UNSW Scientia Program
UNSW is dedicated to addressing global issues that keep us awake at night, harnessing disruptive approaches and drawing together diverse disciplines, teams, and institutions to undertake research that will change our world for the better. Scientia academics are at the forefront of research that will tackle these issues. To date, over 160 early to mid-career researchers have been appointed to the Scientia Program across diverse Faculties at UNSW Sydney.
Scientia Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum’s project supports those living in the most difficult communities, access sport and physical activity to enhance mental health and wellbeing. Watch the video
The UNSW Scientia Program is one of the cornerstones of UNSW’s 2025+ Strategy. The strategy identifies that collaboration and interdisciplinary research drives motivation and success in responding to global issues. It also highlights our aspiration to be recognised as an international exemplar in equity, diversity and inclusion and an employer of choice for people from diverse backgrounds. Our diversity commitment aligns to our strong sense of social responsibility and our belief that a diverse workforce enhances our ability to deliver world class research, teaching excellence and thought leadership.
Scientia Associate Professor Kevin Lowe’s Culturally Nourishing Schools Project seeks to support educational change and community engagement, providing culturally relevant content for Indigenous education. Watch the video
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Industry co-funded Scientia Program positions
A new initiative is the introduction of industry co-funded positions. UNSW has a long and successful history of partnering with end users, and this initiative brings academia and industry closer together to further the impact of research translation. Implemented in 2023, the industry co-funded Scientia Program initiative aims to further strengthen the translation of critical research through direct collaboration with industry, government, not for profits and other organisations driven to improve our world. The partner organisation will benefit from this direct relationship with the researcher, who has access to UNSW’s world class facilities, cutting edge technology and stellar research teams.
Scientia Associate Professor Rona Chandrawati and her team discuss their groundbreaking research which could resolve food wastage, potentially alleviating global food shortages. Watch the video
Scientia academics who are appointed through the industry co-funded initiative will hold an academic appointment with a relevant faculty. UNSW and the industry partner are responsible for supporting the Scientia academic.
Scientia Senior Lecturer Dr Laura Parker and the Department of Fisheries have a successful partnership striving to protect our Sydney rock oyster aquaculture against the impacts of climate change. Watch the video
For more information about the Scientia Program, email the Senior Scientia Advisor: evelyn.mike@unsw.edu.au
Scientia Program Status report 2017-2023
UNSW Scientia
In addition to being leaders in their fields, Scientia academics are leaders in their School and Faculty, engaging with the three pillars of social engagement, global impact and academic excellence. Scientia academics enhance the culture of research excellence, mentoring, career development, leadership, and community at UNSW. To learn more about each Scientia and their ground-breaking work, click on the photos below.
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Engineering - Wengui Li
Wengui Li is an ARC Future Fellow and Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is interested in Advanced Construction Materials and his research focuses on Intelligent Concrete and Concrete Nanotechnology. Through his research, Wengui aims to achieve resilient infrastructure and concrete decarbonisation.
When Wengui is not researching, he enjoys hiking around the coastal regions.
For further information about Wengui Li see his research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/wengui-li
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Engineering - Bernd Gludovatz
Bernd is an ARC Future Fellow and Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. He is interested in processing-structure-property relationships of advanced materials. Specifically, his work focusses on understanding the mechanisms that control deformation, fracture and fatigue of compositionally complex metallic systems such as bulk-metallic glasses and high-entropy alloys; he is additionally working on nature-inspired composites and biological materials and has extensive experience applying state-of-the-art experimental techniques to characterise materials both ex-situ and in-situ on different length scales and in various environments. Furthermore, he is interested in the analysis of components that fail in service. Through his research, Bernd aims to design more damage-tolerant materials for energy-efficient, economically viable and safety-critical applications in sectors such as transportation, defense, and the biomedical device industry.
When Bernd is not researching, he enjoys sailing on Sydney Harbour and along the coast of Australia, playing cornet when he is at home in Austria, and taking pictures when traveling the world.
For further information about Bernd see his research page:
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Engineering - Priyank Vijaya Kumar
Priyank Vijaya Kumar is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering. He is interested in computational materials design and his research focuses on the application of atomistic methods such as density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and molecular dynamics to study various nanomaterials such as metal/semiconductor nanocrystals, two-dimensional materials etc. Through his research, Priyank aims to understand and develop material solutions for photo/electrocatalysis, electronics, optoelectronics, water and health-care.
When Priyank is not researching, he enjoys cricket, badminton and traveling.
Priyank got his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. Before joining UNSW, he was a Marie-Curie postdoctoral fellow at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
For further information about Priyank see his research page:
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Engineering - Alison Ciesla
Alison is a Scientia Lecturer and Project Leader of Industry Collaborations in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. She is interested in understanding and improving the efficiencies and reliability of commercial solar cells, as well as developing new solar systems to enable everybody to access solar power. Her research currently focuses on manipulating hydrogen for trapping in silicon crystal defects for improved passivation, as well as investigating fundamental hydrogen properties via experimental and theoretical analysis including deuterium studies and developing testing methods and solutions for light-induced degradation.
Through her research and collaborations with some of the world’s largest solar manufacturers, Alison aims to maximise the power output of commercial solar cells while reducing costs by enabling use of cheaper silicon wafer sources. When Alison is not researching, she enjoys being outdoors, particularly at the beach or snowboarding, travelling the world, learning new things and spending time with family and friends.
For further information about Dr. Alison Ciesla see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-alison-maree-ciesla -
Engineering - Arne Laucht
Dr Arne Laucht is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications. He is interested in Quantum Engineering and his research focuses on Quantum Computation with Spins in Silicon and the Optics of Colour Centres. Through his research, Arne strives to find answers to fundamental questions in quantum physics, and develop novel quantum applications. When Arne is not researching, he enjoys riding his bicycle through Sydney and the surrounding national parks.
Arne has also developed the quantum teaching lab for the course ‘Quantum Devices and Computers’ (ELEC4605) which allows students to perform coherent spin-resonance on spins in diamond – initializing, controlling and reading their own qubits.
For further information about Dr Arne Laucht see his research page:
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Engineering - Brett Hallam
Brett Hallam is a Scientia Associate Professor and ARC DECRA Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. He is interested in creating cost-effective solar panel technologies, and his research focuses on developing processes to increase the efficiency of solar cells and improve reliability. Brett and his team have recently developed processes to solve an ironic form of degradation in solar panels, where their performance is reduced after exposure to sunlight. This technology has been commercialised around the world and has enabled solar panel manufacturers to increase module power and improve warranties.
Through his research, Brett aims to push the boundaries of what is thought possible for silicon solar cells and help drive the world towards a green energy future, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation and enable the use of photovoltaics for other applications such as transportation. When Brett is not researching, he enjoys traveling and spending time under the sun surfing and kitesurfing, and trying to improve his latte art.
For further information about Brett see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-brett-jason-hallam -
Engineering - Derrick Wing Kwan Ng
Derrick Wing Kwan Ng is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. He is interested in the broad area of wireless communications and his research focuses on 6G wireless communication systems.
Through his research, Derrick aims to design of resource allocation algorithms for realizing spectral efficient, energy efficient, and secure communication networks. In addition, he was listed as a Highly-Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics in 2018 and 2019.
When Derrick is not researching, he enjoys travelling around the world.
For further information about Derrick see his research page:
http://www2.ee.unsw.edu.au/~derrick/index.html
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Engineering - Dorna Esrafilzadeh
Dr. Esrafilzadeh is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. Dorna‘s research interest is additive manufacturing of multi-functional structures underpinning biomedical applications and renewable energies. She is developing electrically conducting biomaterials using broad range of organic and inorganic conductors in micro and nanoscale for regenerative medicine, bio-interfacial engineering and bionics.
Dorna has expertise in bio-fabrication of different polymeric and non-polymeric structures using spinning and 3D printing for manipulation of cellular orientation and controlled release of biological triggers. She is also interested in developing new classes of atomically thin materials that provide foundation for novel catalysis systems, renewable energies and biomedical devices. Through her multidisciplinary research, Dorna aims to transform the traditional biomedical devices using multifunctional electrically conducting structures to an effective pathway toward electrotherapy for neurodegenerative disease.
For further information about Dorna see her research page:
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Engineering - Edgar Wong
Dr Edgar Wong is an ARC Future Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering. He is interested in developing new and effective compounds (drugs) and materials (coatings) using polymer chemistry tools and his research focuses on combating the global health issue of antimicrobial resistance. Through his research, Edgar aims to create new technologies and knowledge that will contribute to better healthcare.
When Edgar is not researching, he enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his family.
For further information about Edgar see his research page:
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Engineering - Fiona Johnson
Fiona Johnson is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is interested in changes to flooding, droughts and extreme events due to climate change and her research focuses on how best to use climate models in engineering design, with a particular interest in statistical methods that can answer these questions. Through her research, Fiona aims to provide sustainable solutions to the water engineering problems faced by communities, particularly those in developing countries.
When Fiona is not researching, she enjoys exploring the world anew and going on small adventures with her young daughter.
For further information about Fiona see her research page:
https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/civil-engineering/staff/fiona-johnson
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Engineering - Guo Chen
Dr Guo Chen is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. He is interested in electrical power and energy systems. His research focuses on power system security assessment, sustainable energy system modelling, cyber physical system modelling, optimisation and control, and their applications in smart grid. Through his research, Dr Chen aims to mitigate the risk and large blackouts, and provide a robust power grid that supplies reliable and sustainable electricity.
Dr Chen's dream is to become a leading academic scholar in power and energy engineering. As an academic, he has more flexibility in pursuit of career development. A typical day is comprised of academic work, like reading and writing papers, teaching courses, and helping students solve their academic questions. This kind of job does not have to be strictly nine to five, and no boss watches you every day. He is enjoying this academic freedom. When Dr Chen is not researching, he enjoys jogging, hiking and swimming.
For further information about Dr Chen see his research page:
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Engineering - Hamid Rokny
Dr Hamid Rokny is a Scientia Associate Lecturer at the UNSW Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. He is also Heath Data Analytics Program leader of AI-enabled Processes (AIP) Research Centre. Hamid received his master degree in artificial intelligence/machine learning and his Ph.D in computational biology from UNSW, 2018. Before finishing his Ph.D, Hamid joined Prof Alistair Forrest's Lab at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to study transcriptional regulation in mammals by cutting-edge machine learning techniques. His research focuses on using cutting-edge systems biology and advanced health data analytics techniques in conjunction with genome-wide data to understand the impact of genomic variants on genetic diseases and disorders.
Hamid is currently leading multiple international projects (jointly with UWA, Uni Adelaide, SUT, and Texas Biomed) investigating the impacts of non-coding regulatory variants in genetic diseases (in particular neurodevelopmental disorders and breast cancer) through integration of Hi-C, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, and genomic variants. He is keen to see accurate diagnostic genomic tools implemented into the clinic to improve the health care and genomic-based treatments in the Australian health system. As a young and early career scientist, Hamid has published 33 publications; he has been able to secure several national and international grants/fellowships.
For further information about Hamid see his research page:
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Engineering - Haris Aziz
Haris Aziz is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science.
He is interested in artificial intelligence, theoretical computer science, and microeconomics and his research focuses on the intersection of the three fields. In particular, he is interested in computational social choice, algorithmic game theory and market design.
Through his research, Haris aims to design algorithms that facilitate cooperation and make fairer and better decisions. When Haris is not researching, he enjoys travelling and playing tennis.
For further information about Haris see his research page:
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Engineering - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina is an ARC Future Fellow and Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering.
Her research is at the interface of biology and engineering, focusing on understanding the effect of biomaterial properties on tissue responses. She develops novel vascular grafts, cardiac patches and wound dressings and investigates how biophysical biomaterial properties direct cellular interactions including angiogenesis, immune response, tissue remodelling and integration with the body. Jelena is internationally recognised for her work on silk and elastin-based biomaterials. Through her research, Jelena aims to develop new treatment options for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.When Jelena is not researching, she enjoys exploring local parks and beaches with her young family.
For further information about Jelena see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-jelena-rnjak-kovacina
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Engineering - Jin Zhang
Jin Zhang is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. She is interested in fibres and fibre reinforced composites and her research focuses on rapid out-of-autoclave composite manufacture, multiscale multifunctional composites, lightweighting, biological composites, and smart textiles.
Through her research, Jin aims to create an understanding of new generation of fit-for-purpose composite materials. Jin is a recipient of Endeavour Fellowship in 2012 and Victoria Fellowship in 2013. Prior to the Scientia Fellowship, she has worked as senior research fellow to support research activities in innovative fibres and composites involving close collaboration with research partners such as Quickstep Technologies, Auto CRC, Transurban, Cotton Research & Development Cooperation.
When Jin is not researching, she enjoys art exhibitions, live concerts and fashion.
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Engineering - Kang Liang
Dr Kang Liang is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellow and Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering.
He is interested in nanostructured materials for biotechnology and the environment and his research focuses on materials interface, biomimetics, bionics, and smart nano-bio systems. Through his research, Kang aims to develop new materials solutions for biocatalysis, biosensing, and drug delivery. When Kang is not researching, he enjoys reading and playing tennis.
