Bryan Coad

Dr Bryan Coad

Grant-Funded Researcher (C)

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr Bryan Coad is a Senior Research Fellow (Senior Mortlock Fellow) at the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, the University of Adelaide. He leads a, multidisciplinary research group at the intersection of physical chemistry, materials science, and biology. This group works towards developing bioactive, nano-engineered material surface coatings and biomaterials through fundamental research and industry-linked projects. Impacts of his research have contributed to improving health & medicine, the environment, and benefited the food sector (agriculture & horticulture).

Dr Coad is also the Research Director for the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre. He contributes to the management of $66 M in industry cash and government investment dedicated towards ensuring research excellence is translated into impactful products, services, technologies and policies that see Australia's food waste halved by 2030.

He is an experienced supervisor & mentor and has contributed to training more than 35 scientists at various levels.

For more than 10 years, he has been active as a leader in the biomaterials community and has served as President of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE).

Research Interests and Goals

My research goal is to innovate in agrifood & wine research using a multidisciplinary research approach derived from my experience and training in physical sciences (chemistry and materials science).

My research has both academic and industry impact. Research themes include

  • Discovering new methods and technologies that contribute to Australia’s goal of reducing food waste
  • Applying new technologies to find solutions for food, horticultural, pharmaceutical, and medical industries
  • Developing advanced materials, coatings and interfaces

I am known for

  • Research excellence in plasma processes (over 40 publications, 10 research grants, 4 industry projects)
  • Managing and directing academic/industry research projects
  • My research leadership and mentorship of trainees

I am interested in

  • Discussing new academic collaborative research projects
  • Collaborating with industries and solving challenges with innovative research solutions
  • Supervising trainees at all levels
To join my research group

PhD and MSc Students

Please see the University of Adelaide’s website for Information on Scholarships and University applications

Honours Students

Please contact me about project availability and your research interests

Visiting international student / Work placement / Overseas work experience

I have had a number of visiting students spend time working in our lab to complete work experience, and overseas bachelor's and master's theses. All placements have been highly successful from both student and laboratory perspectives. Many have led to publications.

If you are interested in one of these positions, please contact me.

Postdoctoral Positions

These positions are occasionally available depending on available funding. Please contact me with your enquiry.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Research Director Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre
    2023 - ongoing Senior Mortlock Fellow School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide
    2017 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2017 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Research Fellow University of South Australia
    2010 - 2016 Senior Research Fellow University of South Australia
    2008 - 2010 Postdoctoral Research Fellow Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
    2006 - 2008 Research Fellow Monash University
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2022 Fellowship Senior Mortlock Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Fellowship Adelaide University Research Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2017 Fellowship University of Adelaide Beacon Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2004 Fellowship Fellowship: Strategic Training Program in Transfusion Science The University of British Columbia Canada -
    2002 Fellowship Canadian Blood Services Graduate Fellowship Program The University of British Columbia Canada -
  • Research Interests

Date

Project/ No.

Investigators

Funding Body

Amount

2024 - 2025

Plasma Activated Water: Investigating opportunities to reduce food waste in the poultry industry

Coad BR, Richter K, McWhorter A

End Food Waste CRC

$210,000

2024 - 2022

4 Industry funded projects: biomedical, pharmaceutical, horticulture, food

Coad BR et al.

Various

$217,273

2023 - 2025

Outsmarting fungal pathogens by preventing host recognition

Coad BR

Grains Research and Development Corporation

$250,000

2022 - 2023

Research Consortium for Agricultural Product Development

Bulone V, Pukala T, Krasowska M, Zannettino A, Abell A, Beattie D, Coad BR, Blencowe A

The Department for Industry, Innovation and Science, SA Govt.

$7,100,000

2022

Biosensor for early detection and surveillance of plant diseases

Francois M, Leifert W, Coad BR, Garrard T

CSIRO

$36,064

2022

Improving germination success for Australian native plant seeds using plasma treatments

Coad BR, Guerin, J

Australian Flora Foundation

$15,000

2019

3D printed renewable and biodegradable nanocellulose materials

Coad BR

Waite Research Institute Internal Grants

$20,000

2015 - 2018

DP150101674 Combating fungal biofilm growth on surfaces

Griesser HJ, Coad BR, Klok H-A, Read ND

Australian Research Council

$355,000

2016 - 2018

DP160105001 Order from chaos: Rational design of biointerfacing plasma polymer coatings

Griesser HJ, Short RD, Coad BR, Michelmore A

Australian Research Council

$260,000

2014 - 2017

1066647 Mechanisms of Interaction and Therapeutic Strategies for Polymicrobial Biofilms

Peleg AY, Traven A, Griesser HJ, Coad BR

Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

$607,232

2016 - 2017

Best-defence materials for understanding and outsmarting invasive pathogens

Griesser HJ, Plush SE, Brooks DA, Coad BR

University of South Australia, Research Themes Investment Scheme

$26,200

2016 - 2017

New in-vivo technologies for preclinical assessment of novel antimicrobial drugs against wound infections

Kopecki Z, Cowin A, Venter R, Garg S, Coad BR

University of South Australia, Research Themes Investment Scheme

$39,650

2013

Antifungal surfaces

Coad BR

University of South Australia, Divisional Research Funding Scheme

$4,000

  • I hold a research-only position but am interested to lecture on topics in biomaterials, chemistry (physical, polymer), and surface analysis
  • I have been a volunteer lecturer
  • 2021 University of Adelaide CHEM 2530 Environmental & Analytical Chemistry II, lecturer for "Water Chemistry"
  • 2016, 2012 University of South Australia Materials for the Future, guest lecturer
  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Management strategies for surplus ready-to-eat food from a hospital foodservice/s Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Pei Ying Liew
    2024 Co-Supervisor Bioactive isolation from plasma-deliberated biomass via continuous-flow extraction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Rabin Duwal
    2023 Co-Supervisor Storage communication conventions and regulatory requirements for food waste reduction Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Jia En Sit
    2023 Co-Supervisor Plasma-activated water as a novel disinfectant against foodborne bacteria Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bjoern Hendrik Kolbe
    2022 Principal Supervisor Identification and Exploitation of Carbohydrate Polymers and Bioactive Compounds from Plant Biomass Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr David Nkurunziza
    2022 Principal Supervisor This PhD project aims to understand how to improve the properties of bio-degradable packaging materials through a program of research in the fields of chemistry and materials engineering. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Melinda Nguyen
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Effects of Non-thermal Air Plasma on Five Grains and Their Economically Important Pathogens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Melanie Ford
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2022 - 2023 Vice-President Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Australia
    2020 - 2022 President Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Australia
    2019 - 2020 Vice-President Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Australia
    2016 - 2017 Co-Chair Organising committee for the 2017 Australian Colloid Society Conference - -
    2015 - ongoing Secretary Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering - Australia
    2012 - 2013 Co-Chair Organising Committee for the 2013 Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Conference - Australia
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (C)
  • Phone: 83137171
  • Email: bryan.coad@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137116
  • Campus: Waite
  • Building: Plant Genomics Centre, floor 2
  • Org Unit: Agricultural Science

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