School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Professor Ali Abbas, FIEAust FRSN

Professor Ali Abbas is an internationally recognised leader in process systems engineering, circular economy innovation, and sustainability transitions. He currently serves as the Associate Dean (Research) within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney, driving strategic research initiatives and fostering significant industry and government collaborations. He is also the Founding Director of the Waste Transformation Research Hub, a national research centre addressing technological challenges in Australia's waste industry.

Ali completed his Bachelor's degree and PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney. He previously held academic appointments at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the University of New South Wales (UNSW Asia) in Singapore, along with visiting professorships at leading international institutions, including Harvard University.

With over 20 years' experience in Process Systems Engineering (PSE), Ali's expertise encompasses process intensification, techno-economic feasibility, multiscale modelling, process scale-up, optimisation, and the design of low-emissions technologies. His work spans applications in eco-industrial parks, clean energy, biotechnology, waste transformation, carbon capture, and biomedical systems.

Ali has been at the forefront of circular economy transitions in Australia, identifying practical pathways to implement circular economy principles effectively. As Australia's inaugural Chief Circular Engineer at Circular Australia, he actively shapes national sustainability policies and strategies. He is the founding Chair of theAustralian Circular Economy Conference, an influential national platform driving collaboration on circular economy solutions across industry, government, and academia.

A prolific researcher, Ali conducts fundamental computational and applied research, with a strong emphasis on resource optimisation and efficiency across multiple scales. He has authored over 160 scientific and engineering publications, and is recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics, placing him among the top 2% globally in his field.

Ali has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Australia-Harvard Fellowship (2011), the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) Fellowship as an Australia-China Future Leader in Clean Coal Technologies (2012), the international PSE Model-Based Innovation Prize (London, 2008; runner-up 2015), and the Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR) Fellowship for outstanding research leadership. He was also a finalist in the 2023 Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability.

Ali translates his research into impactful commercial outcomes through deep-tech ventures, including Scimita Group and Trofica, developing breakthrough technologies in clean energy, circular economy, and sustainable urban agriculture. He provides strategic advisory services to industry and government bodies, leveraging his expertise to advance sustainable technologies and policies. Additionally, Ali serves on the board of the Australian Government's Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR), actively fostering international research and innovation partnerships.

Dr. Francois-Marie Allioux is a Research Fellow at the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on the field of solid and liquid-based electronics and optics. Before joining the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Dr. Allioux was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of New South Wales.

Dr. Allioux has a strong background in the field of chemical, process and material engineering. He earned his Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France and his Ph.D. degree from the Institute for Frontier Materials at Deakin University in Geelong, VIC, Australia, where he conducted research on advanced materials and their applications in water purification and resource recovery.

PhD Chemical Engineering (Yale), FRSC, FRACI CChem, FIChemE

Professor Yuan Chen received a bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. He was an Assistant and an Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, from 2005 to 2015. He joined the University of Sydney in 2015. His research focuses on carbon materials and their sustainable energy and environmental applications, including supercapacitors, batteries, electrocatalysts, membranes, and antibacterial coatings. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. He received the "Micius Young Award 2025" from the Engineered Science Society, Australian Research Council Industry Fellowship in 2024, Professorial Future Fellowship in 2016, an Excellence in Review Award from Carbon in 2015, and a Young Scientist Award from the Singapore National Academy of Science in 2011. He is currently serving as an editor for Carbon (Elsevier) and Journal of Alloys and Compounds. He also served as Chair of the Asian Association of Carbon Groups from 2017 to 2020 and has served as Chair of the Australian Carbon Society since August 2017.

Professor Yuan Chen currently holds an appointment as a Professional Research Fellow under the ARC Industry Fellowship (2025–2029), with a reduced teaching commitment at the University.

Professor Cullen received his bachelor's and PhD degrees from University College Dublin, Ireland. Prior to joining the University of Sydney in 2019, he was a professor at the University of Nottingham in the UK. He has also held academic positions at UNSW Sydney and the Technological University Dublin. He has published over 300 journal articles and is designated as a highly cited author by Clarivate Analytics for 2018 - 2025.

PJ is also the co-founder and CSO of PlasmaLeap Technologies, a University of Sydney spin-out.

Deanna is the Director of the University of Sydney’s Net Zero Institute (NZI), where she leads multidisciplinary efforts to accelerate Australia’s transition to low  and zero emissions technologies. She is also a Professor of Chemistry in the School of Chemical & Bimolecular Engineering. The NZI brings together more than 280 researchers to deliver practical climate solutions in collaboration with industry, government and communities. Its Industry and Scientific Advisory Boards span 10 countries.
 
