Professor Paul Bernhardt
Professor

Paul Bernhardt

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54266

Background

After completing my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Newcastle, I held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Basel (Switzerland) from 1990-2. I returned to Australia in 1993 to take up an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Australian National University (Canberra) from 1993-4. I joined The University of Queensland in 1994.

Availability

Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Inorganic chemistry Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle

Research interests

  • Protein Electrochemistry

    This research involves incorporating redox active enzymes with electrochemical systems such that the enzyme functions natively whilst in communication with an electrode (rather than with a natural electron transfer partner). We are currently investigating a number of systems, most from the molybdenum enzyme family that catalyse oxygen transfer reactions of both organic and inorganic substrates.

  • Copper Complexes as Atom Transfer Radical Catalysts

    Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) is one of the most widely used 'controlled' radical polymerisation techniques and has resulted in polymers with well defined molecular weights and architectures. Our work is focused on complexes that catalyse this process by generating organic radicals from the simple reaction between a Cu(I) complex and an alkyl halide initiator. We can probe this atom transfer reaction with cyclic voltammetry and we have gained new insight to this interesting and fundamentally important reaction. This has now progressed to developing electrocatalytic synthetic methods for C-C bond formation reactions in collaboration with Prof. Craig Williams (SCMB).

Research impacts

My research interests include all aspects of coordination chemistry; particularly its relevance to the areas of electrochemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, spectroscopy and catalysis.

In recent years some of the areas in which we have been, and continue to be, actively involved include:

  • Enzyme electrochemistry (collaborations with several UQ and international groups).
  • Invesitigation of copper complexes that are active in atom transfer radical polymerisation catalysis
  • Transition metal-mediated organic oxidation and reduction reactions

Search Professor Paul Bernhardt’s works on UQ eSpace

545 works between 1987 and 2025
All (545) Journal Article (513) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (28) Other Outputs (1)

81 - 100 of 545 works

2020

Journal Article

Biophysical techniques for distinguishing ligand binding modes in cytochrome P450 monooxygenases

Podgorski, Matthew N., Harbort, Joshua S., Coleman, Tom, Stok, Jeanette E., Yorke, Jake A., Wong, Luet-Lok, Bruning, John B., Bernhardt, Paul V., De Voss, James J., Harmer, Jeffrey R. and Bell, Stephen G. (2020). Biophysical techniques for distinguishing ligand binding modes in cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Biochemistry, 59 (9) acs.biochem.0c00027, 1038-1050. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00027

Biophysical techniques for distinguishing ligand binding modes in cytochrome P450 monooxygenases

2020

Journal Article

Humulene diepoxides from the Australian arid zone herb Dysphania: assignment of aged hops constituents

Tan, Yuen Ping, Agnew‐Francis, Kylie A., Hofmann, Julian, Savchenko, Andrei I., Lafontaine, Scott R., Boyle, Glen M., Bernhardt, Paul V., Fraser, James A., Shellhammer, Thomas H. and Williams, Craig M. (2020). Humulene diepoxides from the Australian arid zone herb Dysphania: assignment of aged hops constituents. Chemistry: A European Journal, 26 (7) chem.201904420, 1653-1660. doi: 10.1002/chem.201904420

Humulene diepoxides from the Australian arid zone herb Dysphania: assignment of aged hops constituents

2020

Journal Article

Chrysosporazines F–M: P-glycoprotein inhibitory phenylpropanoid piperazines from an Australian marine fish derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F294

Mohamed, Osama G., Salim, Angela A., Khalil, Zeinab G., Elbanna, Ahmed H., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2020). Chrysosporazines F–M: P-glycoprotein inhibitory phenylpropanoid piperazines from an Australian marine fish derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F294. Journal of Natural Products, 83 (2) acs.jnatprod.9b01181, 497-504. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01181

Chrysosporazines F–M: P-glycoprotein inhibitory phenylpropanoid piperazines from an Australian marine fish derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F294

2020

Journal Article

The oxidation-reduction and electrocatalytic properties of CO dehydrogenase from Oligotropha carboxidovorans

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Petitgenet, Mélanie, Niks, Dimitri, Dingwall, Stephanie, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Hille, Russ and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2020). The oxidation-reduction and electrocatalytic properties of CO dehydrogenase from Oligotropha carboxidovorans. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics, 1861 (1) 148118, 148118. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.148118

