Casey Doolette

Dr Casey Doolette

Program Director

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

College of Science

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

Available For Media Comment.

I am an environmental scientist and lecturer in UniSA STEM.
My research focuses on plant nutrition, soil fertility, and the behaviour of nutrients and contaminants (particularly manufactured nanomaterials and industrial chemicals) in the environment. The overarching theme of my current research is the development of new and innovative ways to produce adequate and nutritious food, with a focus on enhancing the efficiency of agricultural practices while maintaining and, if possible, improving, environmental resources. In addition to investigating nutrients in the environment, my research also seeks to better understand the effects of pesticides on South Australian soil health. I also have expertise in the application of synchrotron-based X-ray techniques for agricultural and environmental research. Prior to joining the University of South Australia, I worked for the Australian Government Department of Environment performing envrionmental risk assessments of industrial chemicals used in Australia.  
My teaching is focused on soil science, the evolution of the landscape and the fate of metals within the landscape. Based on my previous public service role, my teaching also focuses on environmental management; where our students are provided with the knowledge to predict, assess and mitigate the potential adverse social and environmental impacts of major developent projects.

Year Citation
2026 Nguyen, T. D., Johnson, A. A. T., Lombi, E., Doolette, C. L., Smith, E., & Watts‐Williams, S. J. (2026). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation increases the bioavailability of zinc and iron in wheat grain. Plants, People, Planet, 8(3), 924-936.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2026 Doolette, C. L., Smith, E., Tavakkoli, E., Van zwieten, L., Mckenna, B. A., Kopittke, P. M., & Lombi, E. (2026). Mapping the fertosphere's phosphorus availability distribution in a field trial using a novel diffusive gradients in thin-films (fDGT) technique. SOIL, 12(1), 253-261.
DOI
2026 Moens, C., Payne, J., Doolette, C. L., Resseguier, C., Vanderborght, J., Lombi, E., & Smolders, E. (2026). Visualization of pore water colloids in intact soil using a new diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)-based approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 13(4), 13 pages.
DOI
2026 Kodithuwakku, K., Huang, J., Doolette, C. L., Mason, S., Lam-Gordillo, O., Lombi, E., & Lehto, N. J. (2026). Unravelling ammonium and nitrate dynamics in soils: effects of soil type, moisture content, and temperature revealed by diffusive gradients in thin-films.. Environ Sci Process Impacts, 13 pages.
DOI
2026 Sim, J. X. F., Doolette, C. L., Drigo, B., Vasileiadis, S., Lau, M., Karpouzas, D. G., & Lombi, E. (2026). Soil properties mediate the responses of soil microbiota to fungicides and herbicides. Applied Soil Ecology, 224, 12 pages.
DOI
2026 Huang, J., McKenna, B. A., Bartlett, K., Zheng, Y., Doolette, C. L., Kopittke, P. M., & Lombi, E. (2026). Developing a diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique for large-scale and high-resolution mapping of labile potassium in soil. Talanta, 309, 11 pages.
DOI
2025 Hernandez Mora, A., Duboc, O., Bünemann, E. K., Ylivainio, K., Lombi, E., Symanczik, S., . . . Santner, J. (2025). Evaluation of six phosphorus extraction methods for compliance testing of recycled P fertilizers. Environmental Technology and Innovation, 37(103913), 1-15.
DOI Scopus6 WoS7
2025 Arsic, M., Howell, N. R., Cresswell, T., Brunetti, G., Husted, S., Schjoerring, J. K., . . . Doolette, C. L. (2025). Effects of Phosphorus Deficiency on Leaf Surface Morphology: absorption and Translocation of Foliar-Applied Phosphorus in Four Barley Cultivars. Physiologia Plantarum, 177(3, article no. e70263), 1-15.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC1
2025 McKenna, B. A., Lombi, E., McLaren, T. I., Doolette, C. L., Raymond, N. S., & Kopittke, P. M. (2025). Spatially-resolved characterisation of phosphate fertiliser reaction zones for sustainable soil management. Geoderma, 463(117564), 1-9.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Nguyen, T. D., Sai, N., Johnson, A. A. T., Lombi, E., Smith, E., Doolette, C. L., . . . Watts‐Williams, S. J. (2025). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increase aleurone layer zinc concentration but reduce overall zinc bioavailability in rice grain. Plants, People, Planet, 7(5), 1299-1310.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2025 van der Bom, F. J. T., Lösel, P. D., Kingston, A. M., Weng, Z. H., Raymond, N. S., Maksimenko, A., . . . Kopittke, P. M. (2025). Synchrotron-based 3D X-ray computed tomography reveals root system architecture: Plastic responses to phosphorus placement. Geoderma, 457(117299), 1-12.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4
2025 Aralappanavar, V. K., Sarkar, B., Doolette, C. L., Rose, M., Donnellan, L., Smith, E., . . . Lombi, E. (2025). A diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) methodology for in situ measurement of imazamox and imazapyr herbicide residues. Talanta, 295(128350), 1-11.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC2
