2026 Thomas Davies Research Grant Supports Nine Groundbreaking Projects

Nine early-and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) have received the 2026 Thomas Davies Research Grant for Marine, Soil and Plant Biology. This annual grant provides up to $20,000 to EMCRs in the fields of marine, soil, and plant biology. Awardees and their projects Dr Ashley Jones, Australian National University Helping to restore Eucalyptus forests under climate change Climate change is accelerating widespread Eucalyptus dieback, threatening forests and wildlife habitat across Australia. Dr Ashley Jones will use genomic sequencing to identify which Eucalyptus seeds hold the key to survival and can adapt to future climates. “We can use genomics 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 their dependent wildlife for future generations.” Dr Ben Clifton, University of Western Australia Uncovering algae-bacteria interactions in the ocean Dr Ben Clifton is contributing to our understanding of ocean health and productivity by investigating the relationship between tiny, single-celled plants, known as marine microalgae, and bacteria in the water. Dr Clifton said he aims to develop new methods to decode the chemical signals between bacteria and microalgae in marine ecosystems and predict algal blooms. “I hope to discover new naturally occurring chemicals that can be used to promote growth of beneficial algae and prevent growth of harmful algae,” he said. Dr Elena Eremeeva, Queensland University of Technology Managing “forever chemical” pollution Dr Elena Eremeeva is tackling pollution from PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, which break down extremely slowly in nature, persisting in the environment and human bodies for decades. Dr Eremeeva said this grant provides an opportunity to translate laboratory discoveries into real-world environmental applications. “This is a step toward the development of deployable sensors with commercial potential for rapid environmental monitoring and clean-up of persistent PFAS pollutants,” she said. Dr Huan Liu, University of Technology Sydney Microplastics in plants While biosolids are used to improve soil fertility, approximately 80% applied in Australian agriculture are contaminated with high concentrations of harmful microplastics. Dr Huan Liu’s research addresses the health concern posed by microplastics entering the food chain through agriculture. “The environmental impacts of microplastics in plants is a topic of increasing global concern,” Dr Liu said. Her project will investigate how microplastics enter and accumulate in crop plants and subsequently impact plant growth and health. Dr Ilaine Silveira Matos, Adelaide University How prepared are Australian endangered plants for drought, heat and fire extremes? Plant physiologist Dr Ilaine Silveira Matos studies how Australian native plants – especially endangered species – cope with the escalating challenges of climate change. Her focus is on the toll heat, drought, and fire take on endangered Australian plants. Dr Silveira Matos said she will develop a framework of plant tolerance to predict how plants will respond to the changing climate. “We want to address this critical knowledge gap to guide conservation in the context of climate change,” she said. Dr Sally Lau, James Cook University Harnessing octopus genomes to understand Antarctic ice melt Evolutionary biologist Dr Sally Lau will analyse the DNA of Antarctic octopuses to reconstruct how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) has changed over one million years. Understanding how the EAIS responded to past climate changes is crucial for predicting future sea level rise. “This will help us gain a better understanding of the ice sheet’s stability in the past, which is critical for informing future global sea level rise projections,” Dr Lau said. Dr Timothy Ghaly, Macquarie University Boosting crop microbiomes for sustainable agriculture Dr Timothy Ghaly uses machine learning to understand how beneficial microorganisms make crops healthier as an alternative to relying on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Microbes living on and in plants – known as their microbiome – offer benefits including enhanced nutrient uptake and pathogen suppression. Mixtures of beneficial microbes, known as synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), have the potential to boost crop resilience but they often fail to endure within the resident plant microbiome. Dr Ghaly is developing a framework for designing SynComs that can integrate into the plant microbiome. “This would offer a chemical-free strategy for sustainable agriculture and improved crop productivity,” he said. Dr Valeriya Komyakova, University of Western Australia Microhabitat complexity and juvenile reef fish Dr Valeriya Komyakova’s project aims to improve the success of coastal marine restoration projects by providing insights into the small spaces needed to support the survival of young and small fish. As a marine ecologist, Dr Komyakova said this award gives her the opportunity to return to her primary field of research and follow her passion. “This work seeks to understand our marine environments and contribute knowledge that can help strengthen conservation and restoration efforts,” she said. Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang, Australian National University New-to-nature crop disease resistance genes Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang is using artificial protein evolution techniques to improve plant defence mechanisms against fungal infections. Dr Zhang said managing fungal pathogens is a major challenge for the agriculture sector. “Fungal pathogens cause some of the most harmful crop diseases and significant yield loss in Australia and worldwide.” Dr Zhang will engineer immunity genes to enhance a plant’s ability to recognise and mount an effective response against fungal attacks. More information This grant is funded through a generous bequest from the estate of the late Thomas Lewis Davies to the Australian Academy of Science. Applications for the Academy’s 2027 awards and funding opportunities will open in mid-February 2026.