A chemist by training, Deanna and her team are recognised for scientific contributions to advanced functional materials known as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), with applications in direct air capture and next generation clean energy systems. Her career spans more than 20 years across Australia and the United States and has been supported by fellowships including Australian Research Council Future and QEII Fellowships, a L’Oréal UNESCO Australia For Women in Science Fellowship, an American Australian Dow Chemical Company Fellowship and a Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowship.
 
Before stepping into her current role, she held several positions at the University of Sydney and completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. She holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD from James Cook University. Deanna is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Since 2011, Deanna has successfully supervised to graduation 19 PhD students, 3 Masters students, and 29 Honours students including jointly supervised students.

A breif biography including recognitions received is provided below.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

BSc (Hons I & UMedal), James Cook University, 2001

PhD, James Cook University, 2006

Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Electronics Group, University of Sydney, 2006

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California at Berkeley, 2007-2009

Dow Chemical Company Fellow, American-Australian Association, 2007

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellow, 2007-2009

University of Sydney Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2010

L’Oréal-UNESCO Australia for Women in Science Fellow, 2010

Australian Research Council QEII Fellow, 2010-2016

Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR) Fellow, 2017-2018

Associate Professor, 2017

Deputy Head of School, Chemistry, 2017-2018

Australian Research Council Future Fellow, 2018-2022

Professor, 2021

Director, Net Zero Institute, 2024

Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2025

AWARDS & HONOURS

- 2025-2026, The Australian Research Magazine, Top Researcher in the field of Inorganic Chemistry
- 2023-2024, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Australasian Lectureship
- 2017, Australian Academy of Science Le Févre Medal, In recognition of outstanding research in chemistry by researchers up to 10 years post-PhD - for research conducted mainly in Australia
- 2017, Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)
- 2017, RACI Alan Sargeson Lectureship, Recognising significant and innovative contributions to the field by researchers within 10 years of the award of their PhD
- 2015, RSC ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship, One of two awarded internationally in 2015 by the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) to recognise an emerging scientist in the early stages of their independent academic career
- 2014, RACI Rennie Memorial Medal, For research published over the past 8 years that has contributed most towards the development of a branch of chemical science
- 2012, Distinguished Lectureship Award, The Chemical Society of Japan
- 2011, NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award, Australian Institute of Political Science
- 2010, Outstanding Early Career Alumni Award, James Cook University, One of five awarded for the past 10 years during the 40th Anniversary celebrations of James Cook University
- 2007-9, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowship, One of 6 awarded internationally
- 2008, DOW Chemical Company Fellow, American-Australian Association
- 2007, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Prize for Young Chemists, One of 5 awarded world-wide for the most outstanding PhD theses in the chemical sciences
- 2006, Winner of ‘Fresh Science’, Selected from early-career scientists Australia-wide for the best presentation of their research to the general public
- 2006, RACI Cornforth Medal, For the most outstanding PhD thesis submitted in a branch of chemistry in Australia
- 2006, Medal of Excellence for a Doctoral Research Thesis, James Cook University

Heading a multidisciplinary research group, Professor Fariba Dehghani leads a prominent team of researchers in the field of bioengineering. This team encompasses a wide spectrum of expertise, including postgraduates, honour students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates. Their collective efforts are centred around pioneering bioengineering methodologies to tackle global challenges in regenerative medicine, health, and nutrition. This endeavour is fortified by collaborations with experts in various fields, such as data science, molecular dynamics, chemistry, physics, biology, clinical practice, and nutrition.

The research pursuits of Professor Dehghani's team span several key domains:

1. Fabrication and processing of biomaterials, with a special focus on designing innovative medical implants inspired by nature and personalised medicine.

2. Surface modifications aimed at preventing biofilm formation and controlling cell adhesion.

3. Creation of miniaturized and portable biosensors for diagnostic purposes and the monitoring of food safety and quality.

4. Advancements in drug delivery and drug discovery.

5. Extraction of bioactive compounds with health benefits from natural resources.

Professor Dehghani earned her PhD in chemical engineering from UNSW in 1997. Subsequently, she secured an esteemed ARC Postdoctoral fellowship, sustaining her engagement with UNSW as a senior research fellow and senior lecturer. During this tenure, she made significant strides in the realm of bioengineering research and played a pivotal role in establishing a Research and Development Company in collaboration with the pharmaceutical sector. The technologies she developed during this period were sublicensed to industry partners.

