Laboratory Head
Professor Noushin Nasiri is a materials scientist and engineer at Macquarie University and the Head of the NanoTech Laboratory in the School of Engineering. Her research focuses on the design and fabrication of nanostructured materials, functional coatings, and miniaturised sensor technologies for applications in personalised healthcare, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and sustainable technologies. Her work aims to translate advanced nanomaterials into wearable and portable sensing devices that enable early detection and preventative solutions to real-world challenges.
Her research excellence has been recognised through numerous prestigious awards, including the 2025 Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology, the2025 Engineers Australia Professional Engineer of the Year (Sydney), and the 2025 David and Valerie Solomon Award from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). She is also the recipient of the 2024 ARC Industry Fellowship, 2023 NSW Cancer Institute Fellowship 2022 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship, Australia’s 2021-2022 Superstars of STEM, 2021 Royal Society of New South Wales Warren Prize and 2019 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award. She was also a finalist for 2023 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher finalists.
She currently serves as Deputy Director of the ARC Industry Transformation Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant-Sensing in Complex Environments (IC-SensE) and as Chief Investigator and Co-Theme Lead in the ARC Industry Transformation Research Hub for Molecular Biosensors at Point-of-Use (MOBIUS). Professor Nasiri also contributes to the global research community as the Global Chair of IEEE Women in Nanotechnology, and deputy director of Smart Green Cities Research Centre at Macquarie University, supporting leadership and equity in STEM
Beyond research, she is an active science communicator and advocate for diversity in STEM, delivering invited talks and public lectures including TEDx Sydney Salon 2017, TEDx TEDx Macquarie University 2019, and TEDx Bligh Street 2020.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Jayden Chen
Postdoctoral Researcher
BEng, MEng (ZJUT), PhD (MQ Uni)
jayden.chen@mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Nanostructured Ultraporous Films, Gas Sensors, Photodetectors, Nanofabrication
Sheyda Mirjalali
Research Assistant
BEng, MEng (AUT), PhD (MQ Uni)
sheyda.mirjalali@mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Wearable Sensors, Electrospining, Polymers, Piezoelectric Sensros, Nanofibers
Higher Degree Researchers
Kosta Hanania
PhD Researcher
BEng, MRes (MQ Uni)
kosta.hanania@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Nanoparticles Self-assembly, nanofabrication, nanocomposites
Reza Behboodian
PhD Researcher
BEng, MEng (CQU), MRes (MQ Uni)
reza.behboodian@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
UV photodetectors, hybrid nanocomposites, medical devices, gas sensors
Sara Abtahi
PhD Researcher
Master of Medicine
sara.abtahi@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Guided bone regeneration, bioactive barrier membranes, tissue engineering
Aisan Nouri
PhD Researcher
Master of Medicine
aisan.nouri@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Tissue engineering, biomimetic dentistry, resin composites
Zachary Stosic
PhD Researcher
BEng, Mres (MQ Uni)
zachary.stosic@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Optical characterisation, optical modelling, flexible nanosensors, light Sensors
Nour Manifikhi
PhD Researcher
BEng, MRes (MQ Uni)
nour.manifikhi@mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Material characterisation, anti-corrosion coatings, material’s mechanical properties
Md Harun Or Rashid
PhD Researcher
BPharm, MPharm (DIU)
mdharunor.rashid@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Queen bee pheromones, polymer chemistry, Biochemical sensors, colorimetry sensors
Alireza Gholamhoseini
PhD Researcher
BEng, MEng (AUT), MRes (MQ Uni)
alireza.gholamhoseini@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Electrospinning, polymer, nanofibers, pressure sensors, shear sensors
Luke Taglini
PhD Researcher
BEng, MRes (MQ Uni)
luke.taglini@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Surface functionalisation, hydrophilic/hydrophobic coatings, Biomimicry
Rofida Hussien
Master of Research
BSci (AZU), MSci (CU)
rofida.hussien@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Nanomaterial synthesis, materials characterisation, UV sensor,
Jingyuan Li
Master of Research
BSci (XXX), MSc (ANU)
jingyuan.li@students.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
…
Lukan Richards
Master of Research
BEng (MQ Uni)
lukan.richards@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
UV photodetectors, hierarchical nanostructures, nanofabrication, hydrothermal synthesis
Mitchell McVey
Master of Research
BEng (MQ Uni)
mitchell.mcvey@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Composite nanofibers, mechanical properties, biocompatibility
Parisa Partovi
Master of Research
BSc (FUM), MSc (SUT), MBiotech (MQ Uni)
parisa.partovi@hdr.mq.edu.au
Research Interests:
Wearable sensors, Pressure sensors, Nanofibers, Electrospinning
Coursework Students
Undergraduate / BEng(Hons)
Ryan Ladrak
An Investigation into Microwave Hydrothermal Synthesis for the Fabrication of Porous Metal-Oxide Nanorod Films
Robert Wilson
Silver-Functionalized Ultraporous Nanocluster Arrays for High-Performance UV Photodetectors
Ethan Bringas
Electrospun Conductive Polymer Nanofibers Combined with Nanostructured Metal Oxides for Enhanced Pressure Sensing
Angelina Wehbe
Integrating UV nanosensor into Wearable Devices for Skin Cancer Prevention
Haojie Zhang
Enhancing the Functionality and Performance of Electrospinning System
Aaron Kokkonen
SnO₂ Thin Film Fabrication Using PE-CVD for Low Concentration Gas Detection
Andre Guevara
Enhanced SnO₂ UV Photodetector via Vapour-Assisted Sintering
Dylan Owen
ZnO Nanopartile-based UV Photodetectors Fabricated via FSP and PE-CVD Techniques
Alumni
2025 Graduates
Graham Morrison, PhD (HDR)
Electron microscopy, light metals, packaging, materials science, and engineering
Mellissa Hardtke, Mres (HDR)
Systems Engineering, communications systems
2024 Graduates
Jayden Chen, PhD (HDR)
Super Sensitive Semiconductor based UV Photodetectors
Luke Taglini, Mres (HDR)
Biomimetic Surface Coatings for Anisotropic Wetting Properties
Nour Manifikhi, Mres (HDR)
The influence of PE-CVD parameters on the characteristics of deposited ZrO₂ thin film
George Gill, Mres (HDR)
Nanoparticles Deposition Dynamics and Accumulation Mechanisms
Brigette Gill, BEng (Hons)
Developing a palladium-doped tin oxide semiconductor gas sensor for application in Breath analysis and Environmental Monitoring
Jacob Panetta, BEng (Hons)
Enhancing the Functionality and Performance of a Flame Spray Pyrolysis System
Mitchell McVey, BEng (Hons)
Enamel-Inspired Composite Nanofibers for Dental Applications
Lukan Richards, BEng (Hons)
FSP or PE-CVD: High-Performance UV Photodetectors
2023 Graduates
Reza Behboodian, Mres (HDR)
ZnO-PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites as high performance inorganic/organic hybrid UV photodetectors
Ryan Wreyford, Mres (HDR)
Electrospun nanofibers as highly efficient superhydrophobic nanostructures
Zachary Stosic, Mres (HDR)
Optical performance and UV detection properties of ZnO nanofilms
Timothy Mavritsky, BEng (Hons)
Hydrophilic nanostructures with excellent humidity tolerance
Lochlann Marmara, BEng (Hons)
Hydrophobic anti-reflective coatings for solar panel efficiency
Wesley Cheung, BEng (Hons)
Design and calibration of electrospining machine with rotating drum collector