Soft matter deals with colloids, granular matter, liquid crystals, polymers, and other easily deformed materials.

About

Soft matter deals with colloids, granular matter, liquid crystals, polymers, and other easily deformed materials, and with an emphasis on the mesoscopic scale (between small molecule and macroscopic). Soft matter is characterized by its facile response to thermal fluctuations and external forces, with the resultant materials having a diverse range of technological applications (e.g. in packaging, detergents, cosmetics, paints, and fuel additives). 

Groups

3D molecular model showing a complex arrangement of atoms in various colors including blue, red, yellow, and gray, set against a dark background.

At the Connal group we make polymers with applications across a multitude of industries which means we develop new materials for a range of applications.

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Humphrey

Our research uses synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and computational chemistry to generate new molecular materials with unusual optical properties.

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Projects

The successful candidate will get to rationally design 3D printed solid-state vasculature for organ-on-a-chip models.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

This project is centered on developing an artificial living biomineralisation platform for self-reinforcing materials.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

This project is centered on developing a new methodology that would allow the prediction of the behaviours of genetically engineered microbes in engineered living materials (ELMs).

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

The successful candidate will get to leverage to power of biology to create completely artificial engineering living materials that can adapt their structures to the external environment.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

This project will explore the synthesis and characterization of new π-delocalizable oligomers and dendrimers at the interface between organic/organometallic chemistry and polymer science.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

Members

Academic staff

Dr Hongyi Xu

Senior Lecturer
ARC Future Fellow

Emeritus and Honorary

Honorary Professor

Honorary Professor