{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100044"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100044","attributes":{"code":"DE260100044","administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","announcement-administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"Mapping the topology of polymer folding: knots, geometry and data. Understanding the reason for and mechanism of knot formation in proteins remains an open problem, with significant implications in synthetic biology. This project aims to address this problem using an interdisciplinary approach grounded in computational topology. The project will focus on two innovative angles: determine how geometric constraints influence the type of knots forming and how they might form, and search for knot-promoting patterns in protein sequences. Expected outcomes include bringing new insights in this pressing biological problem, while greatly expanding the field of computational topology. It will bring substantial breakthroughs in core areas, with new results in knot theory, topological data analysis and geometry.","funding-current":448860.00,"funding-at-announcement":445339,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Agnese","familyName":"Barbensi","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0001-9348-4478 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Agnese","familyName":"Barbensi","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0001-9348-4478 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"The University of Queensland","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"QLD"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"The University of Queensland","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"QLD"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":false,"code":"490199","name":"Applied Mathematics Not Elsewhere Classified","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":true,"code":"4904","name":"Pure Mathematics","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"490402","name":"Algebraic and Differential Geometry","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"490412","name":"Topology","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"280102","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biological Sciences","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280118","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Mathematical Sciences","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280120","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Physical Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["Germany","Rwanda","South Africa","United States of America"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"This project aims at understanding how and why knotted proteins fold. The proposed approach is founded in topology, an area of mathematics studying properties of spaces unaffected by continuous deformations. Understanding the role of knots in proteins is crucial for advancing our knowledge in molecular biology and biophysics. While grounded in mathematics, this research has significant implications for biotechnologies and public health, as it can lead to breakthroughs in diagnosing and treating protein folding diseases.\n\nExpected outcomes also include expanding the understanding of topological methods in theory and applications. Pushing the frontiers of new mathematics is a key step in enhancing Australia's central role in cutting-edge international research. This is especially true for this project, given the significance of the expected applications. This project will also train young emerging Australians in mathematics, who will be then ready to contribute to Australia's specialised workforce, benefitting Australia socially and economically. \n\nBy integrating modern mathematics with biological research, this project positions Australia at the forefront of interdisciplinary scientific innovation, fostering collaborations and driving advancements in both mathematics and life sciences.  Given the broad scientific interests and the applications of this project, wider exposure of the results will be achieved through outreach articles for magazines and via social media. \n\n"}}}