My primary research foci is on the development of advanced materials for environmental and biomedical applications and in the development of novel refractories for ferrous and non-ferrous metals industries, mineral processing, and the transformation of ceramic and polymeric waste materials for economical and industrially-viable high-performance applications. This makes me unique in possessing the capabilities to work on any type of material, particularly for industrial applications, through a systematic understanding of the their behaviour on a structural and functional level. I have co-authored >130 publications and have two international patents of the concept of completely percolated single-crystal mullite microstructures with unique high-temperature capabilities. My teaching capabilities are well documented as being the only staff in the School to win the Australian Citation award, the Faculty of Science Teaching Excellence award and the Vice Chancellor's Excellence Teaching Awards.