Our researchers

The University of Newcastle is home to some of the world’s best researchers.

Our teams have won national and international awards for their work in engineering, cancer prevention, education, humanities, Indigenous studies and more.

These accolades recognise their contributions to the advancement of new knowledge and the calibre of talent we have here at the University.

Featured researchers

Kelvin Kong

Australia’s first Aboriginal surgeon - the highly acclaimed ear, nose and throat surgeon Associate Professor Kelvin Kong - was awarded the prestigious Menzies Medallion in 2020 for his leadership and advocacy for Indigenous health and research.

Matt Dun

Dr Matt Dun was named a 2020 Young Tall Poppy for his work with rare brain cancers. He was also named Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow at the 2019 NSW Premier Awards.

Anna Giacomini

Professor Anna Giacomini and Professor Shanyong Wang won back-to-back John Booker Medals for Engineering Excellence, in 2019 and 2018.

Laureate Prof Nicholas Talley and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Nick Talley

Laureate Professor Nick Talley has been named the most cited researcher in his field out of more than 76,300 authors. This is the latest in a string of honours bestowed on Professor Talley, who was named NSW Scientist of the Year in 2018.

Lyndall Ryan

'The Killing Times' – a collaboration between Professor Lyndall Ryan's Massacres Map team and The Guardian newspaper – won a 2019 Walkley Award for coverage of Indigenous Affairs. The collaboration also won a 2019 NSW Premier's History Prize for Digital Innovation.

Myles Young

Dr Myles Young was named Outstanding Early Researcher of the Year in the 2019 Bupa Foundation Awards. He has also been named one of the 2021 AMP Tomorrow Makers for his work in men's health.

Heather Lee

As the top female applicant in the country, Dr Heather Lee won a 2018 Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research for her work to improve survival rates of patients with leukaemia.

Frances Kay-Lambkin

Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin was named the 2019 Researcher of the Year at the annual Hunter Medical Research Institute awards.

Behdad Moghtaderi

Professor Behdad Moghtaderi received the prestigious ExxonMobil Award of Excellence in Chemical Engineering.

Clare Collins

Clare Collins received a Laureate Professor distinction in 2020 - becoming the second woman at the University of Newcastle to receive such an honour. In 2019, she was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences for outstanding contributions to her field.

Nikola Bowden

Pioneering cancer researcher Associate Professor Nikola Bowden was a finalist in the 2019 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards. She’s also the recipient of an unprecedented 10-year Hunter Medical Research Institute Fellowship dedicated to ovarian cancer research.

Kevin Galvin

Laureate Professor Kevin Galvin was named a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2020 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of mineral processing. The fellowship is one of the highest honours an Australian scientist can receive.

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.