Overview
Background
Present Position
I am an ARC Future Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Imaging and associated with the University of Oxford as a Senior Visiting Research Fellow.
Previous Positions
- August 2007 to March 2013: Scientific Coordinator and Applications manager of the Centre of Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CAESR) at the Oxford University, UK.
- 2002-July 2007: Project leader (“Ober-assistent”) in the Physical Chemistry Department at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich. I was a project leader in the electron paramagnetic resonance group of Prof. Arthur Schweiger.
- 1999-2002: Postdoctoral position at ETH, Zurich. In the group of Prof. Arthur Schweiger I used CW and pulse EPR as a tool to investigate the geometric and electronic properties of transition metal complexes.
- 1996-1999: Doctor of Philosophy from the Chemistry Department of the University of Newcastle, Australia, Advanced Coal Characterization by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The project was funded by the Collaborative Research Centre for Black Coal Utilization and I was supervised by the University of Newcastle (Prof. Marcel Maeder), BHP Research Melbourne (Dr. Brian Smith) and Callcott Coal Consulting (Dr. Tom Callcott).
- 1995: Researcher at BHP Central Research Laboratories, Newcastle, Australia. I developed experimental techniques to measure the conductivity and the permeability of coal as it pertains to coke ovens.
- 1992-1995: Researcher at Oakbridge Research Center, Newcastle, Australia. I worked on high temperature Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) for coal characterization (for my Bachelor of Science Honors thesis). This was a collaboration between the CSIRO Coal and Energy Division (North Ryde, Sydney), Oakbridge Research Centre and the University of Newcastle.
Keywords
structural biology · protein interactions · metalloenzymes · metal complexes · electron transfer · Iron sulphur clusters · pulse EPR · CW EPR · DEER · PELDOR ·HYSCORE · ENDOR · ESEEM · density functional theory · molecular dynamics
Availability
- Associate Professor Jeffrey Harmer is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Newcastle
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Research interests
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Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in biological, medical, chemical and physical sciences.
My main research field is Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, a technique that probes the interaction of unpaired electrons with their surroundings. Paramagnetic centres are intrinsic to many systems and materials, for example biomolecules may contain metal clusters (e.g. [2Fe-2S]), transition metals (e.g. Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni) or organic radicals. Paramagnetic centres can also be attached to specific points in diamagnetic materials, as for example with the MTLS molecule that contains a nitroxide radical which is extensively used in site-directed spin labelling of biomolecules. A powerful technique of modern EPR is dipolar spectroscopy which is utilised in structural studies of biomolecules, for example with soluble and membrane proteins and their oligomers, DNA and RNA. Here dipolar spectroscopy refers to the measurement of electron-electron couplings with techniques such as Double Electron-Electron Resonance (DEER) or synonymously pulsed electron double resonance (PELDOR), double-quantum EPR (DQ-EPR), and related EPR methods. These EPR techniques can very accurately measure the dipole interaction between unpaired electron spins which enables the distance between them and their relative orientation to be determined. Owing to the large magnetic moment of the electron, the technique delivers information in the distance range from ca. 15-80 Å. From a set of such measurements a structural model of the system under investigation can be developed. For example DEER studies deliver information on protein conformational changes on ligand binding, and enable the investigation of protein-protein complexes and oligomers in frozen solution. The standard paramagnetic spin-label for dipolar spectroscopy is MTLS which is covalently attached to a protein via a disulfide bond with a cysteine residue, although there are a number of other organic labels and a number employing Cu2+ and Gd3+ ions for example. Possibilities also exist to attach spin-labels via other amino acids. DNA and RNA studies are also readily amendable to dipolar spectroscopy technologies. My area of research encompasses the characterization of structure-function relationships of biomolecules and their complexes, which includes development of the methodologies to measure electron-electron couplings and distances, the development of improved data analysis algorithms, and the development of modelling the sparse set of EPR constrains into 3D structures (for example using rigid-body docking, molecular dynamic simulations, etc.). Unpaired electrons are also coupled to nearby nuclear spins (e.g. 1H, 14N, 13C, 31P) and these couplings provide information in the distance range ca. <10 Å from the unpaired electron(s). Structural and electronic information of the paramagnetic centre from experiments is obtained with multi-frequency continuous wave (CW) EPR, and multi-frequency pulse EPR techniques such as electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), electron spin-echo envelope spectroscopy (ESEEM), and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy (HYSCORE). The experimentally measured EPR couplings describe the samples electronic structure as they relate in a direct way to the spin density distribution and thus single occupied molecular orbital. EPR couplings allow for example the identification of the type of nucleus, provide a description of the coordination environment in metal complexes, in metalloenzyme locate a substrate bound too or near the active site, and enable the identification of organic radicals. To aid in the interpretation of the experimental data extensive use of quantum chemistry calculations is used to further characterise the system under investigation.