For further information about Kang see his research page:
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Engineering - Luca Modenese
Dr Luca Modenese is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. He is interested in biomechanics and studying how computational models of the neuro-musculoskeletal system can be created from medical images and used in simulations of human motion.
Through his research, Luca aims to provide accurate digital twins of patients to surgeons and physical therapists, so that they can plan personalised treatments and rehabilitation programmes by evaluating the outcome of multiple therapeutical options in silico. Luca believes in open-source science and has shared several computational resources through his GitHub account (https://github.com/modenaxe) and research presentations on his YouTube channel:
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp08ZXIV056MxvOvdMeowtA).
When Luca is not researching, he enjoys running, travelling to new places, reading books and playing ukulele and guitar.
For further information about Luca, see his research page:
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Engineering - Michael Nielsen
Dr. Michael Nielsen is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering working with Associate Professor N. J. Ekins-Daukes. He is interested in the use of ultrafast spectroscopic techniques for advanced characterization of novel photovoltaic materials and his research focuses hot carriers for photovoltaics, photodetection, and photochemistry, molecular photovoltaics focusing on singlet fission and triplet-triplet annihilation for up/down conversion, and optical characterisation techniques such as photoreflectance for new materials.
Through his research, Dr. Nielsen aims to practically break the single junction Shockley–Queisser limit for photovoltaics. When Michael is not researching, he enjoys hiking, travelling, and board games.
He obtained his BEng in Engineering Physics (Nanoengineering) in 2011 followed by an MSc in Electrical Engineering in 2013 where he was supervised by Professor Abdul Elezzabi, both at the University of Alberta. Dr. Nielsen graduated with a PhD in Physics in 2017 from Imperial College London under Dr. Rupert Oulton and Professor Stefan Maier. After graduation, he continued at Imperial College London as a Research Associate, before coming to UNSW as a postdoctoral fellow in May 2018.
For further information about Michael see his research pages:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-michael-nielsen or https://www.qpvgroup.org/michael-nielsen
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Engineering - Mitchell Harley
Mitchell Harley is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is interested in coastal engineering, focusing specifically on the potential impacts of changes to extreme storms and wave energy on coastal processes. When Mitchell is not researching, he enjoys listening to a good jazz album and exploring the outdoors.
For further information about Mitchell, see his research page:
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Engineering - Rahman Daiyan
Rahman Daiyan is a Scientia Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering. He is interested in developing clean energy technologies for decarbonisation, and his research focuses on developing catalysts and systems for hydrogen and derivative production (Power to X) and understanding their feasibility. Through his research, Daiyan aims to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies to meet net-zero targets committed by Australian Government.
When Daiyan is not researching, he enjoys playing peekaboo with his mini-human, carrying out cooking experiments in the kitchen, and travelling with family.
For further information about Daiyan, see his research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-rahman-daiyan -
Engineering - Rona Chandrawati
Dr Rona Chandrawati is a Scientia Senior Lecturer, and ARC DECRA Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering. She heads the Nanotechnology for Food and Medicine Laboratory and she is interested in developing technologies that enable the detection of diseases, food contamination, and environmental pollutants better and faster. She developed colorimetric assays using nanoparticles to detect blood clotting factors, cancer biomarkers, flu biomarkers, and heavy metal ions at clinically relevant levels. These assays will be valuable in prompt identification and early intervention for controlling potential life-threatening diseases. The Chandrawati Lab also works on colorimetric sensors and labels that can be attached to packaging to detect food spoilage.
Dr Chandrawati obtained her PhD from The University of Melbourne in 2012. She was then a Marie Curie Fellow at Imperial College London before returning to Australia as a Lecturer in 2015 and a Senior Lecturer in 2018. Dr Chandrawati was named one of the World Economic Forum’s 50 Young Scientists Under 40 in 2018.
For further information about Dr Rona Chandrawati, see her research page:
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Engineering - Shiyang Tang
Shiyang Tang is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
He is interested in mechatronic and biomedical engineering, and his research focuses on 1) investigating soft smart materials for applications in robotics, and 2) innovating microfluidic devices for biosensing. Shiyang aims to engineer intelligent electromechanical systems and biomedical devices through the investigation of the fundamental properties of materials.When Shiyang is not researching, he enjoys photography, hiking, and reading.
For further information about Shiyang see his research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/shiyang-tang
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Engineering - Thanh Nho Do
Dr. Thanh Nho Do is a Scientia Lecturer in the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales. He is interested in the development of flexible endoscopic surgical robots, especially Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) systems, and soft capsule endoscopy for gastrointestinal cancer and obesity treatments. He also has rich experience and skills in the development of advanced mechatronic systems for tracheal diseases and other respiratory disorders. He also gained extensive knowledge in the development of soft robotic systems including novel soft sensors and actuators for haptic/tactile displays, fashion, advanced wearable devices, rehabilitation, and healthcare. He is an expert in nonlinear backlash/hysteresis modelling and advanced nonlinear control systems for flexible medical systems, smart materials, and structures.
Through his research, Dr. Do aims to develop advanced functional soft materials and novel design of flexible robotics, soft wearable devices, and mechatronic systems to improve the human quality of life.
When Dr. Do is not researching, he enjoys running, watching movies, travels, and playing with his children.
For further information about Dr. Thanh Nho Do, see his research page:
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Engineering - Xunyu Lu
Xunyu Lu is a Scientia Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering. He is interested in energy conversion and storage as well as electrochemistry and his research focuses on developing active and cost-effective energy devices for the production of renewable chemicals/chemical fuels, such as hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen and ehtanol. Through his research, Xunyu aims to accelerate the realisation of a carbon neutral and sustainable energy future for Australia and the rest of the world.
When Xunyu is not researching, he enjoys travelling, wine tasting, and playing soccer (previously in the field and now on the Nintendo Switch).
For further information about Xunyu see his research page:
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Engineering - Yang Song
Yang Song is an ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science and Engineering.
She is interested in computer vision and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on biomedical image computing and machine learning. Through her research, Yang aims to develop novel machine/deep learning methodologies for a wide range of computer vision applications.
When Yang is not researching, she enjoys relaxing at national parks with her family and playing with her pets.
For further information about Yang, see her research page:
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Engineering - Yi Liu
Yi Liu is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is interested in Earth observation from space and his research focuses on using satellite observations to investigate hydrological cycle and vegetation dynamics to better characterize and understand the interactions between different hydrological and ecological components. Through his research, Yi aims to improve our prediction capacity of vegetation responses to future climate change and human activities.
When Yi is not researching, he enjoys playing tennis and badminton.
For further information about Yi Liu see his research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-yi-liu
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Engineering - Yu Jing
Yu Jing is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering.
She is interested in the characterisation of coal seam gas reservoirs and her research specifically focuses on the fracture modelling and petrophysical analysis of the coal fracture system. Through her research, Jing aims to better understand and characterise the coal fracture system, so that the subsurface flow of underground fluids such as methane and groundwater, can be simulated and predicted more accurately, which can help increase coal seam gas production.
When Jing is not doing research, she likes to go to La Perouse to watch the sunset or have a coastal walk from Coogee to Bronte Beach. Sometimes she prefers to just relax at home with her cat. She also likes painting and playing ukulele.
For further information about Yu Jing see her research page:
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Engineering - Yulei Sui
Yulei Sui is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science and Engineering. He is interested in secure software engineering and machine learning and his research focuses on analysis and verification for responsible AI and large-scale software. Through his research, Yulei aims to build open-source and machine-learning-based frameworks to improve the reliability and security of modern systems.
When Yulei is not researching, he enjoys traveling and playing basketball.
For further information about Yulei see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-yulei-sui -
Business - Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson is a Scientia Associate Professor in UNSW Business School, School of Accounting. He is interested in financial accounting and financial statement analysis. His research focuses on earnings co-movements and decomposing earnings into market, industry and firm idiosyncratic components.
This research has the potential to improve the understanding of the sources of earnings and the degree to which firm’s earnings are related to industry peers. Through his research, Andrew aims to lead to improvements in decision making by users of financial statements, such as improving the ability to forecast future earnings and value assets. When Andrew is not researching, he enjoys time with his family, listening to red dirt country music, and watching baseball and American football.
For further information about Andrew see his research page:
https://www.business.unsw.edu.au/our-people/andrewjackson -
Business - Katja Ignatieva
Katja is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Risk and Actuarial Studies at UNSW Business School. She holds a PhD in Finance from the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany and a PhD in Economics from Macquarie University, Sydney. Prior to her PhD studies, Katja completed her MSc in Mathematics and Statistics from Humboldt University Berlin, Germany as well as Glasgow University, UK.
Katja’s research interests lie in the area of quantitative finance, in particular, financial econometrics, derivative pricing and risk management. Katja performs empirical research in financial markets, commodity and energy markets, and insurance. Katja has published her research in top tier international journals such as Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Journal of Banking and Finance, Energy Economics and Insurance: Mathematics and Economics among others. Katja is also teaching undergraduate actuarial courses and is actively involved in teaching innovation and digital uplift of the courses.
For further information about Katja see her research page:
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Business - Tanya Fiedler
Tanya Fiedler is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Business, School of Accounting, Auditing & Taxation.
She is interested in climate risk and her research focuses on how insights gained from the climate sciences can be translated into information of value to business and those to whom business is accountable to. In doing so, Tanya engages directly with climate scientists, corporates, auditors, accounting standard setters and financial regulators.Through her research, Tanya aims to mainstream the consideration of climate change through all forms of business and financial decision-making and practice.
When Tanya is not researching, she enjoys walking with her daughters on multi-day hikes in remote locations to explore the beauty nature has to offer.
For further information about Tanya see her research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/tanya-fiedler
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Business - Timothy Neal
Timothy Neal is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the School of Economics and also the Institute for Climate Risk & Response (ICRR). His main research interests are climate change / environmental economics, panel data econometrics, and machine learning. His research has involved developing and applying large data to a diverse range of topics including the effects of climate change on crop yield, the impact of child labour on child development, and panic buying during the COVID pandemic. His future research agenda includes modelling the economic implications of climate change and exploring the synergies that exist between machine learning and econometric approaches to prediction and causal inference.
Tim was the recipient of the prestigious Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research in 2021 by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Alongside academic research, he has worked as an economic consultant on a full time and casual basis for prominent firms in Australia including Ernst & Young and Deloitte Access Economics.
For further information please see: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/timothy-neal -
Business - Wing Wah Tham
Wing Wah Tham is a Scientia Associate Professor of Finance in the UNSW Faculty of Business, School of Banking and Finance. He is interested in financial economics and his research focuses on econometrics, market microstructure, asset pricing and innovation.
Wing Wah’s current research agenda and interest aim to identify innovators’ research experiences and characteristics, through their digital footprints and a global patent database. This data will be analysed to derive implications for innovation and innovators’ career decisions and to measure the effects on economic and firm outcomes, using economic models, big data analytics, econometrics and machine learning. The anticipated goal is to change the ecosystem of how to nurture and to develop innovators through more effective public and economic policies, by overcoming barriers to innovation, knowledge diffusion and creation. His research has been published in top tier journals, including Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. He is also an EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow and Tinbergen Institute Fellow.
When Wing Wah is not researching, he enjoys competing in marathons and ocean swims.
For Further information about Wing Wah, see his research page:
https://www.business.unsw.edu.au/our-people/wing-wah-tham#Bio
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Business - Yan Xu
Yan Xu is a Scientia Associate Professor with the School of Taxation and Business Law at the UNSW Business School. She is interested in taxation law and policy and her research focuses on international taxation, the development of Chinese tax law and policy, environmental taxation and the history of tax law.
Through her research, Yan aims to understand and interpret how tax law and policy can be evolved to meet the demands of the modern economy and to respond to emerging socioeconomic issues such as income inequality. She also aims to analyse how the international politics of taxation can help lead to the growth of the rule of law and democracy and whether new technologies can contribute to such growth.
When Yan is not researching, she enjoys classical music, travelling, and yoga.
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Law & Justice - David Carter
David J. Carter is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law + Justice, School of Law, Society and Criminology. David is interested in medical and health law, and his research focuses on law as a factor in the cause, distribution and prevention of disease and injury. Through their research, David aims to understand and support the use of law to advance the fair treatment of those living with communicable disease, and to improve the quality and safety of healthcare.
When David is not researching, they enjoy volunteering and anything to do with the ocean.
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Law and Justice - Ben Milligan
Ben Milligan is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law and Justice, linked to the UNSW Business School Centre for Applied Economic Research, and Faculty of Science Centre for Ecosystem Science. He is interested in management of the environment as an economic asset, and his research and external engagement activities focus on the use of environmental information in public policymaking, and on the design of legal, institutional and policy frameworks for sustainable development.
Ben aims to support global efforts to implement more sustainable approaches to economic development planning, with a particular focus on ocean-based economies, ecological infrastructure, energy and climate change, extractive industries, and low- and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
When not working, he enjoys walking with his dog on the beach, spicy food and electronic music-making.
