Dr Mohammad Azam Ali
Senior Lecturer & Director
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
New Zealand
Biography
Dr Azam Ali holds (BSc (hons.) & MSc) in Chemistry (Dhaka, Bangladesh) and PhD degree in Polymer & Materials Science and Engineering (USM) in the year 2000. He worked as a postdoctoral/research fellow in a numerous institutes e.g. POSTECH (South Korea) and University of North Carolina, Charlotte, UNCC (USA). Prior to his present position, he worked over 10 years in New Zealand Govt. research organisation (AgResearch) as a senior scientist, and leads biomaterials and medical devices research team at Lincoln, Christchurch, New Zealand. He is recognised as an international biomaterial scientist, have been working over 21 years in biomaterials areas, who has published more than 42 peer-reviewed articles and one book chapter. At present he holds 18 international patents and patent specifications. Dr. Azam is working as a senior lecturer and Director, Bioengineering program, and leads Biomaterials, Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine research team in the Department of Applied Sciences, the University of Otago (Dunedin). He specialises in biomaterials (including biologic tissues), Bioengineering design, developing medical devices/technologies and nanoscience & nanotechnology. The innovative technology pioneered by Dr Azam uses low value protein sources from the New Zealand wool industry to create novel medical devices (e.g. wound care, bone implants, soft tissues, and bioabsorbable suture). Three of his chronic/diabetics wound care medical products have been commercialised and are manufactured in New Zealand for use as dressings (matrix), hydrogel, foam, particularly for chronic wounds management. They have already granted all regulatory (ISO 13485, FDA, TUV, TGA) approval and currently commercialised over 17 countries including in the USA, EU, AU & NZ. He was awarded the Bayer Year of the Innovators Awards 2010 (namely New Zealand Innovator Awards) or his significant science contribution to the Health and Science sectors.
Research Interest
Materials and Biomaterials (including biologic materials) Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Additive manufacturing (3D printing) & Electro(nano)spinning technology, Bioengineering and Medical devices/technology, Nanosciences and Technology: Functional and nanostructure biomaterials, Formulations (bioactives, drugs, etc.), microencapsulation and control released technology
Andrea Hamilton
Deputy Director
The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
UK
Biography
Andrea Hamilton is a Research Fellow in the school of Engineering at University of Edinburgh, UK since 2005. She received her PhD in Materials Science from University of Edinburgh in 2005 and BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Design Engineering from University of Glasgow in 2000. She has been a Visiting Fellow at Princeton University (USA), University of Oxford (UK), University of New Brunswick (CA), University of Cyprus (CY), National Museums of Scotland and a Visiting Professor at University of Cergy-Pontoise (FR). She is Deputy Director of the Materials Science Research Laboratories, University of Edinburgh and has successfully obtained funding from UK research councils (EPSRC and NERC).
Research Interest
Rock mechanics and rock weathering, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, geochemistry, sulphate and carbonate mineralogy, modelling reactive transport through porous materials, cementitious materials, atomic force microscopy, organic-inorganic interface, nanoparticle synthesis, colloid chemistry, crystal growth in confined environments, deterioration of historic materials and non-destructive analysis, Raman spectroscopy and group theory.
Andy X Sun
Associate Professor
University of Western Ontario, Canada
Canada
Biography
Professor Xueliang (Andy) Sun is a Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Dr. Sun received his Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry under direction of Prof. George Thompson in 1999 at the University of Manchester, UK, followed by work as a postdoctoral fellow under direction of Prof. Keith Mitchell at the University of British Columbia, Canada and as a Research Associate under direction of Prof. Jean-Pol Dodelet at l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Canada.
Research Interest
His current research interests are associated with synthesis of nanomaterials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. His focus is on design and synthesis of various one-dimensional nanostructures such as nanotubes and nanowires as well as their composites with nanoparticles and thin films as electrocatalysis and catalyst support in fuel cells and as anode and cathodes in Lithium ion batteries and Li-Air batteries.
