I use lasers to understand how light and matter interact. My overarching aim is to be able to design new solar energy harvesting devices.
I completed my PhD at The University of Sydney in 2012. After this, I was awarded an ARENA Postdoctoral Fellowship at UNSW from 2013-2016. I moved to The University of Cambridge after winning a Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship (2016-2018), before returning to UNSW in 2018 when I was appointed as a Senior...view more
I use lasers to understand how light and matter interact. My overarching aim is to be able to design new solar energy harvesting devices.
I completed my PhD at The University of Sydney in 2012. After this, I was awarded an ARENA Postdoctoral Fellowship at UNSW from 2013-2016. I moved to The University of Cambridge after winning a Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship (2016-2018), before returning to UNSW in 2018 when I was appointed as a Senior Lecturer. I currently lead a research group with the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering.
My Grants
External Funding
2023-2027 Deputy Director - OMEGA Silicon ARENA TRAC Grant ($4.8M)
2023-2027 CI ARENA TRAC Grant ($3.3M)
2023-2026 CI ARENA TRAC Grant ($3.6M)
2022-2024 CI ARC Linkage Grant (Total: $751,389. ARC: $417,398. Partner Organisations: $331,991)
2021 CI International Research Contract
2019-2021 Lead CI Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics Collaboration Grant ($40,000)
2016-2018 Lead CI Marie Skłodowska Curie Individual Fellowship (EUR 195,455)
2013-2016 Lead CI Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Postdoctoral Fellowship ($330,195)
2015 CI DAAD g08 Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme ($10,000)
2013 Lead CI Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant ($2,100)
2012 Lead CI DAAD, Short-term Research Grant for Doctoral Candidates (EUR 2,100)
Internal Funding
2022 CI Discovery Project Goldstar Award ($30,000)
2022-2023 CI Carer Award ($30,000)
2019-2021 CI UNSW-USA Networks of Excellence Grant ($50,000)
2020 CI UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme ($97,000)
2019 Lead CI UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme ($205,000)
2018-2022 Lead CI Academic start-up package ($180,000).
My Awards
2020 Young Investigator Grant – 2nd Frontiers in Photochemistry Conference
2019 CASS Foundation Travel Award
2018 UNSW Faculty of Engineering Staff Excellence Award in Educational Excellence and Innovation
2017 Selected to attend the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Chemistry
2015 CASS Foundation Travel Award
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
Research Areas
There are research projects for 4th year thesis, Masters, and PhD students available in the fields of:
- Ultrafast (less than 1 millionth of 1 millionth of a second!) laser spectroscopy of solar energy materials
- Development of ultrafast techniques for the study of interfaces
- Application of laser spectroscopy to other next-gen materials
Get in contact if you're interested...
UNSW students: Send me an email or drop by my office and I'd be happy to discuss prospective projects.
Aust/NZ students (non-UNSW): Drop me an email and check out the key dates for scholarship applications (https://research.unsw.edu.au/key-dates)
International students: Drop me an email and check out the key dates for international scholarships (https://research.unsw.edu.au/key-dates))
Currently supervising
Current Students
Ms Akasha Kaleem (Scientia PhD Scholar) is studying vibronic coupling in molecular transitions
Mr Alexander Baldacchino (TFS PhD Scholar) is studying the ultrafast spectroscopy and thermodynamics of solar cells
Mr Alvin Mo (RTP PhD Scholar) is developing singlet fission solar cell technologies
Mr Miles Collins (RTP and Sydney Quantum Academy Scholar) is studying the spin physics of singlet fission
Mr Abhinav Sharma (TFS PhD Scholar) is studying the spectroscopy and device design of hot carrier solar cells
Mr Ibrahim Hassan (4th Year Honours Thesis) is studying deposition conditions for organic/inorganic optoelectronic devices
Graduated Students
Mr Ruiyan Ren (Masters Thesis, 2022) is studying the use of spectral management for next-generation photovoltaic devices
Mr Benjamin Aarons (4th Year Honours Thesis, 2022) is studying the degradation of singlet fission materials
Ms Haoran Wang (4th Year Honours Thesis Student, 2021)
Mr Miles Collins (4th Year Honours Thesis Student, 2020, Yingli Prize for best Photovoltaic Thesis)
Dr Arman Mahboubi-Soufiani (PhD, 2017) - currently a postdoctoral researcher at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin
Dr Yi Zhang (PhD, 2017) - currently a lecturer at Hohai University
Dr Matthew Wright (PhD, 2017) - currently a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University
My Engagement
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https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5639-027X