For further information about Ben see his research page:
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John Lock - Medicine and Health
John Lock is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences. John is a pioneer in the field of Systems Microscopy, using quantitative microscopic imaging to capture cell and molecular diversity in space and time, thereby revealing cancer drivers and potential therapeutic strategies. Using Systems Microscopy, John tackles three key challenges: 1) developing ‘precision diagnostics’ based on blood sampling (‘liquid biopsy’) of cancer patients to guide personalized treatments; 2) accelerating drug discovery through next-generation screening of candidate drug compounds, and; 3) analysing cancer cell ‘plasticity’ to define treatments that prevent both cancer progression and therapy resistance. To these ends, John’s team employs advanced laboratory automation (robotics, automated imaging) to scale and standardize sample processing, and leverage diverse statistical, data visualisation, machine learning and deep learning (‘AI’) methods for image and quantitative data analysis. These analyses convert billions of data points into actionable biological insights directed towards improving cancer patient outcomes.
When not at work, John is interested in politics, economics, music, digital art and making sure his dog is happy.
For more information about John, see his research profile: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/john-lock
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Medicine and Health - Alexandra Hogan
Alexandra Hogan is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine & Health, School of Population Health, and is supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant (Emerging Leader 1). She is interested in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, with a particular interest in quantifying the impact of new interventions such as vaccines. The focus of Alexandra’s current research is to develop dynamic models to help inform longer term planning of ongoing COVID-19 vaccination programs in Australia and the broader region, using models that account for the need for booster doses, properties and availability of current vaccines, the emergence of variants of concern, seasonality, and priority population groups. Through her research, Alexandra aims to help guide ongoing country-level COVID-19 vaccine programs, that align with the broader immunisation and health system priorities of individual countries. Sustainable and efficient COVID-19 vaccination policies will ultimately reduce the health and societal impact of COVID-19 for Australia and the region.
When Alexandra is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her young son, reading, baking, and listening to classical music.
For further information about Alexandra see her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-alexandra-hogan
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Medicine and Health - Aliza Werner-Seidler
Aliza Werner-Seidler is a Scientia Senior Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the Black Dog Institute. She is interested in the prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance. Her research focuses on the use of digital technologies to improve the reach and uptake of effective interventions, as well as identifying ways that programs can be implemented effectively in schools.
Through her research, Aliza aims to make mental health programs accessible to every single young person living in Australia. Many young people avoid seeking help for mental health issues for reasons that include stigma, confidentiality, cost, and availability. By inviting input from adolescents, Aliza hopes to learn about ways to overcome these barriers and contribute to the development of services and interventions that better suit young people so that they get the care they need.
When Aliza is not researching, you can find her reorganising her home with a zest that would make Kristina Duke proud, planning an outdoor adventure, writing a list, or learning about the perils of parenting.
For further information about Aliza see her research page:
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Medicine and Health - Angela Dos Santos
Angela Dos Santos is a Scientia Lecturer in the South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health.
She is interested in stroke and her research focuses on stroke in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Through her research, Angela aims to empower communities and make positive change to the health of our First Nations Peoples.
When Angela is not researching, she enjoys travel, live music, movies and theatre.
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Medicine and Health - Angela Kelly-Hanku
Angela Kelly-Hanku is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society. She is interested in the socio-cultural aspects of sexual, reproductive and maternal health, in low- to middle-income settings with a particular focus on Papua New Guinea.
Her work focuses on three main areas: 1. Sexuality, heath and culture particularly marginalised and vulnerable populations such as young people, sex workers and gender and sexually diverse people; 2. Acceptability and feasibility of new biomedical technologies for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of infectious diseases including HIV, STIs, HPV, TB and 3. The lived experiences of infectious diseases including HIV, TB, cervical cancer and other communicable diseases.
Through her research, Angela aims to provide the evidence based for informed and culturally appropriate health care policy and programs. When Angela is not researching (when is that?), she is busy raising her four children.
For further information about Angela Kelly-Hanku see her research page:
https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-angela-kelly%20 -
Medicine and Health - Angelica Merlot
Dr. Angelica Merlot is a NHMRC, CINSW and Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research and School of Women’s and Children’s Health. She is a cancer researcher and her research specifically focuses on deadly cancers with low survival rates that have seen very limited progress, including brain and pancreatic cancer. Through her research, Angelica aims to developing new targets and medicines to combat drug-resistance and metastasis (the spread of cancer to a secondary site in the body).
When Angelica is not researching, she enjoys travelling, dancing and cooking up a storm, making pastries and cakes.
Angelica was recently announced as the Young Woman of the Year (2019) by the NSW Government.
For further information about Dr. Angelica Merlot see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-angelica-marie-merlot
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Medicine and Health - Daisy Shu
Dr Daisy Shu is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science. Dr Shu received a Bachelor of Optometry and Vision Science from UNSW in 2013 and her PhD in biology from the University of Sydney in 2019. She conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, where she was appointed a Faculty Instructor, before returning to her alma mater at UNSW in 2023.
Dr Shu is an internationally recognised expert in retinal epithelial and endothelial cell biology and has been at the forefront of research in the mechanisms underlying retinal eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Australia. Her research focuses on the role of mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction in driving the pathogenic processes of retinal inflammation and angiogenesis. Moreover, Dr Shu’s studies have uncovered important discoveries in the molecular mechanisms underpinning epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process involved in scar formation during late-stage AMD. Through her research, Dr Shu aims to translate her research into clinical trials and discover new cures for AMD. With a passion for science communication and outreach, Dr Shu co-hosts a podcast called “Behind our Science” that features interviews with scientists who share their stories behind their latest scientific discoveries. She also actively shares her scientific research journey through social media platforms as @EyeDaisyShu on Twitter and Instagram.
When Dr Shu is not researching, she enjoys yoga, swimming, baking, and spending time with her friends and family.For further information about Dr Daisy Shu see her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-daisy-y-shu
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Medicine and Health - David Jacques
David Jacques is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences. He is interested in structural virology and his research focuses on the HIV capsid. Through his research, David aims to explain how the virus uses this protective shell to coordinate infection and evade immune recognition. Such an understanding will hopefully lead to new therapeutic strategies that disrupt the core of the virus before it can infect its target. He is also interested in understanding the fundamental biochemistry of some of the world’s deadliest viruses, including Hendra and Ebola.
When David is not researching, he enjoys singing with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. David also has a passion for science communication and in 2018 hosted a ‘Sensory Science and Discovery Day’ event aimed at bringing UNSW research to the vision impaired community without the use of visual displays.
For further information about David see his research page:
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Medicine and Health - David Khoury
Dr David Khoury is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The Kirby Institute.
He is interested in translating laboratory science into clinical insights, and his research leverages his background in applied mathematics to rigorously integrate data from laboratory research with clinical data. His work focuses on delivering quantitative tools and insights to facilitate the rational development and deployment of therapeutics and vaccines. Through his research, David aims to reduce the burden of infectious diseases on society, especially those that disproportionally impact vulnerable communities.
When David is not researching, he enjoys time with his family, in the veggie patch, and exploring spiritual matters in the Bible.
For further information about David see his research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/david-khoury
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Medicine and Health - Elissa Deenick
Elissa Deenick is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, located at the Garvin Institute. She is interested in how the immune system integrates signals to generate appropriate protective response against infection and how this goes wrong in diseases such as immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.
Elissa's research focuses on patients with genetic mutations leading to immune dysregulation, as well as mouse models of these conditions. These allow her to dissect the intracellular signaling pathways that control lymphocyte activation, differentiation and survival and thus allow the immune system to make the appropriate response for clearing infection. Through her research, Elissa aims to develop better, more targeted ways of treating people with immune problems such as immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.
When Elissa is not researching, she enjoys playing sports, particularly ice hockey, which worked out well with her post-doc in Toronto.
For further information about Elissa see her research page:
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Medicine and Health - Heather McCormack
Dr Heather McCormack is a Scientia Research Fellow at the Kirby Institute, Faculty Medicine and Health.
She is interested in social aspects of sexual health, strengths-based approaches to sexual health research, and innovative use of digital tools and communications channels for health promotion. Her research focuses on accessibility and acceptability of sexual health services to diverse populations, novel testing and prevention modalities for sexually transmissible infections and HIV, and the use of technology to optimise public health interventions relating to sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses. Through her research, Heather aims to improve patient experience within sexual health services and meaningfully contribute to making access to prevention, testing and treatment more equitable. She is strongly invested in inclusive and accessible knowledge translation.When Heather is not researching, she enjoys yoga, swimming, dancing, and reading comic books.
For further information about Dr Heather McCormack see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/ms-heather-mccormack
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Medicine and Health - Helga Zoega
Helga Zoega is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Centre for Big Data Research in Health. She is interested in the application of real-world data to answer questions about utilisation and safety of medicines among vulnerable populations, e.g. pregnant women and children. Her current research is focused on use of psychotropic medicines - such as antipsychotics and stimulants - during pregnancy their potential effects on birth outcomes and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Most of Helga’s work is conducted through international collaboration and large-scale data linkages across the Nordic countries, Australia and, the US. Through her research, Helga aims to improve the quality of mental health care and treatment safety for understudied populations globally. When Helga is not researching, she enjoys life with good coffee, yoga and family.
For further information about Helga Zoega see her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-helga-zoega
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Medicine and Health - Lisa Nivison-Smith
Dr Lisa Nivison-Smith is a NHMRC Research Fellow and Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science and the Centre for Eye Health.
She is interested in retinal disease biology and her research focuses on improving detection, diagnosis and management of photoreceptor degenerations such as macular degeneration. Through her research, Lisa aims to improve early detection of eye disease and reduce the incidence of preventable blindness.
When Lisa is not researching, she enjoys communicating science with the public, spending time with her family or working out at her local CrossFit gym.
For further information about Lisa see her research page:
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Medicine and Health - Lucia Romani
Lucia Romani is a Scientia Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society.
She is interested in reducing the burden of infectious diseases in low and middle -income countries and her research focuses on developing and optimising strategies to control infectious diseases including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and sexually transmitted infections. Through her research, Lucia aims to generate new evidence to accelerate the elimination of NTDs affecting at risk populations in resource-poor settings and optimise the management and integration of multiple NTD programs, their implementation and surveillance.
When Lucia is not researching, she enjoys travelling, swimming at the beach with her two young kids and cooking (and eating!) Italian food.
For further information about Lucia see her research page: https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-lucia-romani
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Medicine and Health - Min Jun
Min Jun is a Scientia Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, the George Institute for Global Health, Australia. He is passionate about identifying ways to improve the outcomes of individuals affected by chronic disease, in particular, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These conditions are commonly observed, not just in Australia but worldwide. In particular, over 850 million people have kidney disease worldwide while almost 18 million people die, globally, each year due to cardiovascular diseases. Better effective and safe strategies that treat and prevent such conditions are needed.
Min’s research seeks to study: 1) the relationships between various risk factors and patient-relevant outcomes among individuals with chronic disease to find novel ways to detect markers of disease early so that appropriate management strategies can be implemented and 2) current and potential management strategies (e.g. new and existing medicines) which could be used to prevent or treat these chronic diseases safely. Through his research, Min aims to identify effective ways to improve the lives of millions of individuals affected by chronic disease worldwide.
When Min is not researching, he loves spending time with his family and cooking.
For further information about Min Jun, see his research page:
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Medicine and Health - Nadeem Kaakoush
Dr Nadeem Kaakoush is a Cancer Institute NSW Career Development Fellow and Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences. He is interested in host-microbiome interactions and his research focuses on the role of the microbiome in gastrointestinal diseases such as oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
Through his research, Nadeem aims to identify specific microbial agents that are responsible for disease, as well as the mechanisms by which they cause disease.
When Nadeem is not researching, he enjoys nature trails, staying informed about world affairs, and good thriller movies.
Recent work by our group includes:
1) Signatures within the esophageal microbiome are associated with host genetics, age, and disease (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30558669)2) Specific Bacteria and Metabolites Associated With Response to Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30529583)
3) Gut Microbiome Analysis Identifies Potential Etiological Factors in Acute Gastroenteritis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29685983)For further information about Dr Nadeem Kaakoush see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-nadeem-omar-kaakoush
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Medicine and Health - Natalie Taylor
Natalie Taylor is an Associate Professor in Implementation Science and Health Systems in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Population Health.
She is interested in identifying the best ways to ensure the new knowledge and approaches generated from scientific research reach those who need it most – the patients. Her research focuses on using implementation research methods to design and study approaches for optimising the translation of innovations and interventions into the healthcare system. Through her research, Natalie aims to develop, apply, and advance methodologies to support and study optimal ways to translate evidence into practice, and share these approaches with academics, clinicians, and students to build more capacity for effective and efficient evidence translation in health.
When Natalie is not researching, she enjoys taking her two young boys to the beach, keeping fit, and playing soccer (football).
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Medicine and Health - Natasa Gisev
Dr Natasa Gisev is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
With a background in clinical pharmacy, her research interests lie in the use of big data and data linkage to evaluate medicines use and corresponding benefits/harms among populations with complex health care needs, including older adults and those with mental health and substance use disorders. The ultimate goal of her work is to improve the quality use of medicines and clinical outcomes in these populations.
Natasa’s work has influenced national and international policy and practice in the delivery of mental health treatment services, as well as the upscaling of treatment services for opioid dependence. She is currently leading a program of work focused on establishing population-based evidence on the long-term outcomes of prescribed opioid use, including the risk of developing dependence, overdose, and other harms.
