Amani Ahmed S Alzahrani
PhD student
Project Title: Investigation of The Solvation Properties of Ionic Solvents Using Scattering Techniques
A variety of scattering techniques will be employed to characterise the solvation layer including small angle x-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS & SANS), dynamic light scattering, and static light scattering.
Soroosh Gharehgozlo
Honours student
- Project Title: Bio-Engineering Lipid-Coated Gold nanoparticles for enhanced bacterial adsorption and uptake
Soroosh’s research involves synthesising gold nanoparticles coated with bacterial lipids extracted from Escherichia coli. This project aims to explore potential enhancements in uptake or adsorption upon the reintroduction of coated nanoparticles to E. coli cells.
Pierre Vaillant
PhD student
- Project Title: Understanding the fundamental interactions and processes within liquid metal systems
This project will aim to provide a deeper understanding into the interactions and structures that occur within liquid metal systems, which have yet to be fully realised. A wide range of scientific techniques and methods will be used to probe the systems, such as physical (AFM), investigative (SEM, TEM), spectrographic (EDS, XPS) and Neutron/Synchrotron based techniques.
Rowan Penman
PhD student
- Project Title: Probing the Interactions of Metal Nanomaterials with Synthetic Cell Membranes
Rowan is a PhD student studying the effects of nanomaterials on biological systems through the use of synthetic model cell membranes, primarily using atomic force microscopy as well as x-ray and neutron scattering techniques.
Katherine Chea
PhD student
- Project Title: Control and characterisation of the arrangement of nanodiamonds in thin films and colloidal crystals
The ability to control the arrangement of nanodiamonds in both 2D and 3D is required for many applications from quantum sensing to drug delivery. Thin films made from the spin-coating of nanodiamond-polymer composites and colloidal crystals made from centrifugation of bare nanodiamond suspensions are explored to study these structures.
Michael Hassett
PhD student
- Project Title: Structural Analysis of Thermotropic Liquid Crystals
Michael aims to investigate the complex properties of thermotropic liquid crystals, which exhibit both macroscopic disorder and molecular-level order. Using novel fluctuation scattering and molecular dynamics techniques, he seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms governing these systems, addressing the challenges associated with traditional techniques and potentially enhancing their applications in diverse fields like display technology and biological sensing.
Nicholas Bos
PhD student
Nicholas is a researcher developing eutectogels, biocompatible gels based on deep eutectic solvents, to deliver antimicrobials and healing agents to wounds. His work explores how gel composition affects drug release and antimicrobial efficacy, with the aim of tackling antimicrobial resistance and advancing new approaches to wound care.
Hannah Nicholson
PhD student
Hannah is an ambitious and driven applied physicist working on computer vision and light scattering techniques to improve cryopreservation protocols for mammalian cells. She is in the first year of her PhD, focusing on the preservation of endangered and pest species to achieve ecological stability.
Miyah Awad
PhD student
Miyah is in the final year of her PhD where she is examining novel antioxidant compounds for improved cryopreservation. Miyah has chosen to pursue a career in research because she has an endless thirst for knowledge, enjoys the pursuit of answering those ‘why?’ questions, and loves learning new skills in the laboratory.
Tasha Tahar
Tasha is currently pursuing her PhD in Applied Physics at RMIT University, with a background in biomedical and biological sciences. Her research focuses on understanding cellular responses to freezing and thawing, and exploring approaches to improve the cryopreservation of reproductive cells.
