Molecular Structure and Detection Group

Overview

The Molecular Structure and Detection Group (MSDG) comprises academics within the School of Environmental and Life Sciences who have an underlying interest in:

(i) determining the molecular structure of proteins, peptides, supra- and inorganic/organic molecules.

(ii) using an array of elemental and molecular detection techniques in order to identify, characterize, quantify and profile biomolecular and chemical systems.

The MSDG will use an array of instrumentation including workstations (for data processing and theoretical modelling), GC-MS, ICP-MS, ESI-MS, X-ray Diffraction, Neutron Diffraction, Electron Diffraction and NMR in order to determine the Group's objectives as outlined in (i) and (ii). At present the MSDG comprise of the following members:

Facilitator: A/Prof Hugh Dunstan (Biology)
Prof Tim Roberts (Biology)
Dr Michelle Adams (Applied Sciences and Biology)
Prof Ellak von Nagy-Felsobuki (Chemistry)
Dr Robert Burns (Chemistry)
A/Prof Phillip Geary (Earth Sciences)
Conjoint A/Prof Peter Coombes

Member Interests

RH Dunstan and TK Roberts

The metabolomics of staphylococcal spp in response to environmental stresses
The purification of urinary metabolites associated with chronic disease
The development of a research model for chronic fatigue illness
- The role of amino acids
Diversity of bacteria in stored rainwater tanks

EI von Nagy-Felsobuki

Electronic Structure and Rovibrational States of Transition Metal Helides
Electronic Structure and mass Spectral Characterization of van der Waals Clusters
Mass Spectral Identification of Inorganic Compounds
Mass Spectral Identification of the Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation of Proteins,

RC Burns

Mass Spectral Identification of Inorganic Compounds relevant to Oxometalate Polymerization Processes
Structural Studies (X-Ray and Neutron Diffraction) of Polyoxometalates
Kinetics and Mechanism of Formation of Polyoxometalates
Immobilization and Remobilization of Heavy Metals from Wastewater
Polyoxometalates as Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalyst

Philip Geary

Waste water
Sources of pollution in ground water
Hydrology

Michelle Adams

Probiotics
Intestinal bacterial flora
B-group vitamins and folic acid in autism

Peter Coombes

Rainwater tanks and integrated water cycle management
Hotwater treatment and control of pathogens in stored rainwater
Diversity of bacteria in stored rainwater tanks