Q&A with Associate Professor Rob Atkin

Associate Professor Rob Atkin recently received a Future Fellowship grant from the ARC for his research into Ionic Liquids but as he explains below, pursuing an academic career in the field of chemistry wasn’t always what he had in mind.

What started your initial interest in research and the area of Chemistry?

A: I was always interested in science. When I was young, my favourite book was called “More Tell Me Why”, which is a book that has answers to hundreds of questions children might ask – I think I nearly sent my parents crazy with all the questions I asked.

At high school and when I started University I was most interested in maths, biology and chemistry, but by third year I had decided that I liked chemistry the most. In the second year of my PhD I had the opportunity to attend an international conference and the work I presented was well received.

It was then that I decided I wanted to pursue an academic career.

Can you expand on your current area of research and how it will make a difference?

A: Ionic liquids are pure salts that are a liquid at room temperature. They are unusual because they have some properties that are typical for a liquid and others that we normally associate with a solid – for example, they don’t evaporate.

We often call ionic liquids “designer solvents” because we can change the way the atoms are bound to each other, which changes the shape of the ions, which changes the way the ions arrange in the liquid and this controls liquid properties.  This means that we can match the ionic liquid to an application.

The applications my group’s research currently targets are the use of ionic liquids for electrorefining of metals, for lubrication and as heat transfer fluids. Ionic liquids will make these processes more energetically efficient, which will reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

How will the fellowship help facilitate your research?

A: I have had funding from the Australian research Council for my entire career which means I can basically do the research on what I find interesting. Some of this research is applied, but much of it is fundamental or “blue sky” research - research where "real-world" applications are not immediately apparent.

I think it is critical that there is always a place for this type of research at Universities as this is often how big leaps in scientific knowledge are made. In my own research I have started projects with no application in mind – just because it looked interesting – but over time applications have become clear; if you don’t look you won’t know!

I feel extremely privileged to do work that I find fun and interesting. The Fellowship will allow me to work almost full time on this research, but I’ll keep do as much lecturing as the Fellowship allows as I really enjoy it. I also have students working with me in the lab from first, second, third year, as well as Honours and PhD.

Having undergrads in the lab is great, they bring lots of energy and enthusiasm, and it helps them understand that Universities aren’t just about going to lectures and passing exams – they are also about research, and a place for creative problem solving.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

A: Any time you get a grant that is a big achievement. But in research, I am pretty excited to have been invited to give a plenary lecture at the Congress On Ionic Liquids (COIL) in Portugal next year. COIL is the most prestigious ionic liquids conference and it is a big honour to give a plenary lecture.

It’s amazing in a way, because 7 years ago I had never even heard of ionic liquids – it’s been a fast an exciting journey. None of this would be possible without the students and postdocs in the Ionic Liquids research group. They are a fantastic bunch that works really hard because they like what they do. They have achieved some amazing results and have great time while they are doing it. 

Any future plans?

A: Just keep working on interesting problems - then work is fun and good things will happen.