When Natasa is not researching, she enjoys travelling, doing yoga and watching arthouse films.
For further information about Natasa see her research page:
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Medicine and Health - Nicole Carnt
Nicole Carnt is a Senior Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Nicole graduated from University of NSW in Optometry in 1989 and worked in private practice for 10 years before taking a position with the Brien Holden Vision Institute in 1999, where she held a variety of roles, including Principal Investigator on contact lens clinical trials. She completed a PhD on Epidemiology of Contact Lens Related Infection and Inflammation 2008-12 and was awarded a NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Fellowship Early Career Fellowship at University of Sydney in 2012 and spent the first 2.5 years at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, Europe’s largest tertiary eye hospital.
Nicole has been the recipient of many research awards including the Irving Fatt Memorial Lecture at British Contact Lens Association conference in May, 2019. She was awarded a position on the UNSW Scientia Program in 2017 and in addition to her research, also coordinates the 4th Year Optometry Ocular Therapy for Posterior Eye course. Her research passion is healthy contact lens wear, understanding wearer and practitioner behavior and the genetic susceptibility to infection and severe outcomes.
For more information about Nicole's work, see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-nicole-ann-carnt
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Medicine and Health - Orazio Vittorio
Dr Orazio Vittorio is a Scientia Senior Lecturer at the School of Women's and Children's Health UNSW and Project Leader at the Children’s Cancer Institute. He was recently awarded a the NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (2019-2023), and the Cure Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme as sole CI (2018-2020).
Dr Vittorio's recent investigations are focused on understanding the role of copper (Cu) metabolism/homeostasis in cancer (neuroblastoma and glioma). His research activity involves four interrelated cross-disciplinary objectives:
1. Determine the biological activity of Cu in tumour progression and in tumour microenvironment.
2. Design and optimise imaging strategies (64Cu PET, MRI with gold nanoparticles) for early cancer diagnosis and monitoring drug response/resistance in patients.
3. Develop therapeutics for targeting Cu in refractory and metastatic cancers.
4. Determine the role of copper intake in diet in cancer progression.Although Dr Vittorio received his PhD in Oncology only in 2011, he has been awarded highly competitive grants for about $2.5 million (sole CI), which he used to expand his research and build his multidisciplinary team.
Dr Vittorio's leadership in his field of research is evidenced by >70 peer-reviewed papers, 6 book chapters, 4 patents, and invitations to be a Keynote speaker in several conferences. As a member of the Kids Cancer Alliance Dr Vittorio has established collaborations with paediatric oncologists and industry partners. For more information about Dr Vittorio, see his research page at: https://wch.med.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-orazio-vittorio
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Medicine and Health - Sarah Sasson
Sarah Sasson is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The Kirby Institute. She is interested in translational human Immunology and her research focuses on the role of T cells in providing immunity to respiratory sepsis pathogens and human papilloma virus-associated cancers, as well as in autoimmune toxicities caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Through her research, Sarah aims to determine the specific molecular characteristics and pathways associated with highly effective or pathogenic T cell responses. Sarah hopes to apply this knowledge towards the development of novel therapeutic strategies. When Sarah is not researching, she enjoys travel, yoga, swimming and creative writing.
Sarah completed a B.Arts (English)/B.Science(HonsI) at UNSW prior to a combined MBBS(Hons)/PhD program. Sarah was awarded dual fellowships of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists Australasia in 2017. From 2018-2019 Sarah underwent postdoctoral training at the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford as part of the Oxford-Celgene Fellowship Program. She returned to take up her current position in January 2020.
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Medicine and Health - Shafagh Waters
Dr Shafagh Waters is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences.
She is interested in personalised medicine and her research focuses on stem cell biology for disease modelling. Through her research, Shafa aims to transform and find curative treatments for rare disease by advancing genotype-specific precision interventions. Shafa has recently received a New South Wales Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2022) by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science.When Shafa is not researching, she enjoys taking her young daughter to the beach and creating children’s picture books.
For further information about Shafa see her research page:
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Medicine and Health - Simon Rosenbaum
Simon Rosenbaum is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Psychiatry. He is interested in the relationship between physical activity and mental health and the role of sport and exercise in improving outcomes for vulnerable populations including refugees.
His research focuses on how exercise can be used to help people recover from mental illness including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Through his research, Simon aims to help ensure exercise becomes a routine part of mental health care.
When Simon is not researching, he enjoys being active himself, particularly outside including kayaking, bike riding and rock climbing.
For further information about Simon see his/ research page:
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Medicine and Health - Simone Reppermund
Simone Reppermund is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Psychiatry.
She is interested in mental health, cognitive disorders and ageing and her research focuses on late-life depression, cognitive impairment including dementia, everyday activities in old age and mental health in intellectual disability. Through her research, Simone aims to improve health and mental health outcomes for people with cognitive and mental disorders. She uses a range of methods, including interrogation of large linked datasets, development of diagnostic tools and analysis of factors associated with late-life depression and cognitive decline.
Given the increasing ageing population, it is crucial to understand late-life depression and the relationship with cognitive decline in more detail to advance treatment and prevention strategies. Simone enjoys working together with a range of people locally and internationally to tackle gaps in knowledge and to develop new knowledge that may lead to improvements in people’s lives.
When Simone is not researching, she enjoys travelling, going to concerts and spending time with her friends and family.
For further information about Simone see her research page:
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Medicine and Health - Xiaoyue (Luna) Xu
Dr Xiaoyue (Luna) Xu is a Scientia Lecturer and Heart Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine.
Luna is interested in population health and her research focuses on exploring health behaviours and lifestyle components for primary and secondary prevention of non-communicable disease (NCD) in older people by using large datasets. Through her research, Luna aims to deliver robust evidence to promote peoples’ health behaviour, particularly on dietary behaviour. Her research aims to inform public health and clinical practice in NCD prevention, and also to provide strong evidence for health professionals to design effective health behaviour interventions to improve NCD prevention strategies, which will significantly reduce the burden of NCD in Australia and globally.
When Luna is not researching, she enjoys painting, yoga, and family time.
For further information about Dr Luna Xu see her research page:
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Science - Anna Wang
Anna is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry. She is interested in out-of-equilibrium phenomena, and her research focuses on soft condensed matter, and lipid membranes in the context of astrobiology. Through her research, Anna aims to understand the self-assembly processes that underpin cellular life’s origins and their utility in making advanced materials.
When Anna is not researching, she enjoys travel, good food and drink, rock climbing, music, and dancing, especially with friends. Originally from Sydney, she spent eight years in Boston, USA for her PhD at Harvard University with Prof. Vinothan N Manoharan and NASA-postdoctoral-program-funded work with Prof. Jack W Szostak at Massachusetts General Hospital.
For further information about Anna see her research page:
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Science - Caroline Foster
Dr Caroline Foster is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Physics.
She is interested in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Her current research focuses on the morphological and dynamical transformation of galaxies across cosmic time.
Through her research, Dr Foster aims to understand why the spin of galaxies “slows down” as they age.When Caroline is not researching, she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, cycling, board games, reading and sometimes has time for rock climbing.
For further information about Dr Caroline Foster see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-caroline-foster
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Science - Cecile King
Cecile King is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS). Dr King received her PhD from UWA and completed postdoctoral training at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA. Cecile’s research led her towards studying RNA and retrotransposons where she is harnessing her expertise in immunology to probe their function. Over a third of our genomes are made up of retrotransposons and their ability to regulate the expression of genes in a cell type-specific manner makes them exciting both as a basic research focus and as therapeutic targets. Cecile’s research program is using state-of-the art technologies to identify retrotransposons that impact cellular function and understand their effect on the immune response.
When Cecile is not researching, she enjoys travel, spending time in nature, running and yoga.For further information about Cecile see her research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/cecile-king
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Science - Chris Goodrich
Chris Goodrich is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Mathematics and Statistics. He is interested in real analysis and differential equations, and his research focuses on discrete fractional calculus, boundary value problems, and regularity theory for elliptic PDEs.
Through his research, Chris aims to better understand the qualitative properties of nonlocal operators as well as the regularity of solutions of elliptic PDEs with rough coefficients.
When Chris is not researching, he enjoys composing music, playing the piano, and spending time with his two miniature dachshunds.
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Science - David White
David White is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology. He is interested in person perception, and specifically the cognitive and perceptual processes that enable people to recognise one another. Recently, his research has focussed on 'super-recognisers' and other individuals that show very high levels of accuracy on face identification tasks. Through this work he aims to understand the processes that govern people's ability to identify one another in daily life, and to apply this knowledge to improve accuracy of important professional face identification tasks; for example, when identifying perpetrators of crime from CCTV, or verifying the identity of unfamiliar people at national borders.
David has worked with a range of partners in Government and Industry to address problems of applied and theoretical significance, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Defence Science and Technology Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology (US), London Metropolitan Police and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
For further information please see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-david-white -
Science - Katherine Moseby
Dr Katherine Moseby is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. She is passionate about arid zone ecology, threatened species reintroductions and predator prey interactions. Her research focuses on large scale field experiments designed to improve the plight of threatened species through adaptive management. Katherine has a special interest in deserts and creating conservation partnerships that combine research with on ground outcomes.
When she is not conducting research she is living and managing her private conservation reserve in remote South Australia with her partner and family.
For further information about Katherine Moseby see her research page:
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Science - Laura Parker
Dr Laura Parker is a Scientia Lecturer and ARC DAATSIA Fellow in the Faculty of Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Laura is interested in understanding and overcoming the impacts of climate change and environmental stress on marine organisms. Her research focuses specifically on building resilience in marine molluscs to current (e.g. salinity, food availability) and future (e.g. ocean warming and acidification) stressors and understanding the underlying physiological, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms involved.
Through her research, Laura aims to develop new capacities to 'future-proof' natural oyster populations and the Australian oyster industry, and contribute to the restoration of degraded oyster habitats that are of enormous importance to Indigenous Australians. Her research is currently supported by an ARC Discovery Indigenous grant titled “The basis of oyster resilience to global environmental change”.
When Laura is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her young family, being near the ocean and playing soccer with friends.
For further information about Laura Parker see her research page:
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Science - Laurie Menviel
Laurie Menviel is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of BEES. She is interested in climate, oceanography and the carbon cycle and her research focuses on understanding changes in oceanic circulation, and their impact on climate, the carbon cycle and the cryosphere.
Through her research, Laurie Menviel aims to better understand the Earth‘s system. When she is not researching, she enjoys the ocean.
For further information about Laurie Menviel see her research page:
http://myweb.science.unsw.edu.au/~lauriemenviel/ -
Science - Lee Ann Rollins
Lee Ann Rollins is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. She uses invasive species to investigate mechanisms underlying rapid evolution and is particularly interested in the importance and relative contributions of genetic and epigenetic diversity and change across invasive ranges. Through her research, Dr. Rollins aims to improve our understanding of evolution and contribute to innovative solutions for management and control of invasive species, which are a major threat to biodiversity worldwide.
Dr. Rollins supports scientific outreach and has a strong record of speaking in person and on radio about topics in her discipline. She is an executive board member of the Genetics Society of Australasia and the Evolution Society of Australasia. She is passionate about supporting early-career researchers and has consistently developed and led programming to develop skill sets and resources for these individuals.
For further information about Dr. Rollins, see her research page:
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Science - Maja Cassidy
Maja Cassidy is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Physics. She is interested in condensed matter physics and quantum materials and her research focuses on new qubit implementations and Josephson photonics. Through her research, Maja aims to build better quantum devices that enable future technologies, such as scalable quantum computers, and higher resolution quantum sensors.
When Maja is not researching, she enjoys time with her 3 young children.
For further information about Maja see her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-maja-clare-cassidy
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Science - Mariana Mayer Pinto
Mariana Mayer Pinto is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at UNSW. She obtained her PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of Sydney, 2009 and holds a MSc in Zoology from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Prior to the commencement of her academic career in UNSW in 2013, she worked as a private consultant, leading the data analyses of one of the biggest environmental projects in Australia (Gorgon Project, Chevron).
Mariana is interested in how human activities affect the marine environment. Her research integrates theoretical and applied ecology with ecotoxicology to gain mechanistic understanding of the effects of multiple stressors (e.g. contamination, urbanisation) on marine communities, and to provide practical solutions to environmental problems (e.g. via ecological engineering). Her research has generated new insight critical to inform the successful conservation and management of coastal systems.
When she is not researching, Mariana enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves the beach, travelling, reading and good food.
For further information about Mariana Mayer-Pinto see her research page:
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Science - Mark Ooi
Dr Mark Ooi is a Scientia Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. He is interested in plant and fire ecology, and the conservation of threatened plant species. A lot of the work he and his group produces at the Centre for Ecosystem Science is focused on deciphering the sometimes complex seed dormancy mechanisms of plant species (i.e. how to get them to germinate), how plants persist with fire, and investigating methods for applied ecological conservation; these multiple projects primarily are aimed at helping to understand the impacts of changing fire regimes and climate. Through his research, Mark has developed strong collaborative links with government and conservation agencies and communicates his research findings to on-ground managers and the community.
When Mark is not researching, he enjoys being with his young family, spending time at the beach (hopefully with time for surfing), travelling and lounging at a good cafe.
