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Educated at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Australian National University, Canberra. Career at the Université de Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Universität Marburg, Germany. Professor and Chair of Organic Chemistry and Head of the Organic Chemistry Section, The University of Queensland from 1985. Emeritus professor from 2008. Chair of the National Committee for Chemistry of the Australian Academy of Science 2009-2014. Editor-in-Chief, Australian Journal of Chemistry 2008-15. Editor, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Elsevier, IF 3.65) 2016-. Visiting Professor Université de Pau, France, 2011-19; Visiting Professor University of Kuwait 2014-18; Visiting Professor / Special Appointed Professor Hiroshima University 2014-18. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Centenary Medal of the Australian Commonwealth 2003 for research in organic and physical chemistry. David Craig Medal of the Academy of Science 2014 for research in chemistry. JSPS Fellowship (Japan) 2014. Honorary doctorate, University of Pau, France, 2014. A.J. Birch Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) for ecellence in research in organic chemistry, 2014. Leighton Medal of the RACI 2018.

Research on Unusual Molecules and Reactive Intermediates: Synthesis and Reaction Mechanism. Heterocyclic chemistry. Pyrolysis reactions. Photochemistry

Research in the Wentrup group is concerned with the discovery of novel types of molecules with new and unusual bonding patterns. Such molecules are mostly highly reactive, and special methods are required both for their generation and for their detection. The group has developed these methods over many years and acquired world-class equipment for these purposes, including flash vacuum thermolysis apparatus, cryostats for matrix isolation of reaction products at cryogenic temperatures (down to 7 K), matrix and solution photochemistry equipment, infrared, UV and mass spectrometers, as well as modern computational facilities.

This research has resulted in the synthesis and characterization of many novel compounds, including extended cumulenes of the types RN=C=C=C=X, which themselves are used in the synthesis of many novel types of molecules, some of them of potential pharmaceutical interest (quinolone antibiotics; diazepines).

The research group has a world reputation in the field of carbene and nitrene chemistry, involving reactive intermediates with sextet carbon or nitrogen. These species are also very useful in synthesis, for example in the preparation of diazepines and diazepinones, a family of pharmaceutically interesting compounds. Numerous mechanistic studies and synthetic applications of ketenes have been carried out in our group.

Active collaborations are ongoing with scientists in Australia (UQ and CSIRO), China (Suzhou), France (Pau), Germany (Oldenburg), Japan (Hiroshima), Spain (Donostia - San Sebastian), and Portugal (Coimbra).

Professor Roger Wepf is the Director of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) and leads the UQ node of Microscopy Australia. His career spans decades at the forefront of high-resolution imaging in electron microscopy, structural biology, and advanced analytical workflows of material science, with previous leadership roles at ETH Zurich and in the EMBL Heidelberg Physical Instrumentation R&D group. At UQ, he has driven the development of multimodal and correlative microscopy approaches, integrating light microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, imaging mass spectrometry and advanced data management. Professor Wepf has been instrumental in developing cryo sample preparation tools and correlative workflows that are now used globally and marketed by well-known suppliers in the electron microscopy field. He also established with NewSpec/Hitachi the Inspire outreach program in QLD, delivering a desktop SEM to local schools to train the next generation of curious scientific minds. He has played a key role in building NRICH’s capabilities for large-scale mineral, biological, and materials characterisation, combining state-of-the-art instrumentation with innovative workflows and data integration pipelines that adhere to FAIR/FAIR-CARE principles.

Professor Wepf’s research bridges academic and industry needs, from localisation of biomolecules at the nanoscale to the characterisation of beam- and environment-sensitive materials critical for quantum technologies, catalysis, and battery development. His leadership has fostered partnerships with global instrumentation companies and industry collaborators to co-develop new imaging hardware, detectors, and workflows. He is a founding member of two scientific journals, most recently Methods in Microscopy with De Gruyter, a community-focused open access journal advancing method development and dissemination in the microscopy field. He has also initiated strategic programs such as the Pitschi data repository and multimodal segmentation projects, enabling the Australian research community to manage, share, and analyse large datasets at scale. Professor Wepf’s commitment to mentoring and training ensures that the next generation of scientists are skilled in applying advanced microscopy to solve problems in energy, health, minerals, and materials science. He also established with NewSpec/ Hitachi the Inpsire outreach program in QLD delivering a desktop SEM to local schools to train next generation of curious scientific minds

Maiden name: Ellen Maree Leslie

Dr Ellen Wessel is a Research Fellow in the School of Public Health, with backgrounds in both public health and criminology. Her research interests include women's health, alcohol and other drug use, and policing.

Dr Zoe West is a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland’s Frazer Institute, within the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer. She specialises in vulvar cancer, with a central aim to reduce surgical intervention and improve outcomes and quality of life for women affected by the disease. Her research integrates advanced three-dimensional imaging with multi-omics approaches to uncover the biological drivers of vulvar cancer metastasis and identify early predictors of tumour spread.

