{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260102003"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260102003","attributes":{"code":"DE260102003","administering-organisation":"Monash University","announcement-administering-organisation":"Monash 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":"Uncovering divergent hydrogen-dependent methane metabolism in novel Archaea. This project seeks to reveal broad new insights into non-traditional methanogens, by studying their enzymes and ecological roles in detail. By applying cutting-edge cultivation, structural biology, and multi-omic analyses, this project expects to unveil unique physiological strategies for methane production in non-traditional methanogens and their wider ecological roles relative to well-studied traditional methanogens. Expected benefits include basic knowledge on biological methane production, development of new tools for bioprospecting and comparative genomics of these ecologically relevant organisms, and knowledge of their ecology in wetlands and coal bed methane wells, which are high methane flux habitats.","funding-current":534320.00,"funding-at-announcement":530079,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Anthony","familyName":"Kohtz","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":null}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Anthony","familyName":"Kohtz","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":null}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"Monash University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"VIC"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"Monash University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"VIC"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":true,"code":"3101","name":"Biochemistry and Cell Biology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310112","name":"Structural Biology (Incl. MacRomolecular Modelling)","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310114","name":"Systems Biology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310703","name":"Microbial Ecology","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"180606","name":"Terrestrial Biodiversity","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"190301","name":"Climate Change Mitigation Strategies","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280102","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biological Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["United States of America"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"Methane producing microbes (methanogens) control global emissions of methane, a potent climate-active gas and energy source, making them critical in addressing climate change and bioenergy production. While methanogens were long thought to belong to one traditional group, environmental samples showed evidence of many non-traditional methanogens, yet none were cultured, severely limiting our understanding of them. Addressing this, I obtained world-first cultures of three non-traditional methanogens, exhibiting unique physiologies not found in traditional methanogens. This highlights clear gaps in our understanding of methanogens while also offering a unique opportunity to address these large knowledge gaps. This project aims to use cutting-edge computational, laboratory, and microbial ecology methods to provide the first in-depth studies of the enzymes and ecology of these new methanogens. Project outcomes will improve our ability to harness methanogens to convert agricultural and industrial waste to methane and play key roles in wastewater treatment. This could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve waste recycling, and make bioenergy production more efficient, directly aligning with Australia’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and participation in the Global Methane Pledge. Project outcomes can also inform national and local agencies, policy makers, and industries on how methanogens can be best used to protect the climate and produce clean water and energy."}}}