For further information about Dr Mark Ooi please see his research page:
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Science - Martin Peeks
Martin Peeks is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry. He has broad interests across supramolecular and physical-organic chemistry, and his research focuses on using these areas as a basis from which to develop new functional materials.
Through his research, Martin aims to create molecules and materials capable of interesting functions including sensing (e.g. magnetic fields, or other small molecules) and light-harvesting.
When Martin is not researching, he enjoys hiking, cycling, reading, and taking opportunities for travel.
For further information about Martin, see his research page:
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Science - Martina Lessio
Martina is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry. She is interested in using computational chemistry tools for sustainability applications and her research focuses on new water purification and clean energy technologies. Through her research Martina aims to discover new materials and molecules that can make our future more sustainable.
When Martina is not researching, she enjoys volunteering, hiking, and trying new restaurants. Martina is originally from Torino (Italy) where she completed her undergraduate studies. She then moved to the East Coast of the United States to pursue her Ph.D. with Prof. Emily Carter at Princeton University. Following this experience, she took on a teaching fellowship at Columbia University and enjoyed living in New York City for a couple of years. She then moved to Sydney to work as a research fellow at the University of Sydney before joining UNSW in 2020.
For further information about Martina see her research page:
http://www.chemistry.unsw.edu.au/staff/martina-lessio.
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Science - Matthew Baker
Matthew Baker is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science. His research focuses on one of nature’s oldest rotating parts: the bacterial flagellar motor (BFM). He also investigates force-sensitive proteins that change confirmation to activate ion channels. These are essential at all scales of life, and are involved in cancer progression and arthritis.
Matthew’s work has a bionanotechnology angle - learning from nature’s machinery and complexity to refine the next generation of bespoke nanotechnology. We can use what we know about the BFM and other molecular motors for many application; for example, to build self-navigating capsules to deliver medicine to a specific target. His sensing work is more directly medically translatable – it can be applied to treatments for blood disorders such as hereditary anaemias.
Beyond the lab, Matthew has a love of radio and a background in science communication. He was selected as a Top 5 Under 40 Scientist in Residence at the ABC in 2015; since then, Matthew has been a regular science presenter on ABC Nightlife. He has also produced content for the Health Report, Science Show, Saturday Extra and Earshot on ABC's Radio National. He is currently the Science Presenter on Koori FM’s the Brekky Show, where he shares his excitement about research with the Indigenous community.
For more information about Matthew see his research page:
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Science - Natalia Castano Rodriguez
Natalia Castano Rodriguez is a Cancer Institute NSW Fellow and Senior Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS). She is interested in immunogenetics of cancer and her research focuses on the interplay between host immunogenetic factors and gastrointestinal dysbiosis in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis (mainly stomach cancer) and other chronic inflammatory conditions (mainly inflammatory bowel diseases).
Through her research, Natalia aims to help us identify host factors involved in the regulation of the gastrointestinal microbiome, and increase our understanding of microbially-disrupted immune responses and their contribution to disease and chemoresistance, which could be translated into potential therapeutic targets.
When Natalia is not researching, she enjoys outdoor activities (particularly speed skating) and not surprisingly, dancing.
As a young female ethnic researcher, embracing diversity has been a priority for Natalia. In 2019, she was selected to be part of UNSW’s Women in Maths and Science Champion Program, she is a member of important Australian gender equity societies, and her research includes marginalised populations from South America and East Asia. She is also actively involved in early career academic representation at UNSW, being the Chair of the Early Career Academic Network (ECAN)(https://research.unsw.edu.au/early-career-academic-network-ecan)For further information about Natalia see her research page:
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Science - Nathan Holmes
Nathan Holmes is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow and Senior Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Psychology.
He is interested in how the mammalian brain processes very basic types of information, and his research focuses on how motivational states (or emotions), like fear, change the way the brain processes that information. Through his research, Nathan aims to: (1) identify the behavioural and neural processes through which emotions shift information processing from cortical to subcortical regions of the brain, and (2) develop a theory of how emotions influence information processing in the cells and circuits of the amygdala.
When Nathan is not researching, he enjoys playing with Lego, the intricacies of squash, and fighting with his kids.
For further information about Nathan see his research page:
https://www.psy.unsw.edu.au/contacts-people/research-staff/dr-nathan-holmes. -
Science - Sarah Martell
Sarah Martell is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Physics. She is interested in observational astronomy and her research focuses on the history of the Milky Way galaxy. Through her research, Sarah aims to map out when and how our home galaxy has captured stars from other galaxies, and the many ways that heavy elements are formed and recycled by stars. She leads the largest ever observational survey project to be carried out with the Anglo-Australian Telescope in northwestern New South Wales (details about it can be found at www.galah-survey.org). When Sarah is not researching, she enjoys reading and knitting.
Sarah is also motivated to address issues of equity and inclusion in the sciences. She is co-leader for undergraduate student experience in the School of Physics, and is using that position to give all interested students access to real research experiences, with a goal of making space for a broader set of students to feel like they belong as scientists.
For further information about Sarah, see her research page:
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Science - Tim Raupach
Dr Tim Raupach is an industry-supported Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Institute for Climate Risk and Response.
He is interested in the effects of climate change on severe thunderstorms, and his research focuses on how thunderstorm hazards such as hail, extreme wind, and heavy rain are changing and may continue to change in the warming climate. Through his research, Tim aims to help inform our understanding of current and future risks of and impacts from extreme weather events.
When Tim is not researching, he enjoys going hiking and taking photographs.
For further information about Tim, see his research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/tim-raupach
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Science - Tracy Ainsworth
Tracy is a Scientia Associate Professor, based in the school of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science, where she is leading research investigating the impact of environmental change to coral reefs.
Tracy has over 15 years research experience undertaking research on coral reefs and her research investigates biotic and abiotic influences over coral health, coral disease and coral survival. She has published over 50 scientific articles and reports investigating how corals are responding to a changing climate.
Tracy has held Australian Research Council Fellowships including an Australian Postdoctoral Award (2008- 2011), Super Science Fellowship (2011 – 2014). Her research aims to determine how host-microbe-environment interactions influence organism physiology, adaptation and acclimation under a changing climate.
For further information about Tracy see her research page:
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Science - Tushar Kumeria
Tushar Kumeria is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellow and Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering.
He is interested in functional porous nanomaterials and his research focuses on generation of nanoengineered porous materials for drug delivery, bioimaging, sensing, and tissue engineering. Through his research, Tushar aims to develop new porous functional materials for biomedical and environmental applications, and train the future generation on advanced research skills.
His research specifically focuses on:
1. Porous photonic crystals based point-of-care sensors for diagnostics and environmental applications.
2. Porous materials based delivery systems and devices with a key emphasis on protein/biologics delivery.
3. Porous materials/Polymer composite based scaffolds/implants with for tissue regeneration.When Tushar is not researching, he enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and fishing.
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Science - Zhi Li
Zhi Li is a Scientia Senior Lecturer and ARC Future Fellow in the Faculty of Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering.
He is interested in functional materials and condensed matter physics and his research focuses on using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to study quantum materials, including topological materials and superconductors. Through his research, Zhi aims to create new material platforms for future applications in electronic devices and quantum computing.When Zhi is not researching, he enjoys family walking.
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Negin Nazarian
Dr Negin Nazarian is a Scientia Lecturer in the School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, focusing on urban climate research. Negin’s research targets microscale analysis of urban heat, ventilation, and thermal comfort through various methodologies, ranging from the development of numerical tools to employing wearables and IoT-based sensors.
As an urban climatologist, Negin is interested in the ways in which the built environment interacts with the climate, and in return, how urban dwellers are affected by this interaction. She aims to transform this knowledge for achieving a human-centric urban design that is in harmony with the local climate.
For more information regarding her research visit:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-negin-nazarian
Her recent project on the use of wearables for urban heat assessment can also be found at:
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ADA - Matthew Ng
Matthew Ng is a Scientia Industry Academic in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of the Built Environment.
He is interested in spatial data science, big data, and smart cities and his research focuses on its application to structural change and dynamics of cities. Through his research,
Matthew aims to develop new methodologies and models to better understand and quantify different dimensions within cities, including property prices, inequality and accessibility. When Matthew is not researching, he enjoys tennis, exploring neighbourhoods, and live concerts.For further information about Matthew see his research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/matthew-ng
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ADA - Sukhmani Khorana
Sukhmani Khorana is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of the Arts and Media.
She is interested in media, migration and affect and her research focuses on multi-platform refugee narratives, food and multiculturalism, the role of emotions in social change, cultural diversity in media and politics, and self-representation by young people of colour. Through her research, Sukhmani aims to create broader awareness about the lives of asylum seekers and refugees and contribute to the capacity-building of disadvantaged migrant communities.When Sukhmani is not researching, she enjoys reading contemporary fiction, trying new foods and visiting parks with her family.
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Fabri Blacklock
Dr Fabri Blacklock is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. Her research utilises Aboriginal research methodologies like oral history, yarning, deep listening and art to explicate the role that connection to country and culture plays in healing and wellbeing for Aboriginal people.
As a textile artist her research focuses on the revival and maintenance of Aboriginal women’s practices like weaving and possum and kangaroo skin cloak making, as well as the application of Aboriginal art in modern textile and fashion design. Her research specifically privileges Aboriginal people as co-researchers with the knowledge and experience to achieve emancipation. Her research values reciprocity and knowledge exchange together with the Aboriginal and academic community. Through this research Dr Blacklock aims to create practical tangible, interactive and culturally appropriate educational resources and programs for both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community.
When Dr Blacklock is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her children watching them play footy and basketball. She loves practising Pilates and dancing.
For further information about Dr Fabri Blacklock see her research page:
https://artdesign.unsw.edu.au/about-us/our-staff/dr-fabri-blacklock
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Arts Design and Architecture - Ash Watson
Dr Ash Watson is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Centre for Social Research in Health.
She is interested in digital and cultural sociology and her research focuses on how technology impacts belonging, wellbeing, creativity and everyday life. Through her research, Ash aims to inform the development of a more inclusive digital future. When Ash is not researching, she enjoys reading and writing fiction.For further information about Ash see her research page: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/ash-watson
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Arts Design and Architecture - Chris Martin
Dr Chris Martin is a Senior Research Fellow in the City Futures Research Centre, in the Faculty of Arts Design and Architecture.
He is interested in housing and his research focuses on tenancy law, rental housing investment and the intersection of housing policy with criminal justice. Through his research Chris aims to advance the interests of renters and the right of everyone to an adequate home.
When Chris is not researching, he enjoys walking in Sydney’s parks and beaches, and reading detective novels.
For more information about Chris' research see:
https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/chris-martin mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi">
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Arts Design and Architecture - Elisabeth Kramer
Elisabeth Kramer is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture in the School of Social Sciences.
She is interested in the intersection between politics and policy making, with a broad focus on Southeast Asia. Her current research focuses on therapeutic opioid and tobacco industry regulation in Indonesia. Through her research, Elisabeth aims to better understand the interplay between political structures, the role of individual decision-makers and lobbyists, and policy outcomes, to spotlight the ways in which narrow interests can influence regulatory outcomes and offer insights that can be used to advocate for better regulation, particularly around industries that can have harmful health outcomes.When Elisabeth is not researching, she enjoys travelling, learning circus skills, Eurovision and spending time with pets and loved ones.
For further information about Elisabeth her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-elisabeth-kramer
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Arts Design and Architecture - Jinhee Kim
Jinhee is a Scientia academic at the UNSW Cities Institute in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture.
She is interested in understanding the complexities of urban health paradigms relevant to addressing the spatial impacts of urban environments on human health and her research focuses on the urban policymaking process related to the social, political and commercial determinants that impact health equity. Through her research, Jinhee aims to strengthen real-world transdisciplinary action that engages stakeholders from academic and non-academic backgrounds and across various disciplines and sectors. When Jinhee is not researching, she enjoys planning her next sewing project.
For further information about Jinhee see her research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Chethana Illankoon
Chethana Illankoon is a Scientia Lecturer in School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. She is interested in Green Buildings, Sustainable Construction, Life cycle analysis and Circular Economy and her research focuses on life cycle cost optimizations, carbon emission analysis for buildings, sustainable construction methods and optimised solutions for green buildings. Through her research, Chethana aims to develop an optimization model with life cycle solutions for sustainable buildings.
When Chethana is not researching, she enjoys listening to music.
For further information about Chethana Illankoon see her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-chethana-illankoon
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Paul Munro
Dr Paul Munro is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Humanities and Languages. He is interested in the changing geographies of energy poverty and his research focuses on renewable energy in East Africa. Through his research, Paul aims to challenge the way we think about energy poverty issues in Africa.
He is also the co-founder of Energy For Opportunity (EFO), a not-for-profit organisation based in Sierra Leone that is dedicated to the dissemination of renewable energy in Africa. EFO, since its founding in 2009, has conducted over 200 renewable energy projects in the region.
When Paul is not is not researching, he enjoys cycle touring.