Associate Professor West is a molecular microbiologist, expert in bacterial pathogenesis. He is Head of “Tuberculosis Research” in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland. Nick has a particular interest in drug development for TB. His research utilises modern molecular technologies to identify the genetic requirements for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to cause Tuberculosis (TB) with these genetic discoveries translated into novel antibiotic therapies. Research within his group falls largely into one of the following four themes: Essential Gene Identification in M. tuberculosis, Understanding TB Latency, Targeted TB Drug Development and Improving TB Vaccination.

Nick conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Returning to Australia in 2004, he spent several years at Sydney’s Centenary Institute as an Associate Faculty member before relocating to University of Queensland in 2012. In addition to drug development, Nick’s research portfolio includes programmes of vaccine and diagnostic development and testing.

I am an Australian Research Council Future Fellow working in the field of bioarchaeology in Australia and New Guinea.

Mark Western's various roles at The University of Queensland included Senior Lecturer to Professor in Sociology, co-Director of The University of Queensland Social Research Centre (2003-2008), Founding Director of the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR, 2009 - 2022), Research Director for The Queensland Commitment (2023 - 2025) and Director of HASS Research Infrastructure (2025). As Founding Director of ISSR, Mark led Australia's largest multidisciplinary social science research institute with a track record of advanced academic social science research and high impact research and policy engagement with government, industry and the not-for-profit sector. As Research Director for The Queensland Commitment, Mark contributed to the design and implementation of The Queensland Commitment at UQ, and its supporting research and evaluation program.

Mark has a personal research program that spans academic publishing across sociology and cognate social science disciplines. He has also led and contributed to major research and evaluation programs and projects for external government and non-government partners. He is a former Chief Investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Policing and Security and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course.

Mark is a current member of the National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Advisory Group, advising the Australian government on NRI policy and strategy, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Chair of the Academy's Policy Committee, and a member of its Board of Directors. He is a former member of the ARC College of Experts, ERA Chair, and Engagement and Impact Deputy Chair.

He has edited and authored 7 books, and over 120 book chapters, journal articles and commissioned reports and held research grants and contracts worth approximately $120 million.

Dr Nicholas J. Westra van Holthe is a synthetic chemist working at the interface of chemistry and the biological function of nanomaterials, with expertise in functional chemistry and nanotechnology for biological applications. Nick is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Nick obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Nanomedicine, and Molecular Imaging from The University of Queensland under the supervision of Professor Kristofer Thurecht.

Whilst Nick's primary expertise is in synthetic chemistry and the development and application of polymer-based nanoparticles, Nick's expertise also extends to photoacoustic molecular imaging as Nick helped establish the photoacoustic molecular imaging capability within the Centre for Advanced Imaging at The University of Queensland and has published several photoacoustic molecular imaging studies. Nick's Ph.D. thesis presents the synthesis of a highly effective photoacoustic contrast agent along with the development of a polymeric contrast agent that provides the means to visualise and assess nanoparticle penetration into solid tumours in real-time during in vivo imaging experiments. Nick also presents a detailed investigation of the photoacoustic efficacy and photophysical properties of contrast enhancing agents and proposes a novel mechanism for photoacoustic signal production.

Nick has research experience working with industry partners and has held several professional research positions. During 2019-21 Nick worked with Associate Professor Idriss Blakey to develop a nanoparticle-based hydrogen sulfide sensor. From 2022 Nick’s synthetic materials chemistry expertise has been utilised on a $USD 1.25M US Department of Defence funded grant for the preclinical testing of a polymer-protein conjugate as a haemostatic hydrogel for combat casualties with catastrophic haemorrhage.

More recently, Nick has been working with Professor Alan Rowan on the development of synthetic polymer-peptide conjugates that form biomimetic hydrogels and mimic the mechanic and functional properties of the extracellular membrane, providing the means to study cells in a controlled biomimetic 3-dimentional cell culture system.

Prof. Wheatley is the Co-Director of the Centre for Hypersonics within the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering. He was named Australia's Research Field Leader in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering (The Australian, Sept 28, 2018) and was a recipient of a 2017 Australian Award for University Teaching – Award for Teaching Excellence .

Prof. Wheatley's research interests are in the fields of supersonic plasma flows, hypersonics and computational fluid dynamics.

Prof. Wheatley's research in supersonic plasma flows focuses on the suppression of instabilities that are detrimental to inertial confinement fusion, a process that promises carbon free energy production. In hypersonics, he focuses on extending the capability scramjets to the point where they can power launch-vehicle stages. This technology could meet the need for safer, more economical space access, which has the potential to revolutionise the space industry. Computational fluid dynamics is his primary method of investigation in these areas.