The oxidation-reduction and electrocatalytic properties of CO dehydrogenase from Oligotropha carboxidovorans

2020

Journal Article

Copper complexes of benzoylacetone bis-thiosemicarbazones: metal and ligand based redox reactivity*

Bilyj, Jessica K., Harmer, Jeffrey R. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2020). Copper complexes of benzoylacetone bis-thiosemicarbazones: metal and ligand based redox reactivity*. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 74 (1), 34-47. doi: 10.1071/ch20210

Copper complexes of benzoylacetone bis-thiosemicarbazones: metal and ligand based redox reactivity*

2019

Journal Article

A novel long‐range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α‐helix in water

Hoang, Huy N., Wu, Chongyang, Hill, Timothy A., Dantas de Araujo, Aline, Bernhardt, Paul V., Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2019). A novel long‐range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α‐helix in water. Angewandte Chemie, 131 (52), 19049-19053. doi: 10.1002/ange.201911277

A novel long‐range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α‐helix in water

2019

Journal Article

A spectroelectrochemical investigation of the heme-based sensor DevS from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a redox versus oxygen sensor

Barreto, Giamwemberg A., Carepo, Marta S. P., Gondim, Ana C. S., Guimaraes, Wellinson G., Lopes, Luiz G. F., Bernhardt, Paul, Paulo, Tercio F., Sousa, Eduardo H. S. and Diogenes, Izaura C. N. (2019). A spectroelectrochemical investigation of the heme-based sensor DevS from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a redox versus oxygen sensor. Febs Journal, 286 (21) febs.14974, 4278-4293. doi: 10.1111/febs.14974

A spectroelectrochemical investigation of the heme-based sensor DevS from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a redox versus oxygen sensor

2019

Journal Article

En route to D-ring inverted phorbol esters

Chow, Sharon, Krainz, Tanja, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Williams, Craig M. (2019). En route to D-ring inverted phorbol esters. Organic Letters, 21 (21) acs.orglett.9b03379, 8761-8764. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b03379

En route to D-ring inverted phorbol esters

2019

Journal Article

A novel long-range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α-helix in water

Hoang, Huy N., Wu, Chongyang, Hill, Timothy A., Dantas de Araujo, Aline, Bernhardt, Paul V., Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2019). A novel long-range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α-helix in water. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 58 (52) ange.201911277, 18873-18877. doi: 10.1002/anie.201911277

A novel long-range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α-helix in water

2019

Journal Article

Proton-assisted air oxidation mechanisms of iron(ii) bis-thiosemicarbazone complexes at physiological pH: a kinetico-mechanistic study

Gonzálvez, Miguel A., Algarra, Andrés G., Basallote, Manuel G., Bernhardt, Paul V., Fernández-Trujillo, María J. and Martínez, Manuel (2019). Proton-assisted air oxidation mechanisms of iron(ii) bis-thiosemicarbazone complexes at physiological pH: a kinetico-mechanistic study. Dalton Transactions, 48 (44), 16578-16587. doi: 10.1039/c9dt03557e

Proton-assisted air oxidation mechanisms of iron(ii) bis-thiosemicarbazone complexes at physiological pH: a kinetico-mechanistic study

2019

Journal Article

Antibacterial 5α-spirostane saponins from the fruit of Cordyline manners-suttoniae

Tran, Trong D., Olsson, Malin A., Choudhury, Md Abu, McMillan, David J., Cullen, Jason K., Parsons, Peter G., Bernhardt, Paul V., Reddell, Paul W. and Ogbourne, Steven M. (2019). Antibacterial 5α-spirostane saponins from the fruit of Cordyline manners-suttoniae. Journal of Natural Products, 82 (10) acs.jnatprod.9b00502, 2809-2817. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00502

Antibacterial 5α-spirostane saponins from the fruit of Cordyline manners-suttoniae

2019

Journal Article

Ascorbyl and hydroxyl radical generation mediated by a copper complex adsorbed on gold

