Victoria University of Wellington researchers have received more than $7 million funding in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s 2014 science investment round.
Five projects led by Victoria researchers have received funding in the high-value manufacturing and services, biological industries, and energy and minerals sectors.
One of the successful researchers is Dr Grant Williams, a professorial research fellow in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.
He will lead a project to develop a new device that measures the radiation dose as part of a cancer treatment planning process. As part of the work, researchers will also be developing portable x-ray imaging systems for non-destructive testing. This study will receive almost $2.4 million over four years.
Dr Williams is also a Principal Investigator in a GNS Science lead programme on Next Generation Nano-Electronics that will receive funding of $1 million over two years.
Dr Wayne Linklater, from the School of Biological Sciences, has been awarded $1 million over two years for his project Mammalian pheromone lures. This research will explore creating lures out of urinary protein-volatile complexes for more efficient and acceptable ways to control rats and possum.
The aim is to improve New Zealand’s ability to eradicate and prevent reinvasion of pest free areas by small mammal pests, especially where they pose a cost and market risk to our primary industries.
Dr Chris Bumby, a senior scientist at Victoria’s Robinson Research Institute, is the principal investigator on two projects, including Iron-sand Technologies, which will receive $2 million over four years. It targets new technologies to exploit New Zealand’s offshore iron-sand deposits, leading to benefits for the country’s economy.
Dr Bumby will also lead Grid Energy Storage, which has secured funding of $700,000 over two years. The research will develop a novel clean-energy technology that helps to ensure the electricity grid remains stable, which is vital to the security of New Zealand’s electricity supply.
Also from the Robinson Institute, Dr Rod Badcock will receive $1 million over two years for his project HTS Rotating Machines. This research is focused on simplifying high temperature superconducting(HTS) rotating machines (for example offshore wind turbines), which will speed their introduction and help consolidate New Zealand’s position in the emerging and lucrative HTS market.