Prof. Wheatley obtained his PhD in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology in 2005. He also earned an MEngSc (Mechanical) and a BE (Mechanical and Space) from the University of Queensland (UQ). After completing his PhD in the US, Dr Wheatley spent two years as post-doctoral fellow at ETH Zurich. He was then a Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Adelaide before taking up his position at UQ in 2009.

Prof. Wheatley has expertise in the areas of:

• Simulation of hypersonic flows (DNS, LES and RANS)
• Using high fidelity numerical simulations, validated by experiments, to provide new details and understanding of scramjet flow physics
• Mixing and combustion enhancement in scramjets through fuel/flow structure interactions and novel injector design
• Analysis and simulation of plasma instabilities
• Numerical methods for magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and multi-fluid, ion-electron plasmas
• Rarefied gas dynamics
• Bluff body wake dynamics
• Aeroacoustics, particularly passive noise control for bluff bodies

Dr Mikaela Wheeler is a lecturer in the School of Public Health and has clinical and research expertise as a dietitian-nutritionist in residential aged care and community settings. Using mixed methods and co-design methodology, her research focuses on improving the lives of older people through system design to tackle imminent problems, including poor nutrition, social isolation, loneliness, and specialist care for people living with dementia. In her teaching, Mikaela delivers undergraduate courses in chronic disease and nutrition across the lifespan and is part of the Advocacy and Public Health teaching team in the Medical Program.

Dr Wheeler is a proud Ngarabal person and Accredited Exercise Scientist (ESSA). Dr Wheeler specilises in implementation science in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Dr Wheeler was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with a PhD from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Dr Wheeler’s research examines how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can co-design programs that build community capacity and engage children and young peoples in a broad range of development areas. Dr Wheeler’s research strengths consist co-designing physical movement-based programs, ensuring a trauma informed and culturally-responsive approach towards community engagement and empowerment.

Dr Wheeler has led high performing teams working on education programs that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through a strength-based and holistic framework. Extending this work, Dr Wheeler's research focuses on developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce to better address the complex health needs of community. Dr Wheeler has provided FIrst Nations leadership to a range of projects that have catered for the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and through this experience has partnered to deliver diverse governance solutions and educational engagement frameworks.

Dr Wheeler also specialises in biomechanics, sport analytics and performance analysis as well as strength and conditioning research. Dr Wheeler works currently with a range of sporting organisations to implement best-practice sport servicing, testing and athlete management to achieve excellence. Dr Wheeler is the lead researcher in partnership with Indigenous Basketball Australia. Dr Wheeler has worked with a variety of professional sporting organisations and teams such as the Wallabies, Brumbies Rugby and World Rugby as well as the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra Raiders, Canberra Comets, Canberra Meteors and GWS Giants. Dr Wheeler co-design training programs to promote optimal performance in a range of sports. Dr Wheeler is a passionate about how sport and exercise can be used to enrich community as well as health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Dr Wheeler is the Chair of the ESSA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy Working Group for Exercise and Sport Science Australia.

Dr Wheeler is the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy for the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences.

Dr Wheeler is the Program Convenor for Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences, the University of Queensland.

Dr Wheeler was named in the top 52 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people changing the world from COSMOS.

Awards

2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award from the Australian Academy of Science

2022 LSQ Merck Life Science Rural and Regional Service Award from Life Sciences Queensland

2020 Accredited Exercise Scientist of the Year Award from Exercise and Sport Science Australia

2021 Science Peoples Choice Award from National Science Week

2021 Outreach Award from National Science Week

2020 Science Leadership Excellence Award from National Science Week

2017 NAIDOC Award from Fraser Coast NAIDOC Committee

Brooke-Mai is a Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology and a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist. Her research interests include the rehabilitation of motor speech disorders, brain mechanisms underpinning speech recovery, and the application of telerehabilitation to improve access to speech pathology services.

I work on developing tissue culture and cryopreservation protocols for endangered Australian plant species. Currently I am working on Queensland Myrtaceae species affected by myrtle rust, an invasive fungal pathogen which is a significant threat to Australian species and ecosystems. I have a background in investigating plant mitochondrial function and an interest in the molecular biology and physiology underlying plant responses to tissue culture and cryopreservation.

Previously, Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy. Graduated B.Com. (1973 Qld) and LLB (1974 Qld), PhD (Law) (1994, Bond), Grad.Cert.Higher Ed,(Qld), LLD (2016, Qld). Barrister for 24 years in Brisbane, and made Queen's Counsel in 1988. Full time academic at UQ from 1999 – 2004 at TC Beirne School of Law, foundation Executive Director of The Centre for Maritime Law, now The Marine & Shipping Law Unit. Has published widely in maritime law and history and has held various offices in maritime and other organizations. Awarded OAM in the Australian Honours List January 2016 for contribution to maritime law and naval history.