Works
Search Professor Jeffrey Harmer’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Elucidating sodium ion storage mechanisms in hard carbon anodes at the electronic level
Xia, Qingbing, Ko, Cheng‐Lin, Cooper, Emily R., Gu, Qinfen, Knibbe, Ruth and Harmer, Jeffrey R. (2025). Elucidating sodium ion storage mechanisms in hard carbon anodes at the electronic level. Advanced Functional Materials. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202421976
2025
Journal Article
Room‐Temperature Vortex Fluidic Flow Chemistry Synthesis of Full Color Carbon Dots
Chen, Dechao, Usman Zia, Muhammad, Alharbi, Thaar M. D., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Raston, Colin L. and Li, Qin (2025). Room‐Temperature Vortex Fluidic Flow Chemistry Synthesis of Full Color Carbon Dots. ChemSusChem, e202402182. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202402182
2025
Journal Article
p-block metal based single-atom catalysts surpass transition-metal counterparts in photocatalytic H2O2 production
Lu, Haijiao, Yin, Hanqing, Harmer, Jeffrey, Xiao, Mu, You, Jiakang, Chen, Peng, Lin, Tongen, Du, Aijun, Wang, Zhiliang and Wang, Lianzhou (2025). p-block metal based single-atom catalysts surpass transition-metal counterparts in photocatalytic H2O2 production. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 64 (1) e202413769, e202413769. doi: 10.1002/anie.202413769
2024
Journal Article
Effect of gum Arabic on antifungal photodynamic activity of curcumin against Botrytis cinerea spores
Seididamyeh, Maral, Netzel, Michael E., Mereddy, Ram, Harmer, Jeffrey R. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2024). Effect of gum Arabic on antifungal photodynamic activity of curcumin against Botrytis cinerea spores. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 283 (1) 137019, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137019
2024
Journal Article
Three-dimensional porous Ti supported Ni/Sb Co-doped SnO2 anode for electrocatalytic production of ozone
Hu, Mengqing, Zhao, Di, Dong, Mengyang, Fu, Huai Qin, Zou, Yu, Xu, Yiming, Zhou, Ming, Zhang, Lei, Wang, Liang, Shu, Yajie, Zhang, Kaidi, Chen, Ziyao, Sun, Yiwei, Harbort, Joshua, Harmer, Jeffrey, Liu, Porun, Yin, Huajie and Zhao, Huijun (2024). Three-dimensional porous Ti supported Ni/Sb Co-doped SnO2 anode for electrocatalytic production of ozone. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12 (6) 114915, 114915. doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.114915
2024
Journal Article
Single‐atom catalysts with p‐block metals surpass transition‐metal counterparts in the photocatalytic H2O2 production
Lu, Haijiao, Yin, Hanqing, Harmer, Jeffrey, Xiao, Mu, You, Jiakang, Chen, Peng, Lin, Tongen, Du, Aijun, Wang, Zhiliang and Wang, Lianzhou (2024). Single‐atom catalysts with p‐block metals surpass transition‐metal counterparts in the photocatalytic H2O2 production. Angewandte Chemie, 137 (1). doi: 10.1002/ange.202413769
2024
Journal Article
Colloidal synthesis of carbon Dot‐ZnSe nanoplatelet van der Waals heterostructures for boosting photocatalytic generation of methanol‐storable hydrogen
Chen, Dechao, Hudson, Rohan J., Tang, Cheng, Sun, Qiang, Harmer, Jeffery R., Liu, Miaomiao, Ghasemi, Mehri, Wen, Xiaomin, Liu, Zixuan, Peng, Wei, Yan, Xuecheng, Cowie, Bruce, Gao, Yongsheng, Raston, Colin L., Du, Aijun, Smith, Trevor A. and Li, Qin (2024). Colloidal synthesis of carbon Dot‐ZnSe nanoplatelet van der Waals heterostructures for boosting photocatalytic generation of methanol‐storable hydrogen. Small, 20 (40) 2402613, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/smll.202402613
2024
Journal Article
Isosteric Replacement of Sulfur to Selenium in a Thiosemicarbazone: Promotion of Zn(II) Complex Dissociation and Transmetalation to Augment Anticancer Efficacy
Kaya, Busra, Gholam Azad, Mahan, Suleymanoglu, Mediha, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Wijesinghe, Tharushi P., Richardson, Vera, Zhao, Xiao, Bernhardt, Paul V., Dharmasivam, Mahendiran and Richardson, Des R. (2024). Isosteric Replacement of Sulfur to Selenium in a Thiosemicarbazone: Promotion of Zn(II) Complex Dissociation and Transmetalation to Augment Anticancer Efficacy. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67 (14), 12155-12183. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00884
