ABOUT ME

Biography

• Deputy Dean - Research, Faculty of Science, UNSW, 2018 - 2022
• Head of School and Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW, 2013 – 2018
• Director and Professor, Electron Microscope Unit, UNSW, 2003- 2013
• Director and Associate Professor, Electron Microscope Unit, UNSW, 1998-2003
• Deputy Director and Senior Lecturer, Electron Microscope Unit, UNSW, 1995-1998
• Senior Lecturer, Monash University, 1994-1995
• Director, Physical Sciences Electron Microscope Unit, UNSW, 1990-1994
• Research Assistant Professor, Dartmouth College, 1987-1990

Education

• Grad. Dip. H. Ed (1998) – The University of New South Wales
• PhD in Metallurgy and Materials (1987) – University of Birmingham
• B.Sc (Hons.) in Metallurgy and Materials (1984) – University of Birmingham

RESEARCH

My Research in Detail

Most significant contributions are in the field of microstructure-property relationships in advanced engineering materials. Areas of research include functional thin films, intermetallic alloys, advanced metal-matrix composites, thermal spray materials, surface modification of materials and biochars (see representative publications below) Recognition of this includes: > 500 papers in international journals; 24,000+ citations, career h-index 74, >$15M research funding since 2008, has supervised to completion 10 HDRs in the past 5 years..

Supervision Opportunities/Areas

Contact Paul about research supervision opportunities in the areas of functional thin films, hard wear resistant coatings, thermal spray coating or the structure of biochars.

Advice for prospective students

For students, we provide an internationally-recognised student experience. Our teachers are internationally renowned and, in recent years, have won numerous education awards. If you are interested in materials sciences be sure to choose to study at an institution with close links with employers. Most of our undergraduates receive scholarships coupled with invaluable industrial experience during their study established through our industry links. Graduates from the School of Materials Science and Engineering are highly sought across all areas of industry from metallurgy to microelectronics to biomedical fields

TEACHING & OUTREACH

Courses I teach

Courses taught are in the areas of electron microscopy, deformation and strengthening, semiconductor device fabrication and advanced alloys. Currently teach MATS3001 (MICROMECHANISMS OF MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR IN MATERIALS)

Professional affiliations and service positions

• Deputy Dean - Research, Faculty of Science, UNSW, (2018 - 2022)
• Head of School and Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW, (2013 – 2018)
• Technical Director: Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility (2007 – 2013)
• Associate Editor – ‘Materials Characterization’ (2008-2020)
• Editorial boards of ‘Microscopy Research and Technique’; 'Metals'.
•  Australian Research Council College of Experts (2015-17)

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Received the UNSW Vice- Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence undergraduate teaching in 2003 (with M. Hoffman, A. Crosky & B. Allen) and Carrick Citation in 2007, again with the aforementioned team.
• 1996 – Philips Cowley-Moodie award for Physical Sciences Electron Microscopy .