Future research stars supported under new Sydney fellowship
The first cohort of fellows of the University's new Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR) program has been announced.
In its first year, the program will enable 10 early-career and 10 mid-career researchers to further their research in important areas such as preventing melanoma, preparing us for the next global pandemic, building more powerful batteries for electric cars and helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in education.
As part of their two-year program, fellows are awarded $50,000 per year to support their research, innovation and development plans. They also benefit from a personalised program of research development support and structured mentoring.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Duncan Ivison said the program recognises and develops the University’s most talented researchers as part of the University’s 2016-20 unprecedented investment in research.
“Through SOAR, we will support up-and-coming research leaders to build momentum and increase the scale and impact of their research.”
“At the University of Sydney, we want to celebrate and nurture high-performing researchers to realise their full potential and SOAR is just one of the many new programs we are developing to do just that.”
Professor Ivison said the program would allow our best and most promising researchers more opportunity to fast-track their career development and position them as pioneers in new fields. It will help them build leadership skills and aid the development of new partnerships with industry and other leading academics around the world.
Dr Andrew Black, Director of Research Development and Collaboration, said the program received an overwhelming level of interest.
“The volume and calibre of the applicants was extremely high, which highlights the University’s ability to attract leading researchers across a variety of disciplines. With the demand and early success of the program, we hope to increase the number of fellowships offered in 2018.”
Highlighting the University’s commitment to gender equity, 50 percent of the fellowships were awarded to women.
The 2017 SOAR fellows are:
The 2017 SOAR fellows are:
- Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott will look to prepare us for the next global pandemic.
- Associate Professor Anne Cust will build a new program to translate research for melanoma prevention and screening.
- Dr Stefanie Schurer will develop early interventions to boost cognitive abilities and life skills.
- Dr Deanna D’Alessandro will develop new materials for energy conversion and storage.
- Associate Professor Michael Barnett will work to identify new early biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis.
- Associate Professor Allison Tong will improve patient-centred outcomes in chronic disease by making research relevant to patients, caregivers and clinicians.
- Dr Jane Le will study how people balance competing demands at work.
- Dr Yixiang Gan will work to improve the efficiency and reliability of our energy systems.
- Associate Professor Fabio Ramos will develop new methods for computers to interpret ‘big data’ and make informed decisions under uncertainty.
- Associate Professor Anika Gauja will work to involve the entire community in policy making.
- Associate Professor Xiaoke Yi (pictured above) will develop her new pain-free, low-cost method to help people with diabetes monitor their insulin levels.
- Associate Professor Ali Abbas will help move Australia towards a circular economy and emission reduction targets.
- Associate Professor Amanda Salis will investigate how we can reduce the individual and societal burden of obesity.
- Associate Professor Michael Valenzuela will work to develop next-generation brain-training software for people with dementia.
- Dr Wojtek Chrzanowski will develop a new stem-cell based therapy that speeds up the regeneration of lung tissue after smoke inhalation.
- Associate Professor Chris Ling will design and build new materials into lithium-ion batteries that will improve their performance.
- Associate Professor Susan Park will investigate the accountability processes of corporations, government and civil society in the prelude to environmental disasters.
- Associate Professor Paulo Ferreira will bridge the gap between genetics and back pain by examining the relationship between physical activity and back pain in twins.
- Associate Professor Tara Murphy will conduct radio observations of gravitational wave events.
- Associate Professor Karl Maton will help those from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in education and beyond.
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