Newly appointed UNSW Sydney Professor of Chemical Engineering Dr Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh has been awarded a prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship by the Australian Research Council to explore the unique properties of liquid metals.

Professor Kalantar-zadeh joined UNSW on 1 August under its Strategic Hires and Retention Pathways (SHARP) initiative, which is designed to attract world-leading researchers in pursuit of the University's vision to be among the leading research-intensive universities worldwide.

Professor Kalantar-zadeh is internationally recognised for his research in the field of two-dimensional semiconductors, ingestible sensors and liquid metals. His multi-disciplinary team has expertise in chemical and biochemical sensors, nanotechnology, microsystems, materials science, electronics, gastroenterology, medical devices and microfluidics. He joins UNSW from RMIT University in Melbourne, where he will remain an Honorary Professor.  He is also a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET).

The research grant was originally awarded to Professor Kalantar-zadeh while he was a Distinguished Professor at RMIT. The grant will follow Professor Kalantar-zadeh and allow him to continue his investigations into the unique properties and potential applications for liquid metals. Liquid metals are traditionally used in mining applications and for switches, barometers and heat transfer units. Recent discoveries have indicated that they have potential to create systems with extraordinary physical and chemical properties.  

'There are possibilities you cannot even imagine. Think electronics, optics, catalysts, thermal devices and bio systems. We want to look at using these new materials in wide-ranging applications, to make goods that are cheaper, more efficient and better for the environment.'

“There are possibilities you cannot even imagine,” Kalantar-zadeh said. “Think electronics, optics, catalysts, thermal devices and bio systems. We want to look at using these new materials in wide-ranging applications, to make goods that are cheaper, more efficient and better for the environment.”

UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor Mark Hoffman is delighted with his new hire. “The UNSW SHARP hire program targets world-class leaders in research. Professor Kalantar-zadeh is a pioneer in developing and characterising two-dimensional materials other than graphene, which is one of the hottest topics in contemporary research. That he has been awarded over $3 million in funding as one of just 16 ARC Laureate Fellows in 2018 is recognition of his remarkable intellect and talent. I am thrilled to welcome him and his team to UNSW Engineering.” 

The Australian Laureate Fellowship is considered one of the most prestigious and contested in the research community. ARC awarded 16 Australian Laureate Fellows for 2018.

“I am here to do everything I can to make an impact and create something that can benefit Australia and the wider international community,” said Professor Kalantar-zadeh. “I had an enriching time at RMIT and am looking forward to exciting future work and new discoveries at UNSW.”