{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100784"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100784","attributes":{"code":"DE260100784","administering-organisation":"Curtin University","announcement-administering-organisation":"Curtin University","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":"Where Are All Our Intermediate Mass Black Holes? How do galaxies grow? Current theory suggests the intermediate mass black holes that are the building blocks of supermassive black holes, should be distributed throughout the Universe. However, there is scant evidence. This project will leverage observations from new facilities like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Square Kilometre Array, and take a the first systematic approach to finding these black holes, thereby testing a key theory of how our Universe evolved. By hunting for electromagnetic signatures of these black holes in 300,000 star clusters in the nearby Universe, it will be possible to detect the long-sought population of intermediate mass black holes, or place stringent constraints on their existence.","funding-current":533820.00,"funding-at-announcement":529579,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Kristen","familyName":"Dage","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-8532-4025 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Kristen","familyName":"Dage","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-8532-4025 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"Curtin University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"WA"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"Curtin University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"WA"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":true,"code":"5101","name":"Astronomical Sciences","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"510103","name":"Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"510104","name":"Galactic Astronomy","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"280120","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Physical Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["Brazil","Canada","Germany","Mexico","Poland","United States of America"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"My research is aimed at answering one of the biggest open questions of how our Universe works, finding the evidence of the intermediate mass black holes that drive supermassive black hole formation and galaxy evolution.  By performing the first systematic search for intermediate mass black holes in young massive star clusters, I will either discover these elusive black holes, or prove that we need to revisit our leading theory of how the Universe evolves. I  will also build national capacity through my leadership in international collaborations. I will leverage the significant Australian investment in the A$3 billion dollar Square Kilometre Array and its precursors, leveraging existing investments with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (A$1.4 million Australian investment), and provide new avenues of research with these facilities.\n\nAs an experienced mentor, I am committed to leading and participating in impactful scientific outreach events to empower the next generation of Australian scientists.  I have organised and contributed to over 30 public outreach events for the public, experience which will serve me well to communicate my exciting discoveries to the general public through broad reaching scientific outreach. \n"}}}