Romo, Adolfo I. B., Dibo, Vitória S., Abreu, Dieric S., Carepo, Marta S. P., Neira, Andrea C., Castillo, Ivan, Lemus, Luis, Nascimento, Otaciro R., Bernhardt, Paul V., Sousa, Eduardo H. S. and Diógenes, Izaura C. N. (2019). Ascorbyl and hydroxyl radical generation mediated by a copper complex adsorbed on gold. Dalton Transactions, 48 (37), 14128-14137. doi: 10.1039/c9dt01726g

Ascorbyl and hydroxyl radical generation mediated by a copper complex adsorbed on gold

2019

Journal Article

Basimarols A, B, and C, Highly Oxygenated Pimarane Diterpenoids from Basilicum polystachyon

Tan, Yuen P., Xue, Yongbo, Savchenko, Andrei I., Houston, Sevan D., Modhiran, Naphak, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Boyle, Glen M., Bernhardt, Paul V., Young, Paul R., Watterson, Daniel and Williams, Craig M. (2019). Basimarols A, B, and C, Highly Oxygenated Pimarane Diterpenoids from Basilicum polystachyon. Journal of Natural Products, 82 (10) acs.jnatprod.9b00522, 2828-2834. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00522

Basimarols A, B, and C, Highly Oxygenated Pimarane Diterpenoids from Basilicum polystachyon

2019

Journal Article

Chrysosporazines A–E: P-glycoprotein inhibitory piperazines from an Australian marine fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F214

Elbanna, Ahmed H., Khalil, Zeinab G., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2019). Chrysosporazines A–E: P-glycoprotein inhibitory piperazines from an Australian marine fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F214. Organic Letters, 21 (19) acs.orglett.9b03094, 8097-8100. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b03094

Chrysosporazines A–E: P-glycoprotein inhibitory piperazines from an Australian marine fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F214

2019

Journal Article

Computer modelling and synthesis of deoxy and monohydroxy analogues of a ribitylaminouracil bacterial metabolite that potently activates human T cells

Ler, Geraldine J. M., Xu, Weijun, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Liu, Ligong, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Fairlie, David P (2019). Computer modelling and synthesis of deoxy and monohydroxy analogues of a ribitylaminouracil bacterial metabolite that potently activates human T cells. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25 (68) chem.201903732, 15594-15608. doi: 10.1002/chem.201903732

Computer modelling and synthesis of deoxy and monohydroxy analogues of a ribitylaminouracil bacterial metabolite that potently activates human T cells

2019

Journal Article

Scopularides revisited: molecular networking guided exploration of lipodepsipeptides in Australian marine fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungi

Elbanna, Ahmed H., Khalil, Zeinab G., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2019). Scopularides revisited: molecular networking guided exploration of lipodepsipeptides in Australian marine fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungi. Marine Drugs, 17 (8) 475, 475. doi: 10.3390/md17080475

Scopularides revisited: molecular networking guided exploration of lipodepsipeptides in Australian marine fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungi

2019

Journal Article

Phenethylammonium bismuth halides: from single crystals to bulky-organic cation promoted thin-film deposition for potential optoelectronic applications

Ghasemi, Mehri, Lyu, Miaoqiang, Roknuzzaman, Md, Yun, Jung-Ho, Hao, Mengmeng, He, Dongxu, Bai, Yang, Chen, Peng, Bernhardt, Paul V., Ostrikov, Kostya (Ken) and Wang, Lianzhou (2019). Phenethylammonium bismuth halides: from single crystals to bulky-organic cation promoted thin-film deposition for potential optoelectronic applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 7 (36), 20733-20741. doi: 10.1039/c9ta07454f

Phenethylammonium bismuth halides: from single crystals to bulky-organic cation promoted thin-film deposition for potential optoelectronic applications

2019

Journal Article

Contemplating 1,2,4-thiadiazole-inspired cyclic peptide mimics: a computational investigation

Xie, Sida, Bernhardt, Paul V., Gahan, Lawrence R. and Williams, Craig M. (2019). Contemplating 1,2,4-thiadiazole-inspired cyclic peptide mimics: a computational investigation. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 72 (11), 894-899. doi: 10.1071/CH19248

Contemplating 1,2,4-thiadiazole-inspired cyclic peptide mimics: a computational investigation

