UQDI Director elected for prestigious science fellowship

27 Mar 2013

UQDI Director, Professor Matt BrownThe University of Queensland's place as a global research leader has been highlighted with today's announcement that five UQ scientists are among 20 new Australian Academy of Science Fellows for 2013

The prestigious fellowships were announced in Sydney this morning, honouring a select group of Australian scientists for their outstanding contributions to science. 

The UQ fellows are Professor Matthew BrownProfessor David CraikProfessor Ove Hoegh-GuldbergProfessor Max Lu and Professor Andrew White

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj congratulated the five, who he said were part of the backbone of UQ's outstanding research culture. 

“These scientists reflect a diversity of research interests, but one thing they have in common is a passion to deliver results that will benefit individuals and society,” Professor Høj said. 

“The fact that UQ can contribute five new fellows in one year is a sign of the amazing depth of talent at UQ, and shows our researchers' capacity to make inroads into an array of local, national and global challenges. 

“Our latest fellows reflect a breadth of science disciplines across the University, from mapping the genes that cause arthritis, to important discoveries in structural biology and discoveries in coral bleaching that have directly influenced global policy.” 

“They have significant strengths in individual areas and, together, they represent a powerful research force across the University.” 

Such scientific strengths continue to ensure UQ's consistent appearance in the top 100 of the world's key university rankings. 

The five new Fellows join an existing group of 19 UQ scientists admitted to the Australian Academy of Science as Fellows since 1988 and brings to 95 the total number of UQ academics who are members of one of Australia's four prestigious learned academies. 

The Australian Academy of Science comprises Australia's leading research scientists. 

Its roles include recognising and supporting research excellence, advising government, sponsoring scientific conferences, publishing scientific books and journals, fostering international scientific relations and promoting science education and public awareness of science and technology. Fellows are elected by academy members. 

The Australian Academy of Science is largely modeled on the Royal Society of Science in London and was founded as a scientific body independent to the government. 

Below is a summary of the new Fellows from UQ: 

Professor Matthew Arthur Brown FAA 
UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute 

Played a significant role in the development of genomewide association studies resulting in identification of thousands of genes responsible for common diseases. Has also identified genetic mutations responsible for many monogenic forms of arthritis, ectopic bone development and skeletal dysplasias. 

Professor David James Craik FAA 
Institute for Molecular Bioscience 

Professor David Craik discovered a new class of proteins known as cyclotides whose circular shape makes them ultra-stable and therefore an ideal base for therapeutic drugs.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg FAA 
UQ Global Change Institute 

Discovering the molecular mechanism behind coral bleaching during his PhD and early career, his discoveries have directly influenced global policy through their integration of the thermal physiology of corals with projections of future sea temperatures.

Professor Max (Gao Qing) Lu FAA 
UQ ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials 

A world leading scientist in materials science and chemical engineering, he has made many significant and sustained contributions including the new method for synthesis of highly reactive single crystal TiO2, new insights into the surface chemistry and modifications of nanoporous materials, molecular engineering of membranes and efficient photocatalyst for clean energy and water.

Professor Andrew Gerard White FAA 
UQ School of Mathematics and Physics, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems

Has pioneered world-leading experiments in quantum computation and quantum optics. His research on the first unambiguous demonstration of a quantum-logic gate operation set the standard for all competing quantum logic gates.

The new Fellows will be admitted to the Australian Academy of Science and present summaries of the work for which they have been honoured at the Academy's annual three-day celebration, Science at the Shine Dome, 29 May 2013 in Canberra. 

A full list of the new Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science is available here

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