2024
Journal Article
Correction to “Steric Blockade of Oxy-Myoglobin Oxidation by Thiosemicarbazones: Structure–Activity Relationships of the Novel PPP4pT Series’’
Wijesinghe, Tharushi P., Kaya, Busra, Gonzálvez, Miguel A., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Gholam Azad, Mahan, Bernhardt, Paul V., Dharmasivam, Mahendiran and Richardson, Des R. (2024). Correction to “Steric Blockade of Oxy-Myoglobin Oxidation by Thiosemicarbazones: Structure–Activity Relationships of the Novel PPP4pT Series’’. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67 (8), 6893-6893. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00714
2024
Journal Article
Macrocyclic copper(II) complexes as catalysts for electrochemically mediated atom transfer
Naher, Masnun, Su, Chuyi, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Williams, Craig M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2024). Macrocyclic copper(II) complexes as catalysts for electrochemically mediated atom transfer. Inorganic Chemistry, 63 (14), 6453-6464. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00311
2024
Journal Article
Kinetic, electrochemical and spectral characterization of bacterial and archaeal rusticyanins; unexpected stability issues and consequences for applications in biotechnology
Wilson, Liam A., Melville, Jamie N., Pedroso, Marcelo M., Krco, Stefan, Hoelzl, Robert, Zaugg, Julian, Southam, Gordon, Virdis, Bernardino, Evans, Paul, Supper, Jenna, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Tyson, Gene, Clark, Alice, Schenk, Gerhard and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2024). Kinetic, electrochemical and spectral characterization of bacterial and archaeal rusticyanins; unexpected stability issues and consequences for applications in biotechnology. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 256 112539, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112539
2024
Journal Article
Inorganic Fe-O and Fe-S oxidoreductases: paradigms for prebiotic chemistry and the evolution of enzymatic activity in biology
Huang, Xiao-Lan, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Schenk, Gerhard and Southam, Gordon (2024). Inorganic Fe-O and Fe-S oxidoreductases: paradigms for prebiotic chemistry and the evolution of enzymatic activity in biology. Frontiers in Chemistry, 12 1349020. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1349020
2024
Journal Article
Differential transmetallation of complexes of the anti-cancer thiosemicarbazone, Dp4e4mT: effects on anti-proliferative efficacy, redox activity, oxy-myoglobin and oxy-hemoglobin oxidation
Dharmasivam, Mahendiran, Kaya, Busra, Wijesinghe, Tharushi P., Richardson, Vera, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Gonzalvez, Miguel A., Lewis, William, Azad, Mahan Gholam, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Richardson, Des R. (2024). Differential transmetallation of complexes of the anti-cancer thiosemicarbazone, Dp4e4mT: effects on anti-proliferative efficacy, redox activity, oxy-myoglobin and oxy-hemoglobin oxidation. Chemical Science, 15 (3), 974-990. doi: 10.1039/d3sc05723b
2024
Journal Article
Visible light photoflow synthesis of a Cu(ii) single-chain polymer nanoparticle catalyst
Gillhuber, Sebastian, Holloway, Joshua O., Mundsinger, Kai, Kammerer, Jochen A., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Frisch, Hendrik, Barner-Kowollik, Christopher and Roesky, Peter W. (2024). Visible light photoflow synthesis of a Cu(ii) single-chain polymer nanoparticle catalyst. Chemical Science, 15 (37), 15280-15290. doi: 10.1039/d4sc03079f
2024
Journal Article
Photodynamic inactivation of Botrytis cinerea spores by curcumin—effect of treatment factors and characterization of photo-generated reactive oxygen species
Seididamyeh, Maral, Netzel, Michael E., Mereddy, Ram, Harmer, Jeffrey R. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2024). Photodynamic inactivation of Botrytis cinerea spores by curcumin—effect of treatment factors and characterization of photo-generated reactive oxygen species. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 17 (3), 670-685. doi: 10.1007/s11947-023-03150-w
