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The University of Western Australia's reputation for research excellence in radio astronomy, fundamental physics, molecular genetics and offshore engineering technologies has been recognised with the awarding of ten prestigious national Future Fellowships.

The UWA researchers were among 200 outstanding national and international mid-career researchers announced today by Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

The Australian Research Council's Future Fellowships promote research in areas of critical national importance by giving outstanding researchers incentives to conduct their research in Australia. The aim of ARC Future Fellowships is to attract and retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers.

Researchers who will be funded under the scheme to work at UWA, including three researchers joining the University are:

Dr Kenji Bekki (from the University of New South Wales - joining the UWA radio astronomy team), Simulating the Magellanic system using new special-purpose computers for gravitational dynamics;

Prof Mark Cassidy (Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems), Engineering solutions for the next generation of offshore oil and gas infrastructure;

Dr Alexandra Filipovska (UWA Centre for Medical Research), Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in disease;

Prof Cristina Gibson (from the University of California, Irvine - joining the UWA Business School), Increasing the effectiveness of remote and cross-cultural collaborations in organisations;

Prof Mark Griffin (from the University of Sheffield - joining UWA Psychology), A multilevel approach to leadership and dynamic capabilities in organisations;

Prof Andre Luiten (Physics), The quest for ultimate measurement precision ;

Dr Christopher Peacock (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research), Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania  pathogen;

Dr Oliver Rackham (UWA Centre for Medical Research), Engineering synthetic genetic codes;

Dr Linqing Wen (Physics), Real-time searches for gravitational waves and identification of their radio and optical counterparts; and

Prof David White (Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems), Seabed engineering to unlock Australia's deepwater oil and gas resources.

UWA acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Louden said the Future Fellowships recognised the value of UWA research and researchers to the nation and internationally.

"Professors Cassidy and White are recognised internationally for their work on offshore foundation systems. Professor Wen's research into gravitational waves and Professor Luiten's work in metrology are critical to fundamental physics."

"The work of Doctors Rackham, Filipovska and Peacock in molecular genetics is fundamental to health outcomes.

"UWA's ability to attract researchers of the calibre of Dr Bekki and Professors Gibson and Griffin is testament to the international reputation of our University," Professor Louden said.

The four-year fellowships are worth up to $740,000 each.

Further information about the Future Fellowships may be found at: https://www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/futurefel/ft_outcomes.htm

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)    (+61 8) 6499 5563/ (+61 4) 32 637 716