Our people

Professor Michelle Coote

The Coote lab applies a combination of theory and experimentation to study chemical reactivity and to design new catalysts and synthetic methods for application across polymer chemistry and small molecule synthesis. The current focus is on non-traditional methods of bond activation using electricity and light, and the group is a member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Biology.

Michelle joined Flinders University in 2022 as a Matthew Flinders Professor in Chemistry, having moved from the Australian National University where she was a Georgina Sweet ARC Laureate Fellow. She is an Executive Editor of JACS, an elected fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, and has received numerous awards including the RACI Leighton, HG Smith, Rennie and Cornforth Medals. For more details on her research, see the Coote Lab.

Professor Sarah Harmer
Deputy Director

The Harmer group’s research interests range from condensed matter physics, surface spectroscopy and biominerals processing with extensive international collaborators including the University of Utrecht, McMaster University, University of Western Ontario, Canadian Light Source, Swiss Light Source, AML 3D, Norcada Inc., GLIER, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, MMG, FMG, Teck, Newmont, Okanes, MRIWA, AWE and the SA Government.

Sarah joined Flinders University in 2012 as an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. In 2018 she formed Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, bringing together microscopy facilities across the university and unique instrumentation through NCRIS and ARC LIEF grants.

Associate Professor Zhongfan Jia

The Jia lab focuses on the design, preparation, and characterisation of functional macromolecular structures to enable specific attributes and functions in engineered polymers. Using advanced organic and polymer chemistry, the group develops designer materials for applications in clean energy storage, green catalysis, sustainable environment, and health sectors.

Before joining Flinders University in 2020 as a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Zhongfan was a researcher and lecturer, with awards including an ARC Future Fellowship (2014–2018) and an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship (2018–2020).

Associate Professor Martin Johnston

The Johnston lab focuses on using organic chemistry to solve applied chemical problems across multiple sectors including forensic science and defence. The group extensively uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the characterisation of samples to determine the content and purity as well as molecular structure.

Martin has worked extensively with a number of industries including Defence Science and Technology Group (DST), CSIRO, Forensic Science SA (FSSA) and Thales (Australian Munitions).

Associate Professor Ingo Köper

The Köper group focuses on the biological aspects of nanotechnology, mainly in the use and characterisation of model membrane systems. Related research topics include the synthesis and use of nanoparticles as drug-delivery vehicles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and neutron scattering are the main techniques used.

Ingo came to Flinders University in 2009, from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany.

Professor Sophie Leterme

The Leterme Laboratory focuses on aquatic microbes via two research streams: (1) the effects of environmental change such as drought, eutrophication on plankton biology and (2) biofilm formation on surfaces immersed in aquatic systems, including water treatment and desalination plants.

Sophie joined Flinders University in 2006 as a post-doctoral researcher working on the ecology of the Coorong wetlands. She won a Lecturer position in 2008, conducting research on the adaptation of plankton to salinity fluctuations. She was the deputy node leader of SA-IMOS (South Australian Integrated Marine Observing System); 2009-2015) and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2016. Sophie led the Biofilm Research & Innovation Consortium (2018-2021) and is now the director of The ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation. Sophie also leads a research program on microplastic pollutants in Australian coastal waters (@MicroplasticW).

Professor David Lewis

The Lewis research group are currently focused on the creation of functional particles and surfaces at the nano and micro scales to address challenges in 3D printing, the creation of self-assembled biomimetic surfaces, printable solar cells and concentrated solar thermal energy.

David is a materials scientist with extensive experience in polymer chemistry through a career in both industry and academia, having held positions at IBM Research (in NY), SOLA Optical (now Carl Zeiss Vision) before joining Flinders University in 2009. Professor Lewis is the founding Director of the Nano Institute.

Associate Professor Melanie MacGregor

The MacGregor lab’s current research interests are functional nano-coatings. The research focuses on chemistry, wettability, reactivity and nano-topography of surfaces as key parameters to control the interaction between (bio)materials and their environment. The group specialises in plasma coating technology to produce engineered surfaces, primarily to address challenges faced by the biomedical and energy industries.

Melanie joined Flinders University in 2021 as an ARC Future Fellow, after completing a Santos–University College London Research Fellowship at the Future Industries Institute. For her work on translational industry-driven projects she received the 2017 Winnovation Award in the Engineering category, and a 2018 SA Young Tall Poppy Science Award. She was also named a Superstar of STEM by Science & Technology Australia for promoting diversity in the STEM sector.

Professor Jim Mitchell

Research in the Mitchell group focuses on the influences of nanometre to micrometre scale processes on microbial ecosystems. Research outcomes have been used in creating new nanotechnology, including microfluidics and nanofabrication. As part of this research the group also investigates environmental viruses (>10^8/ ml) and metagenomics.

Jim is the leading expert on small scale microbial processes with publications in Nature, Science and PNAS. He has been invited to present at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge University and the Gordon Research Conference on marine microbiology. Collaborators include the University of Tokyo, MIT and the University of Chicago.

Professor Jamie Quinton

The Quinton research group focuses on the atomic and molecular mechanisms at play on surfaces and interfaces with the goal of producing new technology enabled by nanostructures. This work encompasses surface modification, additive manufactured materials, corrosion protection, applied surface science and instrumentation development.

Jamie joined Flinders University in 2003 and was named the Flinders winner in the UniJobs Lecturer of the Year in 2009. He also received the Australian Learning and Teaching Council’s Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in 2010. From 2022 he is taking on the role of Professor and Head of the School of Natural Sciences at Massey University in Aotearoa, New Zealand, though remains a Research leader at the Nano Institute with full academic status.

Professor Colin Raston AO FAA

 The Raston lab focuses its research on clean technology and green chemistry, microfluidics and self-assembly. With the invention of the vortex fluidic device (VFD), Prof. Raston has introduced a paradigm shift in continuous flow processing. Since 2012, over 200,000 experiments and 100 published papers have been completed on the VFD alone. The global impacts of the VFD are ongoing. In 2015, the device earned international recognition when Prof. Raston was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry for ‘partially unboiling’ an egg.

A Professor in Clean Technology and a former President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Professor Raston has received multiple awards including the RACI’s Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the H.G. Smith Award, the Burrows Award, the Leighton Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the profession, and the Applied Research Award. In 2016 he was Appointed an Officer in of the Order of Australia, in 2018 was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and in 2020 was South Australian Scientist of the Year.

Professor Youhong Tang

 The Tang lab focuses its research efforts on the structure–process–property relationships of composite materials and chemo-/biosensing. The emphasis is on the design and manufacture of materials and devices to solve broad challenges faced by industry. Marine, bioresource, biomedical and sensing sectors are of particular interest, as well as integration of novel aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens).

Youhong joined Flinders in 2012 from the University of Sydney. His awards include a Flinders University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers and an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.