In 2006, she commenced her academic position at the University of Sydney and currently holds the role of Directors for Bioengineering Research within the Faculty of Engineering. She also served as the director of an Australian Research Council Training Centre from 2014 to 2018. Her reputation as a distinguished researcher earned her recognition from Engineers Australia, being acknowledged as one of the nation's top Engineers for her innovative contributions. Further accolades include the 2017 Award for Excellence from the Australia & New Zealand Federation of Chemical Engineering, the UNSW Alumni Award of Excellence in Engineering, and the University of Sydney Vice Chancellor Award for Outstanding Research Engagement and Innovation as well as outstading supervisor.

Professor Dehghani has played a pivotal role in cultivating a multidisciplinary research ecosystem that fosters collaboration among engineering, science, medicine, pharmacy, and agriculture. Her efforts have led to enduring partnerships within the biotechnology, biomedical, and food industries, with substantial funding garnered from both national and international funding agencies.

Throughout her academic journey, Professor Fariba Dehghani has guided more than 60 Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students, alongside mentoring over 20 post-doctoral researchers and numerous academic staff members.

Dr. Syamak Farajikhah is a chemist and engineer exploring development of novel materials and new applications of sensors and biosensors across medicine and health, agriculture, and the food industry. He has a multi-disciplinary approach to his projects, working seamlessly with chemists, biologists, physicists, clinicians, material scientists, engineers and multiple industry partners.
Driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to making a positive impact, his dedication to pioneering research and collaborative endeavours reflects a vision for a future where sensor technologies play a pivotal role in shaping a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable world.

David Fletcher has a BSc and PhD in mathematics from the University of Exeter UK, and an Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches in Chemical Engineering from the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France. He is an Adjunct Professor at Sydney University. His expertise is in the numerical simulation of fluid flow, heat and mass transfer and coupled systems, including Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) problems. Over his career, he has published over 350 journal papers in CFD, with emphasis on combustion, multiphase flow, mixing, micro-flows, pharmaceutical inhalers and various biomedical systems, including nasal flow and heart valve simulation.

Dr Mohammad Bagher Ghasemian is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney and an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at UNSW Sydney, where he received his PhD in 2018. From 2019 to 2022, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Solid and Liquid Based Electronics and Optics (CASLEO). He was also a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at UNSW Sydney between 2023 and 2025. Dr Ghasemian has additionally worked as a Researcher at the Centre for Smart Supramolecules (CSS) at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea.

Dr Jacopo Giaretta is an early career researcher at the school of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney and a chemical engineer.  Dr Jacopo Giaretta earned a Bachelor degree in Chemical and Material Engineering and a Master degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Padua. He thencompleted a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular engineering at the University of Sydney in 2023 on developing cost-effective and flexible sensors for POC applicationa in healthcare, food, and environmental monitoring. Since then, his field of work has involved the development os sensors and biosensors for various applications, including healtchare, and the development of materials with improved properties for applications in sensing, healthcare, and blood-contacting devices.

Andrew is interested in developing cutting edge technologies to assist with the transition to sustainability. He joined the University of Sydney at the start of 2004 from Cambridge University in the UK where he worked for almost six years in the Department of Chemical Engineering. His research typically occurs at the interface between established scientific disciplines, i.e. chemistry, physics, biology, engineering and materials science. Because of this in his work Andrew adopt's a multi-scale, multi-disciplinary approach which enables him and his colleagues to bring a wide range of skills to bear on pressing environmental and sustainable development problems. In 2006 Andrew received the Shedden Uhde Medal and Prize as the leading early career chemical engineer in Australia and New Zealand.

Professor Jun Huang was educated at the Institute of Chemical Technology at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He received specialised training in catalysis at the South German Catalysis Institute by nine renowned professors and an emerging course of Biorefinery Technology and Renewable Raw Materials organized by DECHEMA. After obtaining his PhD degree in 2008, Dr. Huang moved to the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, USA for his Postdoctoral research. He joined a strategic energy project of catalytic routes to fuels from biomass supported by Chevron. In 2009, he started to develop novel catalysts and processes for green chemicals and biofuels in the Institute of Chemical and Bio-Engineering at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. He was appointed Lecturer at The School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Sydney in 2010 and promoted to Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor at USyd. Jun is the Editor-in-Chief of Materials Today Sustainability.

Jun is lead organiser for the 2018 International Symposium on Advancement and Prospect of Catalysis Science & Technology.

John Kavanagh is an Associate Professor, Deputy Head of School, and Associate Head (Education) in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney. John holds both a BE (Honours 1 and University Medal 1999) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney (2003). John’s academic leadership and teaching contributions span curriculum innovation, student experience, and the strategic development of the School’s educational portfolio.

