships

Three Research School of Chemistry (RSC) researchers — Professor Nicholas Chilton, Dr Teng Lu and Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang — are among 20 ANU researchers who have been awarded a total of $23.4 million in the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowships.

The ARC Future Fellowships provide four-year funding for mid-career researchers to build their research programs, develop new ideas and contribute to Australia's research capability and future prosperity.

RSC's three Future Fellows and their projects are:

Professor Nicholas Chilton: Enhancing spin-electric coupling for quantum technologies ($1,327,544), which aims to build fundamental understanding of how electric fields can be used for fast and efficient manipulation of quantum states in materials.

Dr Teng Lu: Multiscale light-polarisation interactions for future actuation and sensing ($1,006,623), which will explore a new class of smart materials that directly convert light into mechanical deformation, enabling wireless, low-cost and miniaturised actuation and sensing devices, strengthening Australia's position in future technologies.

Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang: Molecular innovations to defend wheat against stripe rust disease ($1,005,786), which will strengthen Australian agriculture by developing new synthetic biology and chemical approaches to protect wheat from harmful fungal diseases.

Congratulations to Professor Chilton, Dr Lu and Dr Zhang on this achievement.

Read more: 20 ANU researchers awarded $23.4m in ARC Future Fellowships