For further information about Paul see his research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Eduardo Sandoval
Dr. Eduardo Benítez Sandoval is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture associated with the Creative Robotics Lab. He is interested in Human Robot Interaction (HRI) and Social Robotics. His research focuses on Reciprocity and Collaboration in HRI, Design of Social Robots, Robots in Media, and Robots and Society (Ethics, education, healthcare). Through his research, Dr. Sandoval aims to provide knowledge allowing meaningful interactions between users and social robots in the future and explore new possibilities for the design of natural interactive robot interfaces.
When Eduardo is not researching, he enjoys communicating his research to the public (conferences, keynotes, online discussions, podcasts, etc), watching science fiction movies and series, playing basketball, trying new food and exploring new camping sites in Australia and New Zealand (best places in the world for camping!).
For further information about Dr. Eduardo Sandoval see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-eduardo-benitez-sandoval.
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Gloria Pignatta
Dr. Gloria Pignatta is a Scientia Lecturer in the School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Gloria is interested in the relationship between extreme weather events and the built environment and her research focuses on improving the thermal-energy performance of buildings and cities. Through her research, Gloria aims to help society by contributing to, and educating people on, smart ways to transform and improve cities and their liveability. Above all, she aims to work together with policymakers, both locally and internationally, to face urban challenges as well as the energy poverty that affects vulnerable communities. To this aim, her research promotes sustainable and energy efficiency solutions and mitigation strategies to counteract the Urban Heat Island phenomenon and improve the outdoor thermal comfort. When Gloria is not researching, she enjoys reading, skiing, playing piano, traveling and exploring new cultures.
Dr. Gloria Pignatta is a Civil Engineer with a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering from the University of Perugia, Italy. Before joining UNSW, Dr. Gloria Pignatta was a postdoctoral associate in Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) in Singapore.
For further information about Dr. Gloria Pignatta see her research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Jessica Whyte
Jessica Whyte is a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Humanities and Languages. She is interested the politics of human rights, humanitarianism and militarism and her research focuses on the impact of contemporary armed conflicts on civilians.
Through her research, Jessica aims to understand the historical and institutional processes that have produced a moral distinction between deliberate harm inflicted on non-combatants and the non-intentional harm that is seen as an inevitable ‘side-effect’ of modern warfare.
When Jessica is not researching, she enjoys bush-walking, reading novels and listening to music.
For further information about Jessica see her research page: -
Arts, Design and Architecture - Joshua Zeunert
Dr Joshua Zeunert is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Landscape Architecture Program. He is interested in environmental and social sustainability and the regeneration of planetary carrying capacity. Through his research, Josh aims to improve understanding of the dynamics between our food choices, the practices and makeup our agricultural landscapes, and the resultant effects on local, regional and global ecosystems. Josh utilises design thinking to approach research problems and employs spatial and graphic means to disseminate findings.
Josh has won a range of international, national and state industry awards, scholarships and fellowships for his work, which include three books and multiple articles, projects and engagement activities.
When Josh is not researching, he enjoys spending time outdoors, exercising and travelling.
For further information on Dr Joshua Zeunert, please see his research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-joshua-zeunert
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Kari Lancaster
Dr Kari Lancaster is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture at the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW, and an Honorary Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Dr Lancaster is an interdisciplinary, qualitative social researcher in health, with a background in law and policy studies. Her research uses approaches drawn from poststructural theory and science and technology studies (STS) to critically examine issues of contemporary policy significance in the fields of drugs and viral hepatitis. Dr Lancaster’s current research concentrates on ‘evidence-making’ practices and critical approaches to the study of implementation science in health.
Through her research, Dr Lancaster aims to improve on our understanding of how innovations in health technologies can deliver on their promise, by resisting taken-for-granted assumptions about how interventions will ‘work’. This research has implications for how we think about implementation and scientific expertise in health policy and practice. Dr Lancaster’s critically-informed research aims to contribute to real-world policy and practice change, responding to concerns affecting some of our most marginalised citizens (namely, people who inject drugs and people living with hepatitis C).
Dr Lancaster is Assistant Commissioning Editor of Addiction and a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Drug Policy.
For further information about Dr Kari Lancaster see her research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Kevin Lowe
Kevin Lowe is an Indigenous Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Education.
He is interested in Indigenous schooling experiences, culturally nourishing education, educational policy analysis, teacher and student narratives, school community engagement, curriculum development, Indigenous language reclamation programs and Indigenous research methodologies.
His research focuses on the reconceptualization of schooling for Indigenous students. This is an holistic project that will seek to develop an Indigenous informed whole of school model of education. It will be inclusive of establishing professional learning models of teacher professional change, culturally nourishing curriculum, language and cultural inclusion, community engagement and student voice.
Through his research, Kevin will seek to have developed and implemented programs that centre on social justice, Indigenous inclusion through culture, epistemic knowledge, the recognition of the lived experiences of Indigenous Australians, and their education aspirations for success.
When Kevin is not researching, he enjoys travel, especially road trips, cooking bush walking and spending time with his grandchildren.
Kevin is Gubbi Gubbi man – whose Country is found in S.E Queensland. He has been actively involved in the reclamation of Australia’s Indigenous languages and the importance of our cultural heritage. -
Arts, Design and Architecture- Liza-Mare Syron
Liza-Mare Syron (Biripi) is an Indigenous Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture in the School of Arts and Media. Her broad area of research interest is indigenous performing arts and her research focuses on indigenous language revival in play texts.
Through her research, Liza-Mare aims to
• Trace the comparative history of language policies implemented by governments in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
• Document and analyse the use of language in play texts by indigenous playwrights in Australia, with a reflection on New Zealand and Canada.
• Understand how the process of writing and speaking indigenous language shifts other aspects of theatre making, including the rehearsal context as well as acting and directing.
• Show how theatre changes local languages and, conversely, how local languages change theatre and the theatre-making stage world.
In broad terms her research aims to highlight what language in play texts tell us about a world-view and how language use promotes the recovery of a displaced understanding of the world.When Liza-Mare is not researching, she enjoys working with indigenous theatre makers in developing new work for the stage. She is also an avid kayaker.
For further information about Liza-Mare see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-liza-mare-syron -
Arts, Design and Architecture- Miri (Margaret) Raven
Dr Miri (Margaret) Raven is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Social Policy Research Centre, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture.
She is interested in Indigenous social policy; biodiversity conservation; and food security/sovereignty. Her research focuses on Indigenous peoples relationships with food, with a particular focus on those living in urban areas; the implementation of The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity and specifically the use of cultural protocols and customs for protecting Indigenous knowledge associated with genetic and biological resources; and the role of social policy in achieving the rights of Indigenous peoples.Through her research Dr Raven aims to help create a national dialogue on Indigenous peoples relationships to food that creates policy change for Indigenous people living in urban, regional and remote areas. She also aims to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol across the Pacific region which is based on the use of Indigenous customary laws and protocols. When Miri is not researching, which is rarely at the moment, she plays an eclectic range of instruments in a couple of bands, or goes bush.
For further information about Miri (Margaret) Raven see her research page: -
Arts, Design and Architecture - Rebecca Collie
Rebecca Collie is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Education. She is interested in students’ and teachers’ experiences at school, and her research focuses on motivation, well-being, social-emotional development, and quantitative research methods.
Through her research, Rebecca aims to optimise educational and occupational outcomes among students and teachers in school and post-school settings. Rebecca has published over 50 peer reviewed journal articles and chapters, along with a co-edited book, "Social and Emotional Learning in Australia and the Asia-Pacific." Rebecca completed her doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Previously, she worked as a primary school teacher in Melbourne. When Rebecca is not researching, she enjoys visiting museums and travelling.
For further information about Rebecca see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-rebecca-collie -
Arts, Design and Architecture - Tracy Durksen
Dr Tracy Durksen is a Scientia Senior Lecturer of Educational Psychology for the School of Education within the Faculty of Arts, Design, and Architecture. She is interested in the learning and development of preservice and practicing teachers across career phases and contexts.
Through her research, Tracy aims to transform teacher recruitment, selection, development, retention, and promotion by focusing on psychological characteristics like motivation and adaptability. She is a mixed methods researcher grounded in social cognitive and self-determination theories with expertise in community-based research and evaluation. In order to influence policies that foster conditions for effective schooling, Tracy serves as an invited consultant for the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey development group, collaborates with the UK-based Teacher Selection Project, and is a research partner of the NSW Department of Education.
Tracy completed her doctoral studies at the University of Alberta in Canada and previously worked as a primary school teacher.
When Tracy is not researching, she enjoys spending time outside with her husband and chihuahua.
For further information about Tracy see her research page: https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-tracy-lyn-durksen
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Arts, Design and Architecture - JuHyun Lee
Dr JuHyun Lee is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. He has made a significant contribution to the fields of architectural design and computing, and design cognition. His computational design studies over the past decade have resulted in a co-authored book, “Grammatical and syntactical approaches in Architecture: Emerging research and opportunities”. His on-going cognitive research, design and language, has a significant impact on breaking down the barriers to achieving efficient and sustainable interactions between people in design teams. JuHyun led two externally funded research projects, supported by OLT and DFAT, in Australia.
In South Korea, JuHyun participated in various building technology research projects, e.g., context-aware smart home and construction infrastructure technology program, since he became a lecturer in Digital Design in 2003. JuHyun was invited to become a visiting academic at the University of Newcastle in 2011, where he as a senior lecturer completed five-year post-doctoral studies in design computing and cognition. He was a senior research fellow at the University of South Australia in 2018.
For further information about Dr JuHyun Lee see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-juhyun-lee -
Science - Erin Goddard
Dr. Erin Goddard is a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Psychology. She is interested in visual neuroscience and her research focuses on the neural processes underlying our experience of the visual world, including colour vision and attention, using a combination of behavioural and neuroimaging methods. Through her research, Erin aims to gain new insights into how the human brain represents and uses visual information. When Erin is not researching, she enjoys art, swimming, and spending time with her family.
For further information about Dr Erin Goddard see her research page: https://goddardlab.psy.unsw.edu.au
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Scientia Alumni
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Art and Design - Alex Davies
Alex Davies is an award-winning media artist whose practice spans a diverse range of media and experiments with interaction, technology, perception, mixed reality, and illusion. In 2013 he was awarded a PhD in Media Arts at the College of Fine Arts examining the relationship between the techniques of stage magic and the creation of illusion in media arts. He has exhibited widely in Australia and internationally, and has received numerous grants from the Australia Council’s Inter-Arts, Music, Visual Arts, and New Media Boards.
For more information about Alex, see his research page:
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Engineering - Bram Hoex
Bram Hoex was a Scientia appointee until he was promoted to Professor on 1 January 2020, in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. He is interested in the synthesis, analysis and application of nanoscale thin films with a particular focus on photovoltaics (i.e., the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity). He is best known for his ground-breaking work on aluminium oxide for crystalline silicon surface passivation which is now the de facto standard for industrial silicon solar cells. Bram also pioneered the application of atomic layer deposition for silicon wafer solar cell manufacturing.
In 2018 Bram released the PV-Manufacturing.org platform which is aimed at becoming the de facto resource for photovoltaic manufacturing education for students as well as solar professionals. His work has received various international recognitions including the 2008 SolarWorld Junior Einstein Award, the 2016 IEEE PVSC Young Professional Award, and he was listed in the “Solar 40 under 40 list” globally by Renewable Energy World in 2018. When Bram is not researching, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, working out, travelling, and reading.
For further information about Bram see his research page:
https://unswhoexgroup.com/ -
Engineering - Lina Yao
Lina Yao was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science and Engineering. She was an ARC DECRA Fellow from 2016 to 2018. Lina is interested in developing interpretable and data-efficient data mining, machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms and techniques to discover the unknown patterns and learn actionable knowledge from heterogeneous, multi-modal, dynamic and sparse data, towards the real-world problems in the areas of human behaviour analysis and prediction, recommender systems, human-computer interactions, Internet of Things and anomaly detection.
Lina's research is motivated by, and contributes to, various applications in healthcare, cyber security, transportation, industry 4.0 and e-commerce. Through her research, Lina aims to create a body of work both theoretically founded and readily applicable to the real-world problems in bridging the gap between theory and practice.
When Lina is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, cooking and reading.
For further information about Dr. Lina Yao see her research page: https://www.linayao.com/
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Engineering - Pawel Swietojanski
Pawel Swietojanski was a Scientia Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at the School of Computer Science and Engineering. He is interested in machine intelligence, and in its applications to speech and language processing. Through his research, Pawel contributes towards more natural human-computer communication technology, to make it less artificial and more intelligent.
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Engineering - Shaghik Atakaramians
Shaghik Atakaramians was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. She is interested in developing integrated photonic devices for the terahertz (THz) part of the electromagnetic spectrum, one of the least explored parts. Her research focuses on THz meta-waveguides and meta-devices to improve the overall THz system performance in terms of cost, size and coupling losses in between devices. The THz frequency range provides an enormous unlicensed bandwidth, which is being explored for high-speed, short-range wireless communications.
Through her research, Shaghik aims to utilise cutting edge research to pave the path for the next generation of wireless communication. She is passionate about contributing to the intellectual growth of human beings, and improving their quality of life. When Shaghik is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her family, dancing and jogging. She is a proud wife of a principle engineer and mother of two, a 9 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. She inspires to make a difference in whatever she does and wherever she is. Shaghik is an advocate of diversity and equity, and mentors and supports women in STEM.
