Patrick Adams, PhD student
Project Title: Using X-ray Scattering Correlation Analysis to Determine Protein Structure.
Patrick is developing novel data analysis methods of determining the structure of liquids, amorphous solids, and the structure of molecules; as crystals and in solution, with X-ray scattering correlation analysis.
Monerh AL-Shahrani, PhD student
Project Title: Rapid measurement of the effects of antimicrobial drug candidates on bacterial motility
Monerh studies the ability of differential dynamic microscopy to study the swimming motility of bacteria in suspension, which is critical for our understanding of bacterial propagation and growth and will be a valuable tool in the development of improved antibiotics.
Dilek Sezer, PhD student
Project Title: Interactions of small molecules and salts with biomembranes
Dilek obtained her BSc degree from Material Science and Engineering and is a PhD student at the Applied Chemistry department. She currently works on the interactions of small polar molecular solvents with biomembranes and employs various characterisation techniques and experiments such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), and Mammalian Cell culture protocols. Getting to the bottom of those why questions in biophysical sciences and learning new skills is one of her favourite things to do.
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.
Rashad Kariuki, PhD student
Project Title: Monitoring the adsorption of ultra-small gold nanoparticles to model bio-membranes
Nanoparticles have potential as alternative therapeutic treatments, however the precise molecular mechanics upon which they interact with the cell are elusive and extensive. I am a PhD student investigating the molecular interactions between gold nanoparticles and model cellular membranes using computational simulation techniques (molecular dynamics) and high resolution microscopic techniques (primarily AFM). We hope this research can inform the design of nanoparticle based biomedical therapies.
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.
Zo Shaw, PhD student
Project title: Low-dimensional materials for antimicrobial treatment
Zo’s research focuses on using few-layer and 2D materials to combat bacterial and fungal infections. They are investigating the complex interactions happening at the material-cell interface with the aim of developing a 2D-material based antimicrobial wound treatment.
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.
Stefan Paporakis, PhD student
Project Title: Characterising the nanostructure of self-assembling lipid materials via fluctuation X-ray scattering
Stefan Paporakis is a physics PhD candidate at RMIT University that utilises novel diffraction techniques and advanced statistical methods in order to model self-assembling lipid materials. His work primarily focuses on the nanostructure of lyotropic liquid crystal phase formation of lipids, mediated by ionic liquid solvents.
James Muller, Honours student
Project Title: The Effects of Tetracycline on P. aeruginosa Bacterial Motility
This project is studying how tetracycline (a common antibiotic) impacts the bacterial motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using differential dynamic microscopy.
Nick Florent , PhD student
Project Title: Simulation of hydration dynamics of Martian regolith
Using the known composition of the Martian regolith, Nick is simulating how water interacts with the minerals to better understand where to find water, and ways to extract the water for survival, fuel and agriculture.
Mohamad (Moe) El Mohamad, PhD student
Project Title: Biocompatible ionic liquids as designer solvents for the formation of non-lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles
Moe’s project aims to optimize lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles formulations using biocompatible ionic liquids. The project focuses on the role of the ionic liquids as solvent components (effect on particle’s structure and stability), and active ingredients (drug loading, cytotoxicity, biodistribution, etc.).
