![52 yrs old specimen of Ozothamnus alpinus. Ignition Project "Genome skimming with degraded DNA from herbarium specimens". Photo Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn](/sites/prod.cba.sca-lws06.anu.edu.au/files/styles/hero_1200_x_360/public/Ozothamnus%20alpinus%20brown%20specimen%2052%20yrs%20old.jpeg.webp?h=10eebb8a&itok=_IjRpbuL "52 yrs old specimen of Ozothamnus alpinus. Ignition Project "Genome skimming with degraded DNA from herbarium specimens". Photo Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn")
Research projects
One of our key tools for engagement and collaboration across ANU, CSIRO and University of Canberra are our Ignition Grant and Synthesis Group funding schemes.
CBA's Ignition Grants foster novel collaborations between researchers from at least two partner institutions (ANU, CSIRO, UC), aiming to lay the groundwork for larger research proposals. Since 2012, over 60 projects have been funded across 11 rounds. In June 2016, grant recipients showcased their progress at a symposium, delivering lightning talks that highlighted the scheme's success in driving diverse and innovative research.
This project integrates clinical data and biodiversity measurements to explore spatial relationships between ecology and health, specifically focusing on Cryptosporidium infections. It aims to model the links between human illness patterns and biodiversity, considering demographic factors and co-morbidities, to improve public health strategies.
This study examines how climate change affects sex determination in reptiles, focusing on the bearded dragon. It found stable, geographically clustered sex reversal occurrences. Despite expanded data, no clear link between temperature and sex reversal was identified. Further research is ongoing, including DNA extraction from preserved specimens.
The project aims to develop methods for applying next-generation sequencing to museum collections, specifically rock-wallaby skins, to evaluate genetic diversity and inform conservation efforts. By optimising genomic techniques, this research will enhance conservation genomics and highlight the importance of museum collections for evolutionary studies in Australia.
The project investigates if adaptation in invasive plant species affects fire regimes. Researchers from ANU and CSIRO study traits promoting fire tolerance or flammability, using genomics and spatial genetic analyses. This work could influence policy on climate change adaptation and ecosystem management in Australia.
The Kimberley rainforest patches, rich in biodiversity yet poorly understood, are under threat from human activities and climate change. A collaborative project involving ANU and CSIRO aims to study these areas using advanced sequencing technologies to explore invertebrate diversity, with potential implications for conservation and new species discovery.
The ANU Climate Change supplementary scholarship supports outstanding PhD scholars in cross-disciplinary climate research. Eligible candidates must have ANU supervisory teams from at least two schools and hold an RTP scholarship. Recipients receive $7,500 annually for research costs and develop ties with the ANU Climate Change Institute.
The project by McElroy and Warthmann explores landscape genomics using Red-browed finches to understand genetic variation across environmental gradients. By sequencing samples from the Australian National Wildlife Collection, the study aims to identify genes linked to climate adaptation, providing insights for conservation and future genomic research.
The rediscovered Lord Howe Island Stick Insect faces extinction threats due to human impact. A PhD project at ANU aims to assess its genetic diversity to aid reintroduction efforts. Supported by Zoos Victoria, it combines molecular techniques and offers a stipend for motivated students.
In February 2019, the CBA hosted a workshop at Mt Stromlo Observatory, gathering scientists to explore biotic exchanges across Asia, Melanesia, and Australia. This interdisciplinary event generated new hypotheses on Australia's geological and biotic history and inspired proposals for future research and publications.