The University of Adelaide has been awarded a record $6.8 million for nine projects under the Australian Research Council's Future Fellowships scheme - 65% of the total funding awarded to South Australian researchers.

Teaching computers to see and high-speed, contactless screening for diseases using T-rays are two University of Adelaide projects to be funded under the scheme.

Aimed at attracting and retaining the best and brightest mid-career researchers in areas of critical national importance, the 2012 ARC Future Fellowships were announced this week by Federal Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans.

"This is a very competitive national research scheme and to achieve such a good success rate - our highest ever - reflects the strength of our research portfolio,” says University of Adelaide Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mike Brooks.

“These grants recognise our existing talented researchers and, importantly, also attract new outstanding researchers to the University of Adelaide.

"This innovative and exciting research will see major scientific advances in areas of national priority as diverse as defence, health, the environment and manufacturing."

University of Adelaide Future Fellows are:

• Dr Chunhua Shen, ($644,671, School of Computer Science and the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies): Continuously learning to see;

• Professor Derek Abbott ($931,168, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering): Advanced biosensing in the terahertz (THz) sub-wavelength regime;

• Associate Professor Alan Collins ($822,606, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences): The origin of Australian Gondwana: using isotopic proxies for subduction to reconstruct ancient oceans;

• Associate Professor Leonie Heilbron ($794,856, School of Medicine): Examining the links between obesity and insulin resistance;

• Dr Ivan Nagelkerken ($714,528, currently at Radboud University in The Netherlands, coming to the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences): Ocean acidification and rising sea temperature effect on fish;

• Dr John Paterson ($714,528, currently Armidale University, coming to the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences): Understanding the evolutionary tempo and significance of the first animals through exceptional fossil preservation;

• Dr Michael Samuel ($693,800, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science): How do mechanical cues regulate tissue renewal and tumour progression?;

• Dr Cheryl Shoubridge ($787,989, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health): Understanding the molecular mechanisms of intellectual disability;

• Dr Ross Young ($685,928, School of Chemistry and Physics): Interplay of the forces of nature: electroweak and strong interactions.

For more information on the new ARC fellows and their research, visit www.arc.gov.au and attached summaries.