Biography

I work within the Discipline of Chemistry which sits within the School of Environmental & Life Sciences.

I arrived at the University of Newcastle as a lecturer in Chemistry in December 1996 after a two year postdoc at the University of Otago in New Zealand. While employed at the University of Newcastle I have also enjoyed the privilege of overseas sabbatical periods at the Universities of Sussex (UK), Bordeaux (France), Sheffield (UK) and Durham (UK).

In 2009 I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Qualifications

• PhD (Surface Sciences), Australian National University, 1995
• Bachelor of Science (Chemistry)(Honours), Australian National University, 1990

Research

Research keywords

• adsorption
• atomic force microscopy
• characterisation of the solid-liquid interface
• colloid and interface science
• functional interfaces
• particle technology
• polymers

Research expertise

I am an active researcher in both fundamental and applied colloid and surface chemistry. I have built an international reputation for my contributions to the nanometre-scale understanding of the solid-liquid interface in the presence of surfactant or polymer molecules. I was one of the first researchers to use soft-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) to reveal detail of the lateral structure of adsorbed surfactant layers on the molecular scale. Through this I have developed highly specialised skills in soft-contact AFM imaging in water. By combining measurements of adsorption kinetics and adsorbed amounts, in 2003 we published the most thorough understanding of surfactant adsorption kinetics to date. In the last decade I have performed extensive fundamental research on the behaviour of stimulus responsive polymer molecules and polymeric colloids adsorbed at the solid-aqueous solution interface (funded by the Australian Research Council). Additionally, I have applied my fundamental knowledge & skills to a variety of industrial research problems including projects concerned with mining emulsion explosives, water-based paints, powder coatings, plastic solar cells, mineral flotation, smulsions & foams.

My research is highly cited and I have an H-index of 22.

Collaboration

The nature of my research lends itself to collaboration, a mode of research that I particularly enjoy, whether it be with colleagues at this university, elsewhere in Australia and indeed internationally. I have an excellent record of collaborative research coupled with successful research higher degree supervision. In the past decade I have collaborated with the following scientists:

Prof. Steve Armes (University of Sheffield)

Prof. Simon Biggs (University of Leeds)

Prof. Vince Craig (Australian National University)

Dr Steve Edmondson (University of Loughborough)

Dr Syuji Fujii (Osaka Institute of Technology)

Prof. George Franks (University of Melbourne)

Dr Seher Ata (University of New South Wales)

Dr Stuart Prescott (University of New South Wales)

and at this University with Dr Grant Webber, Prof. Graeme Jameson, Dr Roberto Moreno-Atanasio, A/Prof. Rob Atkin

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Advanced Particle Processing and Transport
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Organic Electronics
• SRC for Multiphase Processes

Memberships

ARC Committee member

• Member - ERA Research Evaluation Committee

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Fellow - Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member - RACI Division of Colloid and Surface Science
• Member - • European Colloid and Interface Society
• Member - International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists

Awards

Recognition.

Research Award.

Invitations

Administrative

Administrative expertise

In 2012 I served on the national ERA Research Evaluation Committee for Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences.

I was the Assistant Dean Research Training in the Faculty of Science & Information Technology 2009-2010.

I have an outstanding track record of leadership and national service to the Australian Colloid and Surface Science community including membership of 5 conference organising committees since 2003 & national secretary from 1999-2009. I was Chair of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Colloid and Surface Science Division from 2011-2012.

I undertake a range of research assessment roles including reviewer for the top international journals in colloid and interface science, regular PhD thesis examiner and ARC Discovery grant assessor (IntReader).

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• colloid and interface science
• physical chemistry

Teaching expertise

My research informs my teaching and vice versa.

I teach in an average of five 10cp courses per year to all undergraduate years from level 1000 through to 3000 in the form of lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions. These are predominantly in Physical, Colloid or Surface Chemistry

Programs

• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical)/Bachelor of Science – Chemistry Major
• Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management

Courses

• CHEM1010 - Introductory Chemistry I
• CHEM2410 - Physical Chemistry
• CHEM2610 - Environmental Chemistry I
• CHEM3410 - Energy & Structure
• CHEM3580 - Polymers & Colloids
• CHEM4110 - Chemistry Honours (CHEM4110; 4120; 4210; 4220)