CUDOS ARC grant success

CUDOS researchers gain $650k in grants in latest ARC funding round, 03 Oct 07

Dr. Boris Kuhlmey, Dr. Christian Grillet and Prof. Ben Eggleton along with Prof. Johnatan Knight of Bath University and Dr. Andrew Parker on Oxford University have been sucessful in gaining grants for research in senising using phtonic crystal fibres and investigating the biomimetics of diatoms.

Dr AR Parker and Dr C Grillet
Optical Biomimetics of Diatoms

2008 : $ 135,000
2009 : $ 134,000
2010 : $ 129,000
Primary RFCD 2404 OPTICAL PHYSICS
The University of Sydney

Optics is a research and economic strength of Australia. We will aim to
provide a new optical sensor for chemicals using a diatom. This use of an
optical device found in nature is groundbreaking and may provide a more
efficient form of sensor to help to detect pollution such as metals in
marine environments. Alternatively, diatoms could become the component of
an iridescent paint for cars or other commercial objects. Diatoms could be
made-to-measure in the laboratory on a commercial scale, and so may
introduce a new industry, where other optical devices in nature could be
cultured by the tonne.

Dr BT Kuhlmey, Prof BJ Eggleton and Prof JC Knight
Ultra-sensitivity through resonances in photonic bandgap fibres

2008 : $ 90,000
2009 : $ 85,000
2010 : $ 80,000

Primary RFCD 2999 OTHER ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
The University of Sydney

The project will develop innovative biochemical sensors with extreme
sensitivity using recently discovered physical processes in novel holey
optical fibres. These sensors will be able to detect biological molecules,
toxins or dangerous chemicals in minute concentrations, in very small
sample sizes. The sensors can be mass-produced cheaply with current
fabrication facilities within Australia, enabling their widespread use for
water quality monitoring, environmental monitoring, threat detection, and
rapid and reliable diagnosis in medicine.