Projects

Highest resolution of biological information is currently obtained using single-cell (scRNA-seq) and spatial RNA-sequencing experiments (ST-seq). We will develop computational tools using scRNA-seq and ST-seq data to discover novel non-coding RNA and delineate their putative role in oncogenesis.

This project aims to develop an experimentally and numerically validated theory to establish a fundamental understanding of key processes controlling the thermo-mechanical coupling behaviour of asphalt mixes with crushed waste glass aggregates.

The project aims to apply new materials design theory and advanced synthetic approaches to create new materials classes for next-generation see-through electronics with exciting applications like augmented reality, car windscreen display and head mounted goggles for biomedical/surgical applications.

Within the scope of this Ph.D. thesis, the student/s will learn the growth of high-quality films of using MBE at UQ. The student/s will extensively work with a state of the art very low temperature (T ~ 400 mK) ultra-high-vacuum STM equipped with a vector magnetic field at IIT Delhi.

In the era of rapid technological development, increasing energy demand have led us to pursue alternative energy storage systems that must fulfil rigorous requirements like cost-effectiveness and high storage capacities. To minimize our reliance on Li based battery technologies, sodium-based batteries are an emerging technology with the potential to outperform Li-ion batteries. When coupled with sulfur, which is an Earth-abundant material, room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT-NaS) batteries are a cheap and high energy density alternative, however, the successful implementation of RT-NaS has been impeded due to the poor control of electrodeposition during the Na plating/stripping cycling, as a consequence the formation of mossy or dendritic lithium that can penetrate the separator, cause an internal short-circuit, and eventually lead to battery thermal runaway. Among various strategies adopted hitherto, polymer electrolytes have garnered increasing interest as the potential solution to simultaneously overcome the majority of the existing issues. The traditional polymer electrolytes, for instance, poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has been recently found that the electrochemical reaction between PVDF-based electrolytes and alkali metal anode can generate pseudo-interface layer, resulting in an open-circuit failure of the batteries, and therefore, it is imperative to improve the interfacial stability between electrolyte and sodium metal anode. The present proposal focuses on design and development of novel polymer electrolytes to ensure improved interfacial stability between polymer electrolyte and sodium metal anode. The interfacial stability is vital in achieving dendrite free sodium deposition, high Coulombic efficiency, extended cycle-life, and low overpotential. To achieve improved interfacial stability and ease interfacial reactions, the conventional polymer matrix (i.e., PVDF) requires to be modified through amalgamation of additives, inorganic or organic additives. The additives will be chosen based on their ability to tune the ionic conductivity, viscosity, and microstructure, without altering thermochemical properties of the host matrix.

Generation of mining wastes is a problem that is common to both Australia and India. To support circular economies in both the countries, it is imperative that these by-products are stabilised and reused effectively. One of their potential usage could be as backfill materials that support mechanically stabilised earth walls. Transportation sector in India, especially involving high speed trains, is to witness a rapid growth in the coming decade. To this end, the proposed project will investigate the case where the railway track traverses a stretch supported by MSE walls. The MSE wall and the backfill will be subjected to gravity, atmospheric and dynamic loads due to moving train as destabilising forces. State of the backfill in terms of its placement condition and exposure to seasonal variation in rainy and dry weather will also play a role in dictating the stability of the wall.

A rational design of porosity has rarely been investigated in this class of carboxylate based supramolecular complexes for their use as catalysts in these bio-oil upgradation reactions. Theoretical investigations using DFT calculations will be performed first for the design of these new catalysts.

