Two QUT researchers working on projects that look to prioritise the transition to a net zero future have been awarded Australian Research Council (ARC) Early Career Industry Fellowships.
Dr Tatheer Zahra, from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and industry partner Brickworks Building Products, will develop an optimised interlocking block design using AI, which will be used in making an easy to install and sustainable prefabricated masonry walling system.
She has been awarded $512,054.
Expected outcomes include an efficient prefabricated masonry system, which is not reliant on formwork and skilled labours, with optimal interlocking block design to commercialise and adopt in buildings.
“This project aims to address climate change, labour and housing shortages by creating smart building solutions using prefabricated masonry system,” Dr Zahra said.
“This will significantly benefit the Australian community by reducing construction delays, housing cost and carbon emissions through sustainable construction practices.”
Dr Minh Tam Hoang, from the School of Chemistry and Physics, has received a $500,020 ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship to investigate safe and environmentally friendly perovskite photovoltaic technology.
Dr Hoang is partnering with Halocell Australia to counter the toxicity, environmental harmfulness, and instability of metal halide perovskite materials so they can be used as the core material in next-generation solar cells.
“Australia needs better fabrication processes for next-generation perovskite solar cells (PSC) so we can increase market adoption of commercially viable technology with minimal risk in production,” Dr Hoang said.
“By developing green-solvent solution processing – and PSCs based on tin instead of lead – this project will make real-world PSC manufacture cleaner and safer, delivering a new class of efficient, safe, stable, environmentally responsible solar cells.
“This will advance Australia’s transition to clean energy, our reduction of carbon emissions, and our progress toward Net Zero, while improving the manufacturing capability of Australian industry, creating job opportunities and building a skilled workforce for the renewable energy sector.”
The ARC Early Career Industry Fellowships scheme offers the opportunity for early career researchers to collaborate between academic and industry settings, which is crucial to ensuring Australia’s capability in addressing industry-identified challenges.
ARC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ute Roessner, said the Fellowships announced today will help facilitate the adoption, translation, and commercialisation of Australian research over time.
“These early career researchers will create pathways to support academic researchers in establishing careers in an industry setting, and industry-based researchers to work in a university environment, to deliver actionable outcomes for industry partners and research end-users,” Professor Roessner said.
“It is important for industry stakeholders to acknowledge the value of research and development to assure Australia’s prosperity.”
Main photo (left to right): Dr Tatheer Zahra and Dr Minh Tam Hoang
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