Academic Level D
College of Science and Engineering
After studying extended majors in undergraduate Physics and Mathematics across two institutions in global and third tier cities, Jamie obtained his doctorate from the University of Newcastle, Australia in 2001 working in the area of surface physics, studying environmentally benign organosilane coatings for corrosion protection of various metal oxide surfaces (aluminium, iron, chromium, zinc, steel). From 2000-2001 he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Laboratory for Surface Modification, Rutgers University (NJ, USA) working with pioneering Professor Ted Madey, the State of New Jersey Professor of Surface Science, leading his group's synchrotron research (at Brookhaven National Laboratory). He then returned to Newcastle in 2002 to perform more research and present some lectures as a casual academic.
He joined in Flinders as a Lecturer in Nanotechnology/Physics/Chemical Physics in 2003, then progressed through the academic ranks all the way to Professor (in 2014). Throughout his career, Jamie has studied nanoscale surface and interface phenomena with a wide variety of materials, from metals through to polymers, ceramics, and even natural fibre products, with a strong focus on carbonaceous materials; and has applied them to a diverse range of applications from corrosion protection of steels and lightweight alloys, through to optically active aerospace materials, antimicrobial coatings for seagrass restoration, through to nuclear fusion reactor plasma-facing materials.
His passion remains in surface modification, optimising industrial processes and finding environmentally favourable alternative technologies. He is a Chartered Physicist but remains a curious and passionate, life-long learner who is pursuant of all aspects of knowledge in Science and Engineering, be it in teaching or research.
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 affiliated with Flinders with full academic status.
BSc(Hons) PhD FAIP MInstP CPhys CMatP
I believe that students are best able to learn when I facilitate the placement of advanced concepts in context. I do this through providing contemporary examples inspired by frontier research, demonstrations, and exploration of conceptual relationships through innovative ICT learning tasks, which encourage self-directed learning. Context provides students with the ‘big picture,’ and achieves coherence. Moreover, it enables them to link new information with existing knowledge. These approaches also guarantee that I, as an educational designer, can evaluate if I have assisted students in achieving the educational objective of ‘understanding’ in preference to ‘memorising.’ This is paramount for graduates because 'understanding' is essential for enhancing their confidence, as well as competence.
University Medal - DEC 2008
Vice Chancellor's Award for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - APR 2016
Poster Prize, 21st Royal Australian Chemical Institute Research and Development Conference - DEC 2013
Best Student Presentation - AMN4 (Otago, NZ) - FEB 2009
Alexander von Humbolt Research Fellowship (PostDoctoral) - APR 2011
Flinders University Best Research Student Paper 2012 - DEC 2012
Flinders University Best Research Student Paper 2013 - DEC 2013
Best Poster Presentation, NanoE3 International Conference, Couran Cove, Australia - SEP 2007
Bloom-Gutmann Prize for Electrochemistry, RACI - DEC 2008
2nd place best student oral presentation (ARNAM/ARCNN 2010 workshop) - DEC 2010
University Medal - DEC 2009
University Medal - DEC 2006
University Medal - DEC 2006
University Medal - DEC 2006
University Medal - DEC 2009
Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University - APR 2010
University Medal - DEC 2010
University Medal - DEC 2010
University Medal - DEC 2011
University Medal (December 2014) - DEC 2014
University Medal (December 2020) - DEC 2020
University Medal (December 2020) - DEC 2020