Whittaker Group

Polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, photolithography, biomaterials science, magnetic resonance

The Whittaker Group, led by Senior Group Leader Professor Andrew Whittaker, uses polymer synthetic methods to develop technologies for health care and our modern technological society.These include next generation molecular imaging agents for disease detection, low-fouling surfaces and stealthy therapeutics, environmental polymers and polymers to be used in advanced lithography for the fabrication of integrated circuits.

Polymer chemistry is the underpinning science of modern materials and biomaterials. The Group is building and studying new materials to solve practical problems facing society. Working with Professor Whittaker is a team of senior researchers (Fu, Peng, Hossain, Markus) combining experience in synthetic chemistry, physical chemistry, biomaterials science, nanomaterials science, photolithography and NMR and MRI.

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Research Areas

Polymer chemistry
Nanotechnology
Photolithography
Biomaterials science
Magnetic resonance

Self-assembly of block polymers for applications in nanofabrication and for tuning interfacial interactions

January 2017–December 2025
Novel Biologically-Responsive MRI Agents

January 2017–December 2025
Nanofunctional Surfaces for Control of the Biological Interface

January 2017–December 2025
Controlling the structure of thin polymer films for nanolithography

January 2017–December 2025

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Pages

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Funding

Solving Plastic Waste CRC (2024)
ARC Linkage Infrastructure (2024) A National Network for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
ARC Linkage Projects (2024) Innovative Double Patterning Strategies for Integrated Circuit Manufacture
Arthritis Foundation of Australia (2024) Synthetic Joint Bio-lubricants for Mitigating Osteoarthritis and Associated Chronic Pain
ARC Centre of Excellence (2023) ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide
ARC Discovery Projects (2023) Novel Hybrid Nanotechnologies by Infiltration of Functional Polymers
NHMRC Investigator Grants (2021) Improving the Delivery Efficiency of Nanomedicines to Tumour Tissue
ARC Discovery Projects (2021) Sulfoxide Polymers - A New Paradigm in Polymer Desig

Publications

Click here to view Whittaker group publications

Professor Andrew Whittaker

Senior Group Leader

Whittaker Group

Researchers

Associate Professor David Hill

Honorary Reader

Whittaker Group
Dr Changkui Fu

NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow

Whittaker Group
Dr Daloar Hossain

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Whittaker Group
Dr Josua Markus

Postdoctoral Researcher

Whittaker Group
Dr Basiram Brahma Narzary

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Whittaker Group

Students

Francis Mccallum

PhD Student

Whittaker Group
Dr Yixin Chang

Research officer

Qiao Group
Xin Xu

PhD student

Whittaker Group
On Ting (Dion) Choy

PhD student

Whittaker Group
Yuhao Zhang

PhD student

Whittaker Group
Wenting Yang

PhD student

Whittaker Group
Yuhao Zhang

PhD student

Whittaker Group
Yiqing Wang

PhD student

Zhang Group
Tommy Hatzimanolis

PhD student

Whittaker Group
Hanyu Zhang

Masters student

Whittaker Group

Can starch be a key ingredient for bioplastics?

Published on: 13 November 2024

You’ll find it in potatoes, bread, and rice, and maybe in a freshly ironed shirt. Now researchers from the AIBN are examining how starch could be a key ingredient in a new generation of bioplastics.
Targeting lasting osteoarthritis relief with injectable biolubricant

Published on: 11 March 2024

Early work has begun at the AIBN on a synthetic, drug-free solution that helps osteoarthritis patients with problem joints.
ARC win for next-gen computer chips and waste-to-catalyst conversion

Published on: 16 November 2023

Two exciting AIBN projects have scored new funding to help industry collaborators crack the lucrative computer chip industry and capitalise on opportunities in waste-to-catalyst conversion
AIBN strengthens science, industry ties with $1.5m Linkage grants

Published on: 15 February 2023

Researchers from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) have won $1.5 million to improve precision nanomedicines and create a cleaner environment – all while strengthening industry ties.
Magnetic method to clean PFAS contaminated water

Published on: 20 January 2023

Researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have pioneered a simple, fast and effective technique to remove PFAS chemicals from water.
Discovery boost for better batteries and other blue-sky ideas

Published on: 25 November 2022

Three exciting AIBN projects will share $1.5 million to accelerate research essential for a knowledge-based economy.
Power play: New electrolyte means faster, more reliable batteries

Published on: 28 July 2022

The development of a new, non-flammable electrolyte material could mean a safer and cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries and – thanks to the work of University of Queensland researchers – another step towards a cleaner energy future.
Funding to boost life-changing research at AIBN

Published on: 2 June 2020

AIBN researchers have secured new funding to help the design of new nanomedicines, diagnostics and strengthen collaborative industry-partnered research projects.
AIBN enters international research alliance

Published on: 27 October 2015

The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland will lead the Brisbane node of the Wuhan/Brisbane Research Alliance in Functional Polymeric Materials.
$200,000 for brain cancer battle

Published on: 19 November 2014

Studies into better diagnostic imaging for one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer have attracted $200,000 for a University of Queensland researcher.