For further information about Shaghik Atakaramians see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-shaghik-atakaramians -
Engineering - Xiaojing Hao
Xiaojing Hao is a Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. She was a Scientia academic prior to this promotion in 2022.
She is interested in renewable energy conversion, developing energy materials for solar photovoltaic and solar fuel applications, and her research focuses on the development of thin film and tandem solar cells, solar fuel devices (hydrogen production and CO2 reduction) through materials and associated devices design and synthesis as well as scientific understanding of the fundamental processes involved.
One of her current main focuses is the investigation of green energy materials made from earth-abundant and environmentally-friendly constituents, spanning from materials design, growth, and materials defect chemistry to device fabrication, characterisation and modelling to system level analyses of the life-cycle and cost of potential emerging technologies. Through her research, Xiaojing aims to make solar photovoltaic and solar fuel devices more effective, cost-efficient and competitive for the energy market and for their applications in various aspects of our life such as building (BIPV), vehicles, and portable power sources. When Xiaojing is not researching, she enjoys shopping, reading, cooking, music and spending time with her family.
For further information about A/Prof Xiaojing Hao see her research page:
https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/energy-engineering/staff/xiaojing-hao
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Engineering Da-Wei Wang
Da-Wei Wang is a Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering. Da-Wei was a Scientia academic prior to this promotion in 2022. He is interested in Energy Storage and his research focuses on electrochemical materials, batteries, supercapacitors and biomass electrolysis.
Through his research, Da-Wei aims to bridge the fundamentals in materials physics and chemistry with the energy engineering and applications.
When Da-Wei is not researching, he enjoys playing with his child, gardening or watching movies.
For further information about Da-Wei Wang see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-da-wei-wang -
Business - Abigail Powell
Abigail Powell was a Scientia Associate Professor and co-Research Director of the Centre for Social Impact in the Business School until being appointed as Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Lincoln, UK, from January 2020.
Abigail’s research is underpinned by her passion for social justice and equality, and covers gender equality, youth studies, financial wellbeing, complex evaluation and impact measurement. Abigail has attracted research income of over $4 million working with and delivering research for government, not-for-profits and industry. Abigail’s current research seeks to explore the operation of gender dynamics in STEM (science, technology, engineering and medicine) laboratories. Through her research, Abigail aims to better understand opportunities and barriers to women and men’s careers and ultimately improve workplace experiences for women and men. When Abigail is not researching, she usually wrangling one or more of her toddler, puppy or husband!
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Business - Carlos Pimienta
Carlos Pimienta was a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business, School of Economics, until he was promoted to Professor in 2021.
He is interested in Game Theory and his research focuses on Political Economy. Through his research, Carlos studies the mathematical properties of equilibria in economic models, with a special focus on Political Economy models. He applies these insights to understanding voting behaviour in both small committees and in general elections, as well as the formation of political institutions and politicians’ behaviour within those institutions.For further information about Carlos Pimienta see his research page:
https://www.business.unsw.edu.au/our-people/carlospimienta -
Business - Elise Payzan-LeNestour
Elise Payzan-LeNestour was a Scientia Associate Professor in finance at UNSW Business School, until she was promoted to Professor in 2024. She is interested in decision-making under uncertainty and her research focuses on how the human brain perceives and reacts to financial risks.
Through her research in neurofinance, Elise aims to help finance practitioners improve their individual decision-making in their workplace.
When Elise is not researching, she enjoys doing bushwalking, Parkour, and yoga.
For further information about Elise, see his/her research page:
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Business - Elvira Sojli
Elvira Sojli is an Associate Professor of Finance in the Faculty of Business, School of Banking and Finance. She was an inaugural Scientia appointee. She is interested in innovation, and her current research focuses on international aspects of innovation and gender issues that can be addressed via research in innovation. Through her research, Elvira aims to change the way we think about the gender gap in science, the reasons behind it, proposed remedies, and the impact of a more balanced representation of genders for innovation.
Elvira aims to influence policy makers on gender balance issues and the debate on innovation and the role of women in innovation. Additional current and past work focuses on international finance and market microstructure.
When Elvira is not researching, he/she enjoys the scenery and food scene in Sydney, playing and watching sports (NBA, football, tennis), and travelling.
For further information about Elvira see her research page:
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Business - Gabriele Gratton
Gabriele Gratton is a Professor in the UNSW Business School, School of Economics. He was a Scientia academic prior to being promoted in 2022.
Gabriele is interested in Political Economics and his research focuses on information asymmetries and communication in politics and organisations. Through his research, Gabriele Gratton aims to understand how the institutions and technologies controlling the transmission of information affect election campaigns and policymaking. More broadly, he is interested in the role played by noisy information in politics, from armed conflicts to voting.
For further information about Gabriele Gratton, see his research pages:
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Business - Kerry Humphreys
Kerry Humphreys is an Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney. She teaches and researches in behavioural management accounting and supervises research students in the Honours and PhD programs. Kerry was an inaugural Scientia appointee at UNSW, where her research investigates when managers make effective decisions incorporating strategic and performance information, and how new managers can learn to make better decisions using this information. Her PhD research (Managers’ Performance Evaluation Judgments and Dynamic Resource Allocation Decisions using the Balanced Scorecard Framework) received the American Accounting Association (AAA) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award for the Accounting, Behavior and Organizations section.
Kerry has been published in leading academic journals: The Accounting Review, Accounting: Organizations and Society, and the Journal of Management Accounting Research. Kerry is an Editor of Accounting and Finance, and Editorial Board member of Behavioral Research in Accounting and the Journal of Management Accounting Research. Her research has received external funding from the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Kerry has received university, disciplinary and national teaching awards for her curricula development and teaching, including an Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning and the Pearson Education Accounting/Finance Lecturer of the Year award. She is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and has consulted to a variety of organizations in both the private and public sectors working with PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Global Business Services.
For more information about Dr Humphreys please see her research website:
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Law and Justice - Kyllie Cripps
Kyllie Cripps was a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice. She is interested in the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous families and communities and her research focuses on how this can be achieved when family violence and child abuse is taking place in the home.
Through her research, Kyllie has been particularly concerned with the experiences of Indigenous women and children, and through her research aims to elevate their experiences and stories to engender support (familial, community and institutional) that can effectively empower individuals, families and communities to self-determine their futures free from violence.
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Medicine - Anne-Marie Eades
Anne-Marie Eades was a Scientia Lecturer and early career researcher in the Faculty of Medicine, at the George Institute for Global Health. She is interested in Public Health, women’s health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and improving social and emotional wellbeing for families. Her current body of research focuses on exploring strategies to prevent the removal of children from first-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers.
Anne-Marie has relocated to Western Australia.
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Medicine - Claire Vajdic
Professor Claire Vajdic is the Head of the Cancer Epidemiology Research Unit in the Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Big Data Research in Health. Claire was a Scientia appointee until being promoted to Professor on 1 January 2020. She studies ways to prevent cancer and the avoidable consequences of cancer, and how to reduce unwarranted variation in health care for people with cancer. She integrates data from multiple sources and applies population health science methods to inform precision medicine across the cancer control continuum. Her vision is no preventable deaths from cancer, and no inequity or inequality in cancer care.
Claire also promotes policy that supports good practice in the access to and use of real-world data for research. Real-world data is generated and collected when people interact with services or products, and includes for example electronic medical records, hospitalisation and cancer registry data. She convenes RADiANT, an Australian and New Zealand network for knowledge creation and exchange within across scientific disciplines that use real-world data. She proactively engages with stakeholders to maximise the efficiency, timeliness and innovation of research using real-world data holdings.
When Claire is not working with big data, she enjoys supporting her son’s cricket, bushwalking and camping.
For further information about Claire, see her research pages:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-claire-melissa-vajdic
https://cbdrh.med.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-claire-vajdic -
Medicine - Gail Matthews
Gail Matthews was a Scientia Associate Professor until her promotion to Professor in 2021. Gail is a clinical academic at the Kirby Institute in the Faculty of Medicine and a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. She is interested in blood borne viruses, specifically HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis, and her research focuses on strategic clinical questions in the diagnosis and management of viral hepatitis.
Gail originally completed Physician and HIV specialist training in London before moving to Australia in 2002 to take up a position at UNSW, and obtained her PhD on Therapeutic Strategies in HIV-HBV co-infection in 2009. Gail has a specific interest in a number of areas including acute hepatitis C, HIV/HCV co-infection and HIV/viral hepatitis coinfection in resource limited settings. She leads a number of large national and international clinical trials including a multi-centre international NIH funded study in recently acquired Hepatitis C. She is currently establishing studies in HCV and HBV in Myanmar and Indonesia.
Through her research Gail aims to help address some of the key issues in reaching the WHO goals for global viral hepatitis elimination by 2030.
When Gail is not researching, practising medicine (or driving teenagers around), she enjoys running and scuba diving.
For further information about Gail see her research page:
https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-gail-matthews
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Medicine - Georgina Chambers
Associate Professor Georgina Chambers is the Director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU), University of New South Wales, Sydney. Georgina was a Scientia Associate Professor until being promoted to Professor on 1 January 2020. The NPESU, is a leading national agency of information and research in reproductive medicine, maternity care and the perinatal period and is a joint unit of the Centre for Big Data Research in Health (CBDRH) and the School of Women’s and Children’s Health.
Dr Chambers’ research programs use clinical trial, cohort and large-scale, linked data to investigate the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of perinatal and reproductive medicine including fertility treatment, models of maternity care, and perinatal mental health. She is considered a leading international expert in the health economics and epidemiology of assisted reproductive technologies and fertility treatment. Her work is conducted in partnership with clinicians, state and federal government departments, consumers and peak professional bodies, including the Fertility Society of Australia. She is data custodian of the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproductive Technology Database (ANZARD) and the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN), and an executive committee member of the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies. She is also an Associate Editor of the highest ranked journal for original research in reproductive medicine, Human Reproduction.
For more information about Georgina, see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-georgina-mary-chambers
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Medicine - Sarah Larney
Sarah Larney was a Scientia appointee and an NHMRC Career Development Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
She is interested in opioid use, injecting drug use and related harms such as infectious diseases, overdose, and contact with law enforcement. Through her research, Sarah aims to reduce the harms experienced by people who use and inject drugs.
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Medicine and Health - Jason Wu
Jason Wu is a Professor in the George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health. Jason was a Scientia academic prior to this promotion in 2022. He is interested in nutrition science and his research focuses on understanding the impact of food on health, and investigate how we can create a healthier environment to enable better dietary choices.
Through his research, Jason aims to deliver robust evidence to improve people’s diets, which is one of the most important risk factors for poor health globally. When Jason is not researching, he enjoys sports and community organizing to advocate for urgent action to tackle climate change.
For further information about Jason see his/her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-jason-wu
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Medicine and Health - Kalinda Griffiths
Dr. Kalinda Griffiths is a Yawuru woman of Broome, born and living in Darwin. Her family name is Corpus. She was a Scientia Senior Lecturer and an epidemiologist in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, at the Centre for Big Data Research in Health.
Kalinda is interested in using big data to better understand why some populations are healthier than others. Her interest is in empirically addressing complex health disparities in populations through existing data. Her research currently addresses issues of quality and the utilisation of data pertaining to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Kalinda’s areas of focus includes the measurement of health disparities, with a particular focus on cancer treatment and outcomes.
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Medicine and Health - Lawrence Lee
Lawrence Lee was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine’s EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Sciences, School of Medical Sciences.
He is interested in nano biotechnology and his research focuses on constructing molecular systems using parts and designs from nature. Through his research, Lawrence aims to determine how the complex behaviours of living systems emerge from chemical interactions and to harness nature’s biomolecules for technological advance. When Lawrence is not researching, he enjoys rock climbing, surfing and being with his family.
For further information about Lawrence see his research page: -
Medicine and Health - Louise Mewton
Louise Mewton was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Psychiatry. She is interested in substance-related disorders and her research focuses on the epidemiology, assessment and prevention of problematic alcohol use across the lifespan. Through her research, Louise aims to reduce the burden of disease associated with alcohol use internationally. To assist in this ambition, she uses sophisticated statistical modelling approaches applied to large-scale datasets to increase our understanding of the relationship between alcohol use and health. Harnessing the power of technology, she develops and evaluates scalable online solutions for preventing alcohol-related harms.
Louise is also interested in the neurobiological and cognitive effects of alcohol use at critical periods in the life course – adolescence and older adulthood. In addition, she is interested in the comorbidity between alcohol use and mental health, particularly depression and anxiety.
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Medicine and Health - Rohina Joshi
Rohina Joshi was a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, until she was promoted to Professor in 2024. She is interested in developing and evaluating task-sharing strategies for better access to primary health care and developing better health information systems in resource poor settings. Her specific research is in understanding the role and rights of community health workers in delivering sustainable development goals in low and middle income countries.
Through her research, Rohina aims to strengthen the frontline health workforce in delivering primary care, and improve basic health information systems so that countries have access to accurate and reliable data to plan health care. When Rohina is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cycling and traveling.
For further information about Rohina Joshi see his/her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-rohina-joshi
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Science - Dmitriy Zanin
Dmitriy Zanin was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Mathematics and Statistics.