The development of cost-effective means to extract polyphenols from biomass, and biosynthetic silver nanoparticle production processes, which will be combined as complexes or pharmaceutical formulations to improve wound healing and treat microbial infections in psoriasis and post-cancer treatment.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are heme-containing monooxygenases, broadly distributed among living organisms, which play crucial roles in natural product biosynthesis e.g. steroids and the degradation of xenobiotics e.g. drug metabolism. P450s are considered amongst the most versatile biocatalysts in nature because of the wide variety of substrate structures they accept and the many types of reactions they catalyse. (Li et al., 2020). The genomes of extremophiles are reported to encode P450s. The ubiquity of the P450 and the range of transformations they catalyse suggests that they have evolved to encompass both structural stability and conformational flexibility. Prokaryotic marine extremophiles have been reported to utilize CYPs (CYP153 family) to catalyse the oxidization of medium-length alkanes (Di Donato et al., 2019). Additionally, a number of other potential halophilic P450 genes have been identified in halophilic archaea (Muller 2012). A number of thermophilic extremophiles have been reported to utilize CYPs as part of their metabolism and include: Thermobifida fusca (CYP154H1) (Shallmey et. al. 2001), Sulfolobus solfataricus (CYP119A1) (Wright et. al. 1996, Yano et. al. 2000), Sulfolobus tokodaii sp. strain 7 (CYP119A2) (Suzuki et. al. 2002), Thermus thermophilus (CYP175A) (Yano et. al. 2003), and Picrophilus torridus (CYP231A2) (Ho et. al. 2008). Once again, a number of other potential P450-encoding genes have been reported to be present in other thermophilic and psychrophilic organisms (Harris et. al. 2018). The diverse range of substrates metabolized by P450s and the broad range of reactions catalysed make these enzymes attractive candidates for industrially useful biocatalysis. P450s typically catalyse region and stereoselective oxidations of nonactivated CH bonds in complex organic molecules under mild conditions, making P450s useful biocatalysts in the production of commodity pharmaceuticals, fine or bulk chemicals, flavours and fragrances and as bioremediation agents (Li et al., 2020). Other chemical and biochemical applications of CYPs include protein, redox-partner, substrate, and electron source engineering in efforts to efficiently produce pharmaceuticals and other chemicals (Zou et. al. 2020). Significant efforts have been made in engineering improved P450 systems that overcome the inherent limitations of the native enzymes. However, the harsh conditions of industrial applications (high temperature, low pH etc) impose limitations on the utility of CYPs due to their instability in such environments. Thus, there has been considerable interest and effort invested in finding or engineering extremophilic P450 systems (Harris et. al. 2018). The significant biotechnological impact of extremophiles and the uniqueness of the cytochrome P450 system make these organisms an attractive targets in which to investigate alternative cytochrome P450 redox systems. Taking into account the unquestionable importance of these systems in the metabolism of all organisms and the lack of knowledge about them in extremophiles, this work aims to provide provide a detailed structural, biochemical and phylogenetic characterization of extremeophilic CYPs and their diverse applications. The work will focus on screening cytochromes P450 in extremophiles with parallel computational analysis with known CYPs to establish their homology for eventual structural comparisons. Moreover, the work will be directed towards the over-expression of CYPs in suitable hosts to provide amounts sufficient for spectroscopic characterization and possible crystallisation. Further, their comparison with comparable mesophilic CYPs will be undertaken to understand the structural & functional adaptations to an extremophilic environment. Finally, potential functional applications will be explored in biotechnological, biochemical, pharmaceutical and environmental arenas. In summary, CYPs are remarkable enzymes with great potential as biocatalysts because of the wide range of substrates they accept and the variety of oxidative transformations they catalyse. Their biotechnological exploitation is somewhat limited due to their instability to the sometimes harsh conditions of industrial transformations. One way to overcome this limitation is by uitlilisation of CYPs already adapted to the harsh environments in which extremophiles live. Genome sequencing has revealed a number of potential CYPs in such organisms but very few have been characterized.

The project aims are to examine how cross-boundary collaboration can impact conservation, especially of large wildlife in agricultural and natural areas, and can help mitigate human-wildlife conflict. The project will study large threatened native mammals in the Indian sub-continent, which cross borders on a regular basis as part of their human range and activity, such as native rhino, elephants, and other large mammals that interact with humans. We will map and quantify hotspots of human-wildlife conflict and will study variation in human-wildlife conflict over space and time in urban, agricultural and natural landscapes. Conflict with large wildlife around damage to crops and property threaten both human livelihood, income and wildlife and since these large animals move across boundaries, coordination across international and state boundaries is required in order to efficiently mitigate conflicts and their impacts. The study will provide an important contribution to better understanding and prioritising action across boundaries benefiting both wildlife conservation and reduced conflict. The study will combine fieldwork focused on mammals, surveys with local community members, such as farmers, and study of conflict and collaboration with urban, agricultural and natural ecosystem scientists and practitioners, with whom we have already established ties and collaborations in the region, including both in India and in Nepal, where our industry partner is based.