2019

Journal Article

Electrocatalysis of a europium‐dependent bacterial methanol dehydrogenase with its hysiological electron‐acceptor cytochrome cGJ

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Daumann, Lena J., Pol, Arjan, Op den Camp, Huub J. M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2019). Electrocatalysis of a europium‐dependent bacterial methanol dehydrogenase with its hysiological electron‐acceptor cytochrome cGJ. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25 (37) chem.201900525, 8760-8768. doi: 10.1002/chem.201900525

Electrocatalysis of a europium‐dependent bacterial methanol dehydrogenase with its hysiological electron‐acceptor cytochrome cGJ

2019

Journal Article

Trivalent copper stabilised by acetylacetone dithiocarbazate Schiff base ligands: structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

Bilyj, Jessica K., Silajew, Nicole V., Hanson, Graeme R., Harmer, Jeffrey R. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2019). Trivalent copper stabilised by acetylacetone dithiocarbazate Schiff base ligands: structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties. Dalton Transactions, 48 (41), 15501-15514. doi: 10.1039/c9dt02071c

Trivalent copper stabilised by acetylacetone dithiocarbazate Schiff base ligands: structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Emergent organocopper complexes as robust catalysts for electrosynthesis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    An Innovative, Non-Hormonal, Pharmacological Strategy that Down-Regulates the Oestrogen, Androgen, Progesterone, and Prolactin Receptors and Inhibits the Triad-of-Death in Breast Cancer (Griffith led)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Pharmaceutical Development of Innovative "Trojan Horse" Anti-Cancer Agents that Inhibit Desmoplasia by Reprogramming Signalling (NHMRC Ideas Grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Bioelectrochemical interconversion of the building blocks of life
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    High-Resolution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Molybdenum enzyme electrochemical communication
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    To Biochemically Trick P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) to Target Resistance via Lysosomal Pgp (NHMRC Project Grant led by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Advanced X-ray Facility for Structural Elucidation and Photocrystallography
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Enzyme Electrochemical Communication
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    The fate of copper in atom transfer radical reactions
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    A facility for ex-vivo molecular imaging
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Facilities for Integrated Bioinorganic and Materials Chemistry Research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Short circuiting redox enzymes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010
    An integrated high -throughput fluorescence imaging facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Spotlighting Biologically Active Fe Chelators within Cells
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Pharmacology of Potential Anti-Tumour Agents: Iron Chelators of the BpT Class (NHMRC project grant administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    An X-Ray Diffraction Facility for Molecular Structure Determination
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Examination of the molecular pharmacology of anthracyclines induced via their interaction with iron
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2005
    New synthetic routes to the immobilisation of mixed valence transition metal complexes on conducting metal oxides
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Australian Bio-Metals Research Network
    ARC Seed Funding for Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Research expenses for visiting Research Fellow (Dr A. Meacham)
    The Royal Society
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Mechanistic Studies of Dimethylsulfide Dehydrogenase: A Novel Bacterial Molybdoenzyme
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Novel Molecular Electrochronic Devices
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Single electron reactions of multi-redox centred systems (CREDITS ONLY AWARDED)
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Excited state dynamics of light induced molecular processes.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Mixed-Valence Transition Metal Assemblies
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Self-assembling transition metal arrays
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Toward discrete dinuclear cyano-bridged coordination compounds
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Macrocyclic receptors for ionic guests
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Toward supramolecular charge separated molecules
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Toward Proactive Supramolecular Coordination Compounds
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Structurally organised oligonuclear coordination compounds
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantum Chemistry as a tool for Spectroscopic Analysis

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing novel copper catalysts for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions using electrosynthesis.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams, Dr Masnun Naher

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantum Chemistry as a tool for Spectroscopic Analysis

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Electrochemical investigations of bacterial molybdenum enzymes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of innovative synthetic methodologies: electrochemical Atom Transfer Radical Addition (eATRA) and strained nitrogen ring synthesis paradigms

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New Applications for Photoactive Lanthanoid and Earth Abundant Metal Complexes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New Applications for Photoactive Lanthanoid and Earth Abundant Metal Complexes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Paul Bernhardt directly for media enquiries about:

  • Crystallography
  • Electrochemistry
  • Transition metal chemistry

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