Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
I have worked extensively in the US in the field of fundmental atomic physics. Between 2000 and 2006 I was involved in multidisciplinary teams that had expertise in both Food Technology and Marine Science. My work in that period involved a combination of very applied physics, such as the cooking of wheat and limpet adhesion mechanisms, together with more fundamental physics, such as the characterisation of conjugated polymers and the photo-dissociation of molecules.
I am currently working in several teams studying diverse topics such as fundamental molecular physics, food science and human nutrition.
Qualifications
- PhD, Flinders University
- Diploma in Education, Flinders University
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), Flinders University
Research
Research keywords
- Atomic and molecular physics
- Food Material characterisation
Research expertise
My research work is multidisciplinary. I have done research in various areas of Applied Science, such as Marine Science, Food Science and Nanotechnology as well as fundamental atomic and molecular physics.
Thus I have looked at physical processes in a variety of topics e.g.
- The physical properties of cooked wheat in breakfast cereals.
- Limpet adhesion mechanisms in the intertidal zone
- The characterisation of conjugated polymers using photoluminescence techniques.
- The photodissociation of simple molecules.
My most recent research into the photodissociation of molecules is part of a collaborative effort with researchers in the US who were developing a new set of experiments at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on California. I am the team co-leader and involved in the planning of the experiments and their implementation while at the ALS.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 090899 | Food Sciences Not Elsewhere Classified | 70 |
| 020299 | Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle And Plasma Physics Not Elsewhere Classified | 15 |
| 020599 | Optical Physics Not Elsewhere Classified | 15 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- Newcastle representative - NSW branch of Australian Institute of Physics
Collaboration
I am part of a successful collaboration with groups at the University of Nebraska and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the USA. We do work on fundamental molecular physics at the Advanced Light Source in Califormia.
Administrative
Administrative expertise
I am currently Head of the Physics Discipline
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- physics
Teaching expertise
My teaching spans disciplines:
- I teach extensively in all areas of first year physics.
- I have also taught extensively in a first year course involving the ways in which computers are used in Science.
- I have taught in a Marine Science course, Underwater Research Methods and diving
- I teach a specialist course in atomic and molecular physics at third year level and Special Relativity and Atomic Physics at Second Year level.
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 10 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $67,501 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2007 (1 grants)
DAMOP Annual meeting of the American Physical Society, Canada, 5/5/2007 - 9/5/2007$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187705 | ||
2006 (1 grants)
Photo-dissociation of simple molecules using circularly-polarized light$4,050
Funding Body: ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Access to Major Research Facilities Program | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $4,050 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186174 | ||
2005 (1 grants)
Photo-dissociation of diatomic molecules$1,841
Funding Body: ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Access to Major Research Facilities Program | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,841 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185761 | ||
2004 (1 grants)
Using photoluminescence to characterise conjugated polymers$5,300
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst, Professor Paul Dastoor | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,300 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183440 | ||
2000 (2 grants)
A new approach to quality control in the macadamia industry.$8,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $8,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0178983 | ||
Atomic and Molecular Physics and Quantum Chemistry meeting of the Australian Institute of Physics Congress, Adelaide, 12-15 December 2000$410
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $410 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0180569 | ||
1998 (1 grants)
Application of the near infra-red spectroscopy (NIR) as a predictor of marbling in the beef export industry.$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dr Fa'Ale Tumaalii, Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 1998 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0177222 | ||
1997 (2 grants)
Use of near-infrared relectance spectrometry and optical imaging systems as a rapid method of quality grading macadamia nuts.$12,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Professor Ronald Wills, Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Small Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $12,000 | 1997 | 1997 |
| GNo:G0176778 | ||
Macadamia Research Project.$10,400
Funding Body: Macadamia Processing Co Ltd
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Professor Ronald Wills, Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,400 | 1997 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0177045 | ||
1996 (1 grants)
Medium Energy Ion Scattering from Caesium: A study of the ionisation of caesium by He+$13,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Furst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| New Staff Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $13,000 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176115 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 0 |
|---|
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | PhD (Food Science) | Principal Supervisor | Variability in Wheat Biscuits and the Influence of Wheat Protein Content, Cooking Temperature and Time on Cooked Wheat Properties |
| 2002 | PHD Marine Science University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor | On the BIomechanics, ecology and evolution of Limpet Shell Design |
Dr John Furst
| Work Phone | (02) 4348 4117 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 4348 4145 |
| John.Furst@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Senior Lecturer Head of Physics Discipline School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Faculty of Science and Information Technology |
| Focus Area | Physics |
| Office | E1.121/P119 (Callaghan), Sciences Offices, Ourimbah 10 Chittaway Road Ourimbah NSW 2258 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/john-furst |
