About me
I refer to my interdisciplinary field of research as Materials Geometry, i.e., the materials science and statistical mechanics of complex materials and biological tissues, addressed through the goggles of geometry and at the interface of experiment, theoretical physics and computational science.
I am perhaps best known for my contributions to structure formation of bicontinuous phases in soft matter self-assembly and biological membranes; to the optics of gyroid materials in butterfly nanostructures and nanofabricated photonic crystals; to Minkowski tensor analysis and morphometric methods to quantify disordered material structure; and to random packing properties of non-spherical particles in granular matter systems.
I teach into the mathematics curriculum at Murdoch University. I currently teach second-year calculus (MAS220, Mathematical Methods), third-year mathematical modelling (MAS354, Modelling and Simulation), first year discrete mathematics (MAS162, Discrete Mathematics) and a scientific project unit (MAS300, ). I have previously taught in theoretical and computational physics.
I also enjoy opportunities to shape international research communities and to contribute to the governance of the higher education sector, through various past and present roles.
I have made contributions to the public debate on various aspects of Australia's higher education and research sector, including in relation to international education, and I have published in peer-reviewed journals on university governance in Australia.
For my CV, click here.
When you're on Murdoch's campus, feel free to drop in to have a chat! I always like meeting and catching up with students and colleagues – both just for a chat and for any possible projects. Click here for a campus map with my office marked.