He is interested in Functional Analysis and his research focuses on Non-commutative geometry, Non-commutative probability theory, Non-commutative Harmonic Analysis and applications of all this to Mathematical Physics.
For further information about Dmitriy see his research page:
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Science - Irina Voineagu
Irina Voineagu was a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, until being promoted to Professor in 2024. She is interested in understanding how gene function is regulated in the human brain and her research focuses on the role of gene expression regulation in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Through her research, Irina aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying the complex orchestration of gene expression in the brain, and their alteration in disease. Irina was awarded the Australian Academy of Science Gani Medal for research in human genetics in 2018.
When Irina is not researching, she enjoys swimming and long walks with her dog.
For further information about Irina Voineagu see her research page: http://www.voineagulab.unsw.edu.au
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Science - Kate Quinlan
Dr Kate Quinlan was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, until she was promoted to Professor in 2024. She is interested in genetics and cell biology and her research focuses on how communication between immune cells and adipose cells in fat tissue can lead to the adipose cells burning rather than storing fat. Through her research, Kate aims to use a greater understanding of this interesting biology to uncover novel therapeutics for obesity. Kate loves being able to use molecular biology, genetics and cell biology tools to understand how the human body works and to uncover what goes wrong in disease such that new therapeutic options can be explored.
When Kate is not researching, she enjoys spending time with her children, being active and cooking (performing kitchen experiments that have a reasonable chance of yielding delicious results).
For further information about Dr Kate Quinlan see her research page:
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Science - Kris Kilian
Kris Kilian was a Scientia Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow in the Faculty of Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering and School of Chemistry, until he was promoted to Professor in 2024. He is interested in biomaterials science, and his research focuses on cell engineering and hydrogel chemistry for new biotechnologies and materials for tissue engineering.
Through his research, Kris aims to uncover the fundamental principles nature uses to build tissues, and to use these criteria to design new materials that aid human health.
When Kris is not researching, he enjoys playing drums, snowboarding and spending time with his family.
For more information about Kris, see his research page at:
http://www.materials.unsw.edu.au/profile/kristopher-kilian
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Science - Neeraj Sharma
Neeraj was an ARC Future Fellow and Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry, until being promoted to Professor in 2024.
He is interested in solid state and materials chemistry, designing new materials and investigating their structure-property relationships. He loves to undertake in situ or operando experiments of materials inside full devices, especially batteries, in order to elucidate the structural subtleties that lead to superior performance parameters. His research currently focuses on materials development and fundamental mechanistic understanding for widely-used lithium-ion batteries and next generation systems such as sodium-ion batteries, discovery of new negative and near-zero thermal expansion ceramics, and experimenting with a range of analytical techniques (expensive characterisation toys) to probe materials and their function. Through his research, Neeraj aims to develop next generation materials and devices that could lead to a better society.When Neeraj is not researching, he enjoys going on adventures with his family, be it exploring Sydney and the surrounds or the world. He loves to discover new places and try out new experiences – always exploring. Neeraj is also a big science fiction fan.
For further information about Neeraj Sharma see his research page: https://www.chemistry.unsw.edu.au/research/research-groups/sharma-group
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Science - Nicole Rijs
Dr Nicole J Rijs is a Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow in the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry. She is interested in the intrinsic properties of molecules and her research focuses on instrumental analysis of such molecular units in isolation. Through her research, Dr Rijs aims to rationally design of efficient catalyst and enzyme-like molecules. Dr Rijs’ research utilises a range of cutting edge computational and instrumental techniques, such as ion-mobility mass spectrometry, to look at the structure and function of molecules.
When Dr Rijs is not researching, she enjoys being a mum to a tiny adventurer, travelling and reading sci-fi.
For further information about Dr Rijs please see her research page:
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Science - Sophie Primig
Sophie was a Scientia Associate Professor and ARC DECRA Fellow in the Faculty of Science, School of Materials Science & Engineering, until she was promoted to professor in 2023. She is interested in Physical Metallurgy which means that her research focuses on making engineering alloys with novel combinations of mechanical properties. Through her research, Sophie aims to discover the next generation of aerospace alloys that are required for making faster, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft engines. She is excited about her close collaboration with international industrial partners, who manufacture these alloys in industrial forging plants and in 'factories of the future', via advanced manufacturing.
Sophie too is a passionate research group leader, mentor and formally educated teacher. She currently is an Editor of the Journal of Materials Science and President of Materials Australia NSW. She sees herself as an academic allrounder with strong interests and skills in leadership of teams. Her vision as Scientia Fellow is to take her skills in understanding academic life and to mediate them through the lens of an institutional strategy, perhaps in a future leadership role within the University.
When Sophie is not researching, she enjoys racing in yachts on Sydney harbour, skiing the Austrian alps and good books.
For further information about Sophie see her research page:
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Science - W. Alex Donald
W. Alexander Donald was a Scientia Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry, until he was promoted to Professor in 2024. Alex's interest is in biophysical chemistry and mass spectrometry, with emphasis on understanding fundamental phenomena, as well as developing and applying analytical instrumentation to problems of interest in chemistry and biochemistry. Through his research, Alex aims to improve drug discovery & development, understand the chemical origins of cellular heterogeneity at the single cell level, and develop portable instrumentation for high-performance chemical analysis in the field.
When Alex is not researching, he enjoys spending time with his young and growing family.
For further information about Alex see his research page:
https://www.chemistry.unsw.edu.au/research/research-groups/donald-group.
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Canberra - Andrey Miroshnichenko
Andrey Miroshnichenko is a Professor at UNSW Canberra, School of Engineering and Information Technology. Andrey was a Scientia appointee until being promoted to Professor on 1 January 2020. He is interested in optics and nanophotonics. Andrey’s research focuses on light manipulation with nanoscale structures. Through his research, Andrey aims to build next generation optical devices for ultrafast sensing, high-resolution imaging, and optical communication.
Andrey is an internationally recognised researcher in the interdisciplinary field of nonlinear systems, generalised mechanics, nanophotonics, metamaterials, and nonlinear optics. He is highly experienced in the theoretical analysis of resonant light scattering in nonlinear micro- and nanostructured materials, with a proven capacity to apply his knowledge for predicting novel physical effects and further extending the research towards practical realisations through collaborations with national and international experimental groups.
Andrey’s earlier studies led to comprehensive knowledge on various aspects of resonant light scattering in photonic structures, paving the way for the establishment of novel research directions, including pioneering applications of the Fano resonances in optics, all-dielectric nanostructures, and nontrivial states of light, including nonradiative sources.
After moving to UNSW in 2017, Andrey established and lead the "Nanophotonics” group, which consists of seven staff members and HDR students. Over his scientific career, he has received several outstanding high-profile Australian Fellowships: Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007), Future Fellowship (2011), and in 2018 was awarded the UNSW Scientia Fellowship.
When Andrey is not researching, he enjoys reading and watching movies.
For further information about Andrey Miroshnichenko see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-andrey-miroshnichenko
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Canberra - Daoyi Dong
Daoyi Dong is a Scientia Associate Professor in UNSW Canberra, School of Engineering and Information Technology. He is interested in systems control and machine learning and his research focuses on quantum estimation and control, reinforcement learning and renewable energy.
Through his research Daoyi Dong aims to make fundamental contributions to the development of emerging future technology. When Daoyi Dong is not researching, he enjoys travelling and thinking.
For further information about Daoyi Dong see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-daoyi-dong
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Adam Fish
Adam Fish is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Arts and Media. He is a cultural anthropologist, documentary video producer, and interdisciplinary scholar who works across social science, computer engineering, environmental science, and the visual arts.
Author of Technoliberalism (Palgrave, 2017), After the Internet (Polity 2017), and Hacker States (2020 MIT Press), Adam employs ethnographic, participatory, and creative methods to examine the social, political, and ecological influences of new technologies. In his current research, he is investigating the impacts of integrating drones into urban airspace and wildlife conservation.
When he is not researching, he enjoys basically any activity in open space, open water, or wilderness.
For more information about Adam, see his research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Elizabeth Thurbon
Elizabeth Thurbon was a Scientia Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy and Deputy Head of School Research in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Social Sciences, until she was promoted to professor in 2023. She is interested in the role of the state in techno-industrial development and upgrading and in managing challenges associated with 'globalisation', with a particular focus on East Asia and Australia. Her research focuses on the ways in which national governments around the globe are responding to the specific challenges of financialization, de-industrialization and climate change through strategic financial and techno-industrial governance.
Through her research, Elizabeth aims to illuminate the conditions under which national governments might respond more (or less) strategically and effectively to these challenges, and to leverage this new knowledge to help advance pressing policy debates.
When Elizabeth is not researching, she enjoys making music and camping with her husband and two primary-school aged kids, and spending as much time as possible walking, talking, eating and laughing with her extended family and friends.
For further information about Elizabeth see her research page:https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/about-us/people/elizabeth-thurbon/
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Emma Kirby
Dr Emma Kirby was a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, in the Centre for Social Research in Health, until being promoted to Professor in 2024.
She is interested in the sociology of health and illness, and her research draws on a range of case studies of illness experience to provide a critical sociological analysis of advanced illness and end of life care, mapping its character and significance.
Her work centred largely on experiences of cancer and the end of life. Her work focuses on how interpersonal relationships and social interactions shape care and support during illness. Understanding the nature of this kind of care is important, as it says a lot about our culture and society more broadly. Care represents a central platform for human relations, including things like our notions of intimacy, our sense of self, family, community and intergenerational ties.
Through her research, Emma aims to provide policy and practice-relevant evidence to foster social justice, enhance people’s opportunities for and to care, and to make visible the experiences of people from disadvantaged and marginalised communities, by offering comprehensive insight and knowledge production on critical health issues.
For further information about Emma see her research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Hazel Easthope
Hazel Easthope was a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture in the City Futures Research Centre, until being promoted to Professor in 2023.
Hazel has qualifications in sociology and human geography and researches in the areas of urban studies and housing. Her research focuses on in the development, management, governance and planning implications of private apartment buildings and estates and the lived experiences of their residents. Underpinning her research is a deep concern with how to enable people to feel at home in the places where they live.
Through her research, Hazel aims to bring a human angle to urban consolidation so governments and developers, in Australia and internationally, can plan best-practice, evidence-based, high-density housing for growing urban populations.
When Hazel is not researching, she enjoys traveling, wine tasting and spending time with friends (preferably all at once).
For further information about Hazel see her research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-hazel-easthope
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Arts, Design and Architecture - John McGhee
John McGhee was a Scientia Associate Professor and Director of the 3D Visualisation Aesthetics Lab in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, until he was promoted to Professor in 2024. He is interested in exploring arts-led modes of visualising complex 3D scientific and biomedical data using computer animation techniques. His most recent research work has focused on investigating the educational value of visualising data on Virtual Reality (VR) headset technologies. A 3D computer artist he also has expertise in practice-based research methods and reflective practice.
Through his research he aims to show the value of narrative and aesthetic-led approaches to how we experience data in the 21st century. John has also been recognised as one of UNSW Sydney’s 21 ‘Rising Stars’.
When John is not researching, he enjoys spending time with his young family, running, hiking and cycling.
For further information about John McGhee see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-john-mcghee
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Michael Salter
Michael Salter was a Scientia Associate Professor of Criminology the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Social Sciences, until he was promoted to Professor in 2024. He is interested in complex trauma and gendered violence, and his research focuses on the sociological dimensions and implications of child sexual abuse imagery.
Through his research, Michael aims to expand scholarly understanding of the social and technological contexts of child sexual abuse and contribute to the prevention and identification of child sexual abuse and the support of victims/survivors.
Michael is a member of the board of directors of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation where he works closely with clinical colleagues to promote the health and wellbeing of people with dissociative disorders.
When A/Prof Salter is not researching, he enjoys studying and teaching meditation classes on behalf of his local Buddhist temple.For further information about Michael see his research page:
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/associate-professor-michael-alan-salter
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Tanja Dreher
Tanja Dreher is an ARC Future Fellow in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Arts and Media.
She is interested in the politics of listening in the context of settler colonialism, First Nations sovereignties, Islamophobia, anti-racism and intersectional feminisms and her research focuses on community and alternative media. Through her research, Tanja aims to transform media through decolonial and intersectional lenses.When Tanja is not researching, she enjoys activism, the arts and the ocean.
Tanja’s previous research has focused on news and cultural diversity, community media interventions, experiences of racism and the development of community anti-racism strategies after September 11, 2001. Tanja prioritises community engaged research with a social justice agenda, and has worked closely with diverse communities in western Sydney and with media and community arts organisations.
For further information about Tanja see her research page:
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Arts, Design and Architecture - Zhiming Cheng
Zhiming Cheng was a Scientia Associate Professor of Economics in the Social Policy Research Centre/Centre for Social Research in Health at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
Prior to joining UNSW Sydney, he worked in the Centre for the Health Economy and Department of Management at Macquarie University and School of Economics at the University of Wollongong. Zhiming also held the Jacob Wertheim Fellowship for the Betterment of Industrial Relationships at Harvard University and Research Fellowship at the Bank of Finland. His research interests are in migration economics, labour economics, happiness economics and welfare economics, with a focus on marginalised and disadvantaged populations.
For further information about Zhiming Cheng, see his research pages: