Research to support parents in giving their children the best possible start in life is one of four projects involving young UTS researchers to have secured vital project funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC).
The projects, in the areas of education, ecology, finance and mathematics, were successful in the latest round of 2015 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA).
The diversity of projects awarded reflected the strength of UTS research across the technical, scientific, social and cultural fields said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Glenn Wightwick.
"Four of our brightest early career researchers, each from different faculties, have shown their ability to compete at a national level to receive this extremely prestigious funding. With only 200 awarded each round, these UTS projects are testament to our research delivering real benefits for Australian society, industry and the environment.
"Through this funding, our researchers will progress their work in the areas of marine ecology, equitable financial markets, data security and parent education. Congratulations to all our successful recipients, I look forward to hearing the outcomes of their research."
One recipient, Dr Nick Hopwood, celebrates two major successes this month. The researcher from the Centre for Research in Learning and Change was honoured with the Researcher Development (including Supervision) award at this year's Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Research Excellence.
Hopwood said, "My DECRA promises to make a real difference for disadvantaged families across Australia, helping to give all children the best possible start in life.
"The project builds on my UTS Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, which discovered crucial learning processes in residential parenting services.
"I'll now spend three years exploring how reciprocal learning between professionals and families in a wider range of services can bring about lasting positive change for families. This can be thought of as finding effective 'nano-pedagogies'– small interactions that have big effects through cascades of learning."
UTS DECRA awardees for commencement in 2015:
Dr Nick Hopwood– Creating better futures for children through effective parent education, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dr Manoj Kumar – Early detection of seagrass habitat loss caused by eutrophication, Faculty of Science
Dr Talis Putnins– Insider trading in financial markets, Faculty of Business
Dr Youming Qiao– Testing isomorphism of algebraic structures, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
- Research exploring how children can get the best possible start in life is among four UTS projects supported in the latest round of ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards
- The funding will also further the work of early career researchers in marine ecology, equitable financial markets and data security