Research Areas

Our staff conduct research in a diverse range of fields and collaborate widely with colleagues from other departments throughout the University of Sydney. We have a unique role, often forming a bridge between different fields and initiating a multi-disciplinary approach to research.

Physical sciences

• Light alloy design;
• Design of advanced steels;
• Grain boundary segregation and embrittlement;
• Structure-property relationships in optical fibre materials;
• Characterisation of quantum well nanostructures;
• Dopant distributions in semiconductors;
• Zeolite nanocrystals;
• Porous clay nanostructures, metal oxide nanoparticles, nanofibres and nanotubes;
• Advanced applications of microscopy for the design of new nanomaterials;
• Developing key engineering nanocomposites by new synthesis techniques;
• Adsorption and catalysis for environmental protection;
• Novel application of microscopy in chemistry;
• Reactions of metal oxide and hydrous oxides in wet chemistry processes.

Biological sciences

• Live-cell imaging;
• Fluorescent lifetime spectroscopy;
• Structure and dynamics of the plant cytoskeleton;
• Targeting enzymes for optimising drug efficacy;
• Understanding the mechanisms of arsenic-induced cancers;
• Nanoprobe investigations of cellular processes;
• Bio-organic, bio-mimetic and supramolecular chemistry;
• Bioelectronics and bio-nanotechnology;
• Emergence: origin of life and other complex systems;
• Structure and function of colour in reef corals and other marine organisms;
• Diseases of great barrier reef corals;
• Algal symbioses of corals and other marine organisms;
• Microcellular control and stress responses of coral symbiosis;
• Biology and morphology of symbiotic dinoflagellates;
• Cellular adaptations for light capture of deep water marine organisms;
• Anthozoan cellular adaptations for light creening and amplification;
• Imaging and biotechnological applications of anthozoan gfp-type proteins;
• Second-harmonic microscopy of natural biological polymers;
• Archaeological research.

Technique development

• Atomic-resolution imaging and analysis;
• Super-resolution in confocal and non-linear microscopy;
• Image analysis for microscopy;
• 3-D visualisation and quantification;
• X-ray microtomography;
• Atom probe tomography;
• Electron energy loss spectroscopy;
• Spectrum imaging in microanalysis;
• Computational microscopy and microanalysis;
• Calculation and measurement of electronic structure and bonding;
• Novel methods for phase imaging;
• Microanalysis of cellular processes.