Dr. Li Gao
Details
-
Department: School of Science
-
Campus: City Campus Australia
-
li.gao@rmit.edu.au
-
ORCID:
0000-0001-5827-5814
Open to
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
About
Dr Li Gao is an industry-focused research leader with a unique joint appointment at South East Water and RMIT University. As Strategic Research Manager at South East Water, he oversees an extensive portfolio of industry-based strategic research initiatives, leading projects that deliver tangible benefits to the community while cultivating impactful research partnerships.
Dr Gao is the recipient of the prestigious inaugural ARC Industry Fellowship, the only awardee from a water utility with the largest group of industry partners among all Industry Fellowship projects. He holds a part-time position at RMIT University, where he works to bridge blue-sky research and real-world applications. His mission is to translate outstanding research discoveries into meaningful industry innovations and lasting community benefits.
UN sustainable development goals
- 13 Climate Action
- 4 Quality Education
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Non-academic positions
- Strategic Research Manager
- South East Water (Australia)
- Frankston, Australia
- 2023 – Present
- Research Strategist
- South East Water (Australia)
- Frankston, Australia
- 2015 – 2023
- Coordinator Water R&D
- Coliban Water
- Australia
- 2010 – 2015
- Process Engineer
- Witteveen+Bos
- Netherlands
- 2008 – 2010
Supervisor projects
- Synergistic Mechanism of Thermosensitive Flocculants and Modified Nanofiltration Membranes for Effective Contaminant Removal
- 25 Nov 2025
- Rapid and Portable Nanozyme Sensors for Heavy Metal Detection
- 17 Nov 2025
- Development of innovative technologies for industrial wastewater treatment and resource recovery
- 25 Sep 2025
- Monitoring and Remediation of Arsenic-Microplastic Complexes in Agriculture
- 3 Sep 2025
- Use of recycled materials for the stabilization of unsuitable soils and sub-grades
- 1 Sep 2025
- Development of ammonium-selective membranes to recover ammonium from wastewater
- 8 Apr 2025
- Plant sensor for real-time monitoring plant health
- 3 Apr 2025
- Development of Novel Composite Coating Materials for Corrosion Prevention in Concrete Sewer Structures
- 8 Aug 2023