John’s research program focuses on three key areas: large‑scale bioprocess design, PFAS remediation, and the use of microorganisms to produce foods. His group has developed extensive capability in modelling bubble column reactors, integrating microbial kinetics with computational fluid dynamics to predict and optimise industrial bioreactor performance. He also leads investigations into advanced wastewater treatment—examining electrocoagulation, membrane integration, and electrodialysis—and conducted, with Hans Coster, the first experiments demonstrating the potential of electrical impedance spectroscopy for detecting fouling in reverse osmosis membranes.

In the field of environmental remediation, John works with PJ Cullen to develop plasma bubble column technologies for single‑step degradation of PFAS and other persistent pollutants.

His research in microbially derived foods with Fariba Dehghani and Dale McClure centres on producing fat‑soluble vitamins, particularly vitamins A and K, using bacteria, fungi, and algae. This work contributes to the growing need for sustainable, scalable, and nutritionally meaningful bioproduction platforms.

Professor Langrish is a world leader in drying technology, particularly spray drying and the drying of timber. His work, with Professor Fletcher, on transient flows in spray dryers, has uncovered new types of flow instabilities that are fundamental to improving practical outcomes in reducing the deposition of particles on spray dryer walls. This achievement is scientifically significant because it applies advanced computational modelling and physical understanding to the solution of important and common industrial process engineering problems.

His recent work to develop crystallization in drying has the potential to improve the use of resources by combining crystallization and drying, which traditionally are done separately, into one operation. The industrial significance and application of this work can be judged from the improvements in productivity and quality that have been achieved for local dairy and timber industries.

Professor Langrish served as Head of School from 2008 until 2015.

Dr. Fengwang Li is an Associate Professor, ARC Future Fellow, and the Associate Head of School (Research) in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He leads the Electrochemical Engineering Laboratory, where his team is developing groundbreaking technologies to build a sustainable, carbon-neutral future. Dr. Li is also a Flagship Program Lead at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide (GETCO2).

His research mission is to use renewable electricity from sources such as solar and wind to convert abundant resources—such as air, water, and biomass—into green fuels and essential chemicals. This pioneering work supports a circular economy by transforming potential pollutants into valuable products. His research program is driving innovation in key areas for Australia's clean energy transition, including green hydrogen, ammonia, and sustainable fuels.

For his innovative contributions to chemistry and engineering, Dr. Li has been recognised as a Clarivate "Highly Cited Researcher" (2024, cross-field), placing him in the top 1% of researchers globally. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the 2023 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher and the 2025 Australian Academy of Science's Le Fèvre Medal.

Professor Zongwen Liu received his PhD degree from the University of Melbourne. After his PhD, he worked at the University of Queensland and then at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan before joining the University of Sydney in 2004. At Sydney, he worked at the Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis where he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship. He joined the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2012 and is currently the Research Training Director in charge of postgraduate research students.

Associate Professor Alejandro Montoya is a chemical engineer in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney and the Director of the Environmental Engineering degree. His research focuses on sustainable process engineering, with particular emphasis on advanced electrocatalysis, electrochemical resource recovery, critical minerals, and alternative fuels to support the global transition to net zero. He leads the Alternative Fuel and Energy Laboratory and is actively engaged in industry-linked and international research collaborations across Australia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Associate Professor Montoya has extensive experience in curriculum development, professional accreditation, and postgraduate supervision, and his work integrates fundamental science with applied engineering solutions for energy, water, and environmental challenges.

Dr Chung Nguyen is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, at the University of Sydney. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2023 from RMIT University (Australia), where he conducted pioneering research on the chemistry of post-transition metals (Ga, In, Sn, Bi, etc.) and the development of atomically thin materials for sensing. 

Dr Nguyen is currently developing new catalytic systems for photoreactions, with a focus on harnessing light-driven processes for sustainable chemical synthesis. Dr Nguyen actively collaborates across disciplines and institutions and has extensive experience mentoring undergraduate and HDR students.

Dr Alexandra O'Donohue is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine Laboratory at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. She joined the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Faculty of Engineering) in 2024, alongside appointment of her academic position. Her research focuses on developing treatment options for genetic diseases such as Osteogenesis Imperfecta and the Neurofibromatosis Type 1/2, primarily focused on the use of viral vectors and CRISPR editing technology. Dr O'Donohue is the current chair of the Westmead Research Hub Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Committee and a committee member of the Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society.

