January 23, 2026
Below, left to right: Dr. Ben Clifton, Dr. Sally Lau, Dr. Ashley Jones, and Dr. Elaine Silveira Matos.
Nine early and mid-career researchers (EMCR) received awards for 2026Thomas Davis Research Grants in Marine, Soil, and Plant Biology.
This annual grant provides up to $20,000 to EMCR in the field of marine, soil, and plant biology.
Dr Ashley Jones, Australian National University
Help with reconstruction eucalyptus Forests under climate change
Climate change is accelerating broadly eucalyptus Dead trees are threatening forests and wildlife habitat across Australia.
Dr. Ashley Jones uses genome sequencing to determine which is which. eucalyptus Seeds are key to survival and allow us to adapt to future climates.
“Genomics can be used to guide climate-resilient forest restoration across Australia,” Dr Jones said.
“Through collaboration with industry and landcare partners, this research will contribute to preserving Australia’s iconic forests and the wildlife that depend on them for future generations.”
Dr Ben Clifton, University of Western Australia
Elucidating the interaction between algae and bacteria in the ocean
Dr Ben Clifton contributes to our understanding of ocean health and productivity by studying the relationship between tiny single-celled plants known as marine microalgae and bacteria in the water.
Dr Clifton said he aims to decipher chemical signals between bacteria and microalgae in marine ecosystems and develop new ways to predict algal blooms.
“We hope to discover new natural chemicals that can be used to promote the growth of beneficial algae and prevent the growth of harmful algae,” he said.
Dr Elena Eremeva, Queensland University of Technology
Managing chemical pollution that will last forever
Dr. Elena Eremeva is working on contamination with PFAS, known as the “forever chemicals.” PFAS degrade very slowly in nature and remain in the environment and in humans for decades.
Dr. Eremeva said the grant provides an opportunity to translate laboratory discoveries into real-world environmental applications.
“This is a step toward developing deployable sensors with commercial potential for rapid environmental monitoring and remediation of persistent PFAS contaminants,” she said.
Dr Huan Liu, University of Technology Sydney
Microplastics in plants
Biosolids are used to improve soil fertility, but around 80% of those used in Australian agriculture are contaminated with high concentrations of harmful microplastics.
Dr. Huan Liu’s research addresses health concerns posed by microplastics entering the food chain through agriculture.
“The environmental impact of microplastics in plants is a topic of increasing global interest,” Dr. Liu said.
Her project will investigate how microplastics enter and accumulate in crop plants and subsequently affect plant growth and health.
Dr Elaine Silveira Matos, University of Adelaide
How are Australia’s endangered plants prepared for extreme drought, heat and fire?
Plant physiologist Dr Elaine Silveira-Matos studies how Australia’s native plants, particularly endangered species, are coping with the escalating challenges of climate change.
Her focus is on the damage caused by extreme heat, drought and fire to endangered Australian plants.
Dr. Silveira Matos said he will develop a plant tolerance framework to predict how plants will respond to changes in climate.
“We want to address this critical knowledge gap to guide conservation from a climate change perspective,” she said.
Dr Sally Lau, James Cook University
Using the octopus genome to understand Antarctic ice melting
Evolutionary biologist Dr. Sally Lau will analyze the DNA of Antarctic octopuses to reconstruct how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) has changed over a million years.
Understanding how the EAIS has responded to past climate change is important for predicting future sea level rise.
“This will help us better understand past ice sheet stability, which is important for informing future global sea level rise projections,” Dr. Lau said.
Dr Timothy Gurley, Macquarie University
Strengthening crop microbiota for sustainable agriculture
Dr. Timothy Gurley uses machine learning to understand how beneficial microbes can make crops healthier instead of relying on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Microorganisms that live on and within plants (known as the microbiome) provide benefits such as enhanced nutrient uptake and pathogen suppression.
Mixtures of beneficial microorganisms, known as synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), have the potential to increase crop resilience, but in many cases they cannot be tolerated within the resident plant microbiome.
Dr. Gurley is developing a framework for designing SynComs that can be integrated into the plant microbiome.
“This will provide a chemical-free strategy for sustainable agriculture and improved crop productivity,” he said.
Dr Valeria Komyakova, University of Western Australia
Microhabitat complexity and juvenile coral reef fish
Dr. Valeria Komyakova’s project aims to increase the success rate of coastal marine restoration projects by providing insight into the tight spaces needed to support the survival of young and small fish.
Dr Komyakova, a marine ecologist, said the award gives her the opportunity to return to her original field of research and pursue her passion.
“This research aims to provide knowledge that will help us understand the marine environment and strengthen conservation and restoration efforts,” she said.
Dr. Xiaoxiao Zhang, Australian National University
Disease resistance genes of new crops
Dr. Xiaoxiao Zhang uses artificial protein evolution techniques to improve plants’ defense mechanisms against fungal infections.
Dr. Zhang said that controlling fungal pathogens is a major challenge for the agricultural sector.
“Fungal pathogens cause some of the most harmful crop diseases and significant yield losses in Australia and around the world.”
Dr. Zhang plans to manipulate immune genes to enhance the plant’s ability to recognize fungal attack and mount an effective response to it.
Detailed information
This grant is funded by a generous bequest to the Australian Academy of Science from the estate of the late Thomas Lewis Davies.
Applications for the Academy’s 2027 awards and funding opportunities will open in mid-February 2026.