2023
Journal Article
Characterisation of the heme aqua-ligand coordination environment in an engineered peroxygenase cytochrome P450 variant
Podgorski, Matthew N., Lee, Joel H.Z., Harbort, Joshua S., Nguyen, Giang T.H., Doherty, Daniel Z., Donald, William A., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Bruning, John B. and Bell, Stephen G. (2023). Characterisation of the heme aqua-ligand coordination environment in an engineered peroxygenase cytochrome P450 variant. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 249 112391, 112391. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112391
2023
Journal Article
Redox characterization of the complex molybdenum enzyme formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator
Harmer, Jeffrey R., Hakopian, Sheron, Niks, Dimitri, Hille, Russ and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). Redox characterization of the complex molybdenum enzyme formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145 (47), 25850-25863. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c10199
2023
Journal Article
Steric blockade of oxy-myoglobin oxidation by thiosemicarbazones: structure–activity relationships of the novel PPP4pT series
Wijesinghe, Tharushi P., Kaya, Busra, Gonzálvez, Miguel A., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Gholam Azad, Mahan, Bernhardt, Paul V., Dharmasivam, Mahendiran and Richardson, Des R. (2023). Steric blockade of oxy-myoglobin oxidation by thiosemicarbazones: structure–activity relationships of the novel PPP4pT series. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (22), 15453-15476. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01612
2023
Journal Article
Electrocatalytic atom transfer radical addition with turbocharged organocopper(II) complexes
Naher, Masnun, Su, Chuyi, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Williams, Craig M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). Electrocatalytic atom transfer radical addition with turbocharged organocopper(II) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 62 (38), 15575-15583. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02106
2023
Journal Article
PPARγ corepression involves alternate ligand conformation and inflation of H12 ensembles
Frkic, Rebecca L., Pederick, Jordan L., Horsfall, Aimee J., Jovcevski, Blagojce, Crame, Elise E., Kowalczyk, Wioleta, Pukala, Tara L., Chang, Mi Ra, Zheng, Jie, Blayo, Anne-Laure, Abell, Andrew D., Kamenecka, Theodore M., Harbort, Joshua S., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Griffin, Patrick R and Bruning, John B. (2023). PPARγ corepression involves alternate ligand conformation and inflation of H12 ensembles. ACS Chemical Biology, 18 (5), 1115-1123. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00917
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Jeffrey Harmer is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Methods for protein structure analysis using spin labelling, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular modelling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Professor Bostjan Kobe, Dr Rhia Stone
-
Doctor Philosophy
Functional Materials for Organic Flow Batteries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Bin Luo
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Doctor Philosophy
Studies of complex biomolecular systems using advanced biochemical and biophysical techniques
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
Completed supervision
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Applications of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Techniques in Biomedicine
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Toolbox for Characterising Molecular Structure and Function in Metal-Centred Catalysts
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James De Voss
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Opto-Electronic Properties of Melanin: Solid-State Characterisation via EPR, Conductivity, and Copper Chelation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
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