Dr. Zengxia Pei received his PhD degree in 2017 from City University of Hong Kong. He joined the University of Sydney in 2018 as a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, and later he secured the highly competitive ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) in 2019. Since 2024, he has been working as a Lecturer and a Horizon Fellow in University of Sydney. Dr. Pei works on nanomaterials for sustainable energy storage and conversion, with special interests in aqueous batteries, polymer electrolytes, as well as electrocatalysis. He has been consecutively recognized as a Global Highly Cited Researher (Top 1%) in 2020-2024, and was named the Australian Research Top Rising Star (1 out of 5 in Chemical/Material Science) from 2019 to 2021. He was also awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellent Early Career Researcher in 2023.

As the Director of External Engagement and teaching/education-focused Lecturer in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney with a strong commercial background across multiple industries and concurrent research into AI/ML and AR/VR, I am passionate about creating innovative and engaging learning experiences for students. I have facilitated partnerships for nearly $1,000,000 in new industrial software trials, led initiatives in AI Study Agents for improved student learning and mental health support, and started a new Student Open Journal for undergraduate research training. I have also explored the use of thermal cameras for heat transfer visualization in teaching and research, and supervised creation of augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) experiences to learn about engineering unit operations.

In addition to my teaching role, I have also contributed to interdisciplinary data analytics and machine learning for insights and applications across various industry platforms. This has involved forecasting, cost reduction, and the generation of new product and revenue streams. I also serve on the Engineering Faculty Research Steering Committee, shaping the initiative at a strategic level and strengthening cross-School and interdisciplinary connections. I hold a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney, where I also completed my Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (1st Class Honours and top of cohort) in addition to research time spent at Imperial College London in the UK. I am committed to advancing the field of chemical engineering through research and education, and firmly believe truly scalable positive impact begins in the classroom.

A/Prof Schindeler heads the Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine laboratory at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and the Children's Hospital at Westmead. He holds an academic position in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (USyd Faculty of Engineering).

His research focuses on developing treatments for neurofibromatosis (types I and 2) and genetic musculoskeletal disorders such as brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta) and achondroplasia. His group has expertise in cell culture and preclinical small animal models, molecular biology and CRISPR gene editing, and gene delivery systems including adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs). He leads a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and health professionals.

A/Prof Schindeler has an international reputation in the fields of NF and OI, with over 20 years post-PhD research. He has published >140 peer-review articles and been awarded 46 competitive grants totalling over $10M. He currently leads two NHMRC Ideas grant projects as CIA.

Dr. Shen joined University of Sydney as a Lecturer in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering since Sep 2020. She aims to be an independent researcher in the field of protein biophysics, soft materials and microfluidics.

Prior to this position, she was a postdoctoral research associate in the Chemistry Department, Centre for Misfolding Diseases at the University of Cambridge, where she was working on biophysical studies of protein liquid-liquid phase separation with Prof. Tuomas Knowles. She investigated the dynamics and probed the mechanical properties of biomolecular condensates by using microfluidic approaches.She completed her PhD in 2017 under the supervision of Prof. Raffaele Mezzenga in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where she developed novel organic-inorganic hybrid biomaterials based on protein fibrils and nanoparticles for food and nutritional purposes.Before her PhD, she obtained her Bachelor and Master degrees from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. She also worked as a research staff with Prof. Howard Stone at Harvard University and Princeton University in the US, on bacteria response to shear forces in microfluidic environments.

She has been working in top research institutes all over the world, including in the US, Europe, the UK and Australia. She has had more than 20 research projects collaborating world leading scientists and ended up in high quality papers, including two first-author papers published in Nature Nanotechnology, both featured as cover. She got three patents and one of them won the Spark award for the most promising invention in 2017 by ETH Zurich.

Dr Marcello Solomon completed his PhD in 2017 at The University of Sydney, researching Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide under the joint supervision of Prof. Deanna D'Alessandro and Prof. Kate Jolliffe.

Following his PhD, Marcello completed an industry-focused postdoc at The University of Adelaide under Prof. Christian Doonan, supported by Petronas. Here, Marcello researched the use of MOF composite materials for improving the robustness of pipe infrastructure.

After a postdoc at Graz University of Technology with Prof. Paolo Falcaro, Marcello joined Southern Green Gas to research MOFs for applications in Carbon Dioxide Removals Technology.

Marcello returned to The University of Sydney in 2023, where he joined the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Net Zero Institute. He currently enjoys a broad portfolio, covering research in MOF materials and their composites, net-zero focused project leadership, and education.

Marcello is the Deputy Lead of the Direct Air Capture Pillar in the Net Zero Institute