Professor Justin Chalker
Matthew Flinders Professor
College of Science and Engineering
Justin M. Chalker is an ARC Future Fellow and Matthew Flinders Professor of Chemistry at Flinders University. Justin earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in the History and Philosophy of Science at The University of Pittsburgh in 2006. At Pittsburgh, he contributed to the total synthesis of several natural products under the direction of Theodore Cohen. Supported by a Rhodes Scholarship and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Justin then completed his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Benjamin Davis where he developed several tools for the site-selective modification of proteins. In 2012, Justin started his independent career as an assistant professor at The University of Tulsa where he established a diverse research program in organic chemistry and material science. In 2015, Justin moved to Flinders University as a Lecturer in Synthetic Chemistry and recipient of an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, rising to rank of Professor in 2021. Justin has earned >$13M AUD in competitive funding for his scholarly activities and he has been recognised with several awards for his efforts in teaching and research. These include the SA Science Excellence Awards STEM Educator of the Year (2018) and the Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovators (2020). Justin’s current research interests focus on fundamental sulfur chemistry and applied polymer technologies to address grand challenges in sustainability. He also leads the Chemical Synthesis Group at Flinders University: a collaborative cohort of approximately 60 researchers advancing innovative strategies in the synthesis of valuable organic, inorganic and polymeric materials.
Professor, Flinders University (2022-Present)
Associate Professor, Flinders University (2020-2021)
Senior Lecturer, Flinders University (2017-2019)
Lecturer in Synthetic Chemistry, Flinders University (2015-2017)
Assistant Professor, The University of Tulsa (2012 to 2015)
D.Phil., Organic Chemistry, Oxford University (2011) - Advisor: Prof. Benjamin G. Davis
B.S., Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh (2006) - Advisor: Prof. Theodore Cohen
B.A., History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh (2006)
SELECTED GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING (from >$13M AUD):
- Research and Innovation Fund, SA Department of State Development, ADDI $309,000
- ARC LIEF (LE260100060) Mass Analysis Facility for Precision Molecular Science $1,7999,000
- AEA Ignite (IG250200142) Gold recovery technology for mining and e-waste recycling $500,000
- ARC Discovery Project (DP260100466) A platform for chemically recyclable polymers $815,689
- UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DSTL0000050197) Innovation in dermal protection $586,512
- AEA Seed Grant (AE240300053) Low-cost lenses for thermal imaging $495,624
- ARC Discovery Project (DP230100587) Unusual trisulfide chemistry $405,186
- ARC Future Fellowship (FT220100054) New materials for thermal imaging $1,039,924
- ARC LIEF (LE230100168) Materials for Sustainability Analysis Facility $620,000
- ARC Linkage (LP200301661) New technologies for E-waste Recycling $884,669
- ARC Linkage (LP200301660) Polymer technologies for oil spill remediation and slow-release fertilisers $708,984
- ARC LIEF (LE210100139) NMR Facility $1,240,000
- ARC Discovery Project (DP200100090) $410,000
- Australian Research Council LIEF (LE190100123) Flow chemistry facility $380,000
- Defence Innovation Partnership (2018) $150,000
- ARC Discovery Project (DP170100452) $575,000
- Australian Natl Environmental Science Program, Emerging Priorities Funding (2016) $80,000
- ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE150101863) $372,000
SELECTED ACCOLADES:
- South Australian Tall Poppy of the Year (2016)
- Green Chemistry Emerging Investigator (2017)
- ChemSocRev Emerging Investigator (2017)
- Dream Chemistry Award finalist (1 of 5 globally) (2017)
- Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry New Talent Award (2018)
- Eureka Prize Finalist for Outstanding Early Career Researcher (1 of 3 in Australia) (2018)
- SA Science Excellence Awards STEM Educator of the Year (2018)
- AMP Tomorrow Maker (2018)
- Prime Minister's Prize for New Innovators (2020)
- South Australian Science Awards - Innovator of the Year (2021)
I am interested in all aspects of organic chemistry and allied fields of biochemistry and chemical biology. Currently I teach second and third year organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and a chemical biology Honours module. In these efforts, I aim to inspire students and convince them that organic chemistry is a valuable and interesting academic discipline in and of itself, but also a highly practical science intimately related to a variety of pursuits in biology, energy, materials, and medicine.
For more:
Justin regularly egages in science outreach through appearances on TV and radio, public lectures, school visits, online science mentorship, and interactive scienc shows. If you are interested in an outreach partnership, please contact Justin
• Falling Walls Lab - Breaking the Wall of Mercury Pollution (2016)
• ABC Catalyst episode on mercury pollution (2016)
• Scope Network Ten segment on converting waste into polymers that capture pollution [from 19:10] (2016)
• The Heavy Metals Lab at MONA in Hobart - a collaboration between artists and scientists to increase awareness about pollution (2016)
• Science and Maths Academy at Flinders University - invited speaker. (2016)
• Keynote speaker for the RACI Year 12 Merit Ceremony for South Australia (2016)
• ABC Radio segment on new technologies to capture mercury (2015)
• RACI Science Alive Chemistry Show at the Royal Adelaide Showground (3 day Chemistry show, more than 25,000 in audience) (2015)
• Fresh Science - Stories of discovery from early-career researchers in Australia. (2015)
• First Lego League mentor - Virtual conferences about STEM with grade 5-8 team from Jesup Community Schools in Waterloo, IA. (2015)
• Students on the Beamlines - Mentor for inquiry-driven science project at the Canadian Light Source, in conjunction with high school project leaders at Evan Hardy Collegiate Institute in Saskatoon Canada. (2015-present)
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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