2025 Aralappanavar, V. K., Sarkar, B., Doolette, C. L., Donnellan, L., Mason, S., Rose, M., . . . Lombi, E. (2025). Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) for measuring potentially bioavailable pesticide residues in soil systems: current challenges and perspectives. Critical Reviews In Environmental Science And Technology, online(17), 1-22.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2025 Lombi, E., Doolette, C. L., da Silva, R. C., McKenna, B. A., & Kopittke, P. M. (2025). Unveiling chemical gradients in the fertosphere: a paradigm shift to enhance fertilizer efficiency and decrease the environmental impact of overfertilisation. Environmental Science & Technology, online(29), 1-9.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2024 Kodithuwakku, K., Huang, J., Doolette, C. L., Mason, S., Boland, J., Lehto, N. J., & Lombi, E. (2024). Plant responses to nitrate and ammonium availability in Australian soils as measured by diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) and KCl extraction. Geoderma, 449(116997), 9 pages.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8
2024 Moens, C., Lombi, E., Howard, D. L., Wagner, S., Payne, J. L., Kopittke, P. M., & Doolette, C. L. (2024). Mapping phosphorus availability in soil at a large scale and high resolution using novel diffusive gradients in thin films designed for x-ray fluorescence microscopy. Environmental Science and Technology, 58(1), 440-448.
DOI Scopus25 WoS24 Europe PMC6
2024 Faidutti, C., Doolette, C., Hair, L., van Daalen, K. R., Naheed, A., Lombi, E., & Feldmann, J. (2024). Trace element distribution and arsenic speciation in toenails as affected by external contamination and evaluation of a cleaning protocol. Analytical Chemistry, 96(10), 4039-4047.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2024 McKenna, B. A., Kopittke, P. M., Bell, M. J., Lombi, E., Klysubun, W., McLaren, T. I., . . . Meyer, G. (2024). Phosphorus availability and speciation in the fertosphere of three soils over 12 months. Geoderma, 447(116913), 1-10.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10
2024 Hernandez Mora, A., Duboc, O., Lombi, E., Bünemann, E. K., Ylivainio, K., Symanczik, S., . . . Santner, J. (2024). Fertilization efficiency of thirty marketed and experimental recycled phosphorus fertilizers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 467(142957), 1-16.
DOI Scopus34 WoS35
2024 Paton, L., Marczinczik, N., Lindsay, T., Gonzalez de Vega, R., Skrzypek, E., Moro, T. T., . . . Feldmann, J. (2024). Investigating how H₂S can alter the interactions between Hg⁰ and corroded steel surfaces to guide future decommissioning projects. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 480(136025), 1-10.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2024 Doelsch, E., Le Bars, M., Etschmann, B., Formentini, T., Legros, S., Levard, C., . . . Lombi, E. (2024). Bulk and mapping speciation analyses unveil the pattern and heterogeneity of Cu species during organic waste treatment. Environmental Science and Technology, 58(32), 14439-14449.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2023 Meyer, G., Bell, M. J., Kopittke, P. M., Lombi, E., Doolette, C. L., Brunetti, G., . . . Janke, C. K. (2023). Mobility and lability of phosphorus from highly concentrated fertiliser bands. Geoderma, 429(article no. 116248), 1-12.
DOI Scopus24 WoS24
2023 Sim, J. X. F., Drigo, B., Doolette, C. L., Vasileiadis, S., Donner, E., Karpouzas, D. G., & Lombi, E. (2023). Repeated applications of fipronil, propyzamide and flutriafol affect soil microbial functions and community composition: a laboratory-to-field assessment. Chemosphere, 331(138850), 1-13.
DOI Scopus18 WoS18 Europe PMC10
2023 Kodithuwakku, K., Huang, J., Doolette, C. L., Mason, S., Boland, J., Lombi, E., . . . Teasdale, P. R. (2023). Evaluation of the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique for measuring nitrate and ammonium in soil. Environmental Chemistry, 19(8), 483-494.
DOI Scopus7 WoS4
2022 Sim, J. X. F., Doolette, C. L., Vasileiadis, S., Drigo, B., Wyrsch, E. R., Djordjevic, S. P., . . . Lombi, E. (2022). Pesticide effects on nitrogen cycle related microbial functions and community composition. Science of the Total Environment, 807(Pt 1), 1-12.
DOI Scopus82 WoS76 Europe PMC42
2022 Sim, J. X. F., Drigo, B., Doolette, C. L., Vasileiadis, S., Karpouzas, D. G., & Lombi, E. (2022). Impact of twenty pesticides on soil carbon microbial functions and community composition. Chemosphere, 307(135820), 1-10.
DOI Scopus75 WoS70 Europe PMC33
2022 Hou, L., Gao, W., van der Bom, F., Weng, Z., Doolette, C. L., Maksimenko, A., . . . Kopittke, P. M. (2022). Use of X-ray tomography for examining root architecture in soils. Geoderma, 405(article no. 115405), 1-13.
DOI Scopus71 WoS49
2022 Doolette, C. L., Howard, D. L., Afshar, N., Kewish, C. M., Paterson, D. J., Huang, J., . . . Lombi, E. (2022). Tandem Probe Analysis Mode for Synchrotron XFM: Doubling Throughput Capacity. Analytical Chemistry, 94(11), 4584-4593.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC6
2022 Weng, Z., Lehmann, J., Van Zwieten, L., Joseph, S., Archanjo, B. S., Cowie, B., . . . Kopittke, P. M. (2022). Probing the nature of soil organic matter. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 52(22), 4072-4093.
DOI Scopus86 WoS82
2022 van der Bom, F. J. T., Kopittke, P. M., Raymond, N. S., Sekine, R., Lombi, E., Mueller, C. W., & Doolette, C. L. (2022). Methods for assessing laterally-resolved distribution, speciation and bioavailability of phosphorus in soils. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 21(1), 53-74.
DOI Scopus30 WoS30
2022 Arsic, M., Persson, D. P., Schjoerring, J. K., Thygesen, L. G., Lombi, E., Doolette, C. L., & Husted, S. (2022). Foliar-applied manganese and phosphorus in deficient barley: Linking absorption pathways and leaf nutrient status. Physiologia Plantarum, 174(4), 1-15.
DOI Scopus27 WoS27 Europe PMC11
2021 Arias, D. M., Teasdale, P. R., Doolette, C. L., Lombi, E., Farquhar, S., & Huang, J. (2021). Development and evaluation of a new colorimetric DGT technique for the 2D visualisation of labile phosphate in soils. