Student Projects

Cell membranes can adopt highly curved and cubic shapes when exposed to harsh conditions such as food depletion. Accordingly, scientists have designed adaptable materials capable of undergoing conformational and chemical changes.

Chemical and physical reactions are usually carried out under conditions where there is a field, temperature or density gradient, flow or a continual change in conditions. In contrast, theoretical predictions often assume idealised conditions.

This project aims to develop photo-reactive materials for directing self-assembly of polymers on surfaces. The application is new device for memory storage.

Students will enrol through the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN).

​Biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids are unimolecular species just like low molar mass organic compounds.

An effective survey system for food safety and quality has attracted constant interests from governments, the food industry and consumers. One of the most important requirements for this system is to assess the risks of the food, so that consumers can make informed choices.

The rise in coronavirus variants has resulted in surges of the disease across the globe. The mutations in the spike protein on the surface of the virion membrane not only allow for greater transmission but raise concerns about vaccine effectiveness.

​Nanoporous solids are used as adsorbents in pollution control, desalination, industrial separations, storage of fluids and catalysis. Simulations can be used to assist in the design of better materials, and to understand the nature of the adsorption and transport processes.

In-situ monitoring of specific biomarkers, such as reactive oxygen species, ions, proteins (including enzyme),  at the molecular level is key to understanding their roles in physiological and pathological processes, and plays fundamental roles in early prediction of diseases treatment.

​The ability to synthesize anisotropic colloidally stable nanoparticles directly in water with complex shapes provides new materials for drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, optical and electrical applications. Recently, we demonstrated a water-based emulsion polymerization method (i.e.