Professor Sarah Harmer-Bassell
Associate Professor
College of Science and Engineering
Sarah's research focusses on the application and development of techniques for materials characterisation. In particular, Sarah is interested in the use of spectroscopic techniques for minerals processing and the interface between bacteria and mineral surfaces.
Sarah's research focusses on the application and development of techniques for materials characterisation. In particular, Sarah is interested in the use of spectroscopic techniques for minerals processing and the interface between bacteria and mineral surfaces.
Sarah is an applied physicist with a focus on the spectroscopic analysis of surfaces. Her research uses a range of techniques, including:
- Synchrotron X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (SXPS);
- X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES);
- Photoemission Electron Microscopy (PEEM);
- Scanning Photoelectron Microscopy (SPEM);
- Scanning Transmision X-ray Microscopy (STXM);
- Conventional XPS;
- Time of Flight Secondary IonMass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS);
- NanoSIMS.
Sarah received a PhD from the Ian Wark Research Institute, UniSA in 2003. She then accepted a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Western Ontario where her research focused on the surface electronic structure of 3d transition metal sulfide and arsenide fracture surfaces using Synchrotron X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy (SXPS) and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES). Upon returning to Australia in 2005, Sarah worked in the Manufacturing & Infrastructure Technology division of CSIRO. In 2006 she returned to the Wark as a Research Fellow within the Australian Mineral Science Research Institute (AMSRI). In 2012 she took up an ARC Future Fellowship at Flinders University to study the interaction between bacteria and mineral surfaces using advanced synchrotron nanospectroscopic techniques.
- Bachelor of Applied Science: UniSA (1999)
- Doctor of Philosophy: The Ian Wark Research Institute, UniSA (2003)
Awards & Fellowships
- ARC Future Fellowship 2011
- Lumsden Award 2008
- Australian Academy of Science Scientific Visits to North America 2007/08
- International Center for Materials Research (ICMR) and University of California Santa Barbara Summer School for First Principles Calculations for Condensed Matter and Nanoscience 2005
- Alumni Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Applied Physics Honours, 1999
Selected Major Grants
-
NCRIS, State Government and Flinders University (2019): Harmer. Photoemission Electron Microscope $3,784,571
-
ARC LIEF LE190100123 (2019): Raston; Monteiro; Thordarson; Stubbs; Chalker; Forbes; Harmer; Zhang; Rowan; Bond; Chua; Clemons; Smith; Nguyen. Thin film microfluidic systems facility. Funds Awarded from ARC: $380,000.
- ARC Linkage Project LP160101497 (2017): Pring, Harmer, Brugger, Gibson, Grguric, Ehring. Reverse Engineering Nature: metal extraction through mineral replacement. Funds Awarded: $875,000 ARC and BHP Billiton.
- ARC LIEF, LE130100038 (2012) Quinton et al. Scanning Auger Microscope Facility Funds Awarded from ARC: $450,000.
- ARC Synchrotron Research Initiative, SR120200004 (2012): Smith et al. Funds Awarded from ARC & NHMRC: $30M. Total funds: $120M
- ARC Future Fellowship, FT110100099 (2011): Harmer. The Microbe Factory: A Novel Approach to Benign Minerals Processing. Funds Awarded from ARC: $648,348.
- ARC LIEF, LE110100174 (2010): Lay et al. Innovative Synchrotron Science - Access Program to the Australian National Beamline Facility and Cutting-Edge Beamlines at International Synchrotrons. Funds Awarded from ARC: $800,000.
- Marsden Fund 10-GNS-023 (2010): Daughney, Johannessen, Weisener Harmer-Bassell. Shedding Light on a Fundamental Geochemical Process: Synchrotron Investigation of Geomicrobiological Controls on Metal and Metalloid Ion Immobilisation. Funds Awarded: $720,000 NZD.
- ARC Linkage LP0989689 (2009): Harmer and Ametov. Matching Flotation Concentrate Composition to Downstream Processing in Copper Production at OD, BHP Billiton. Total Project Funds: $1,324,700.
Teaching Grants
- Faculty Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant (2012) Parappilly and Harmer. Funds Awarded: $10,000.
Director Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis
Deputy Director Biofilm Research and Innovation Consortium
Deputy Research Higher Degrees Co-ordinator, College of Science and Engineering
Chair Australian Institute of Physics SA Branch Committee
Research Leader Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
Sarah's research focusses on the application and development of spectroscopic techniques for minerals processing and the interface between bacteria and mineral surfaces.The techniques employed in her research include:
- Synchrotron X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (SXPS);
- X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES);
- Photoemission Electron Microscopy (PEEM);
- Scanning Photoelectron Microscopy (SPEM);
- Scanning Transmision X-ray Microscopy (STXM);
- Conventional XPS;
- Time of Flight Secondary IonMass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS);
- NanoSIMS
Electronic structure of 3D transition metal compounds
3D transition metal compounds are some of our most exploited materials for the extraction of metals, battery technologies and memory devices. Research using charge transfer MC-SCF calculations allows for the elucidation of their properties through spectral interpretation.
Development of an in situ microspectroscopic analysis of materials
The prototype electrochemical cell developed in Sarah's lab enables high resolution spectroscopic imaging in hydrated and controlled electrochemical states. Example applications include structural analysis of dynamic microbial communities, and composition analysis of heterogeneous catalysts at the nanometer scale.
Bio-flotation: A green mining process
Sarah's lab investigates the potential use of bio-flotation for the separation of sulphide ores using microbial metabolites extracted from bacteria naturally found at mine sites. The new technique promised to decrease the use of toxic chemicals as an economically viable, greener method for mineral separation.
3 Minute Thesis University Finalist - AUG 2013
Poster Prize ICONN conference 2014 - FEB 2014
Best Poster CaPS Honours - NOV 2014
HERCULES Synchrotron School Scholarship - MAR 2015
Cheiron School Travel Award - JUL 2015
Best Poster Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Annual Conference - JUN 2019
Best Poster Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Annual Conference - JUN 2018
Premiers Science and Innovation Council 2019
Microscopy Australia SARF Director 2019
Chair Australian Institute of Physics SA Branch 2019/2020
Vice Chair Australian Institute of Physics SA Branch 2017/2018
Australian Synchrotron Internation Program Advisory Committe (IPAC), Elected Member 2018
Chair Soft X-ray Microscopy Working Group
Australian Synchrotron Users Committee (UAC), Elected Member 2010-2012
Australian Synchrotron Internation Program Advisory Committe (IPAC), Elected Member 2011-2013, 2018
Find an expert
Search for experts by name, research, topic or role.
Filter by:
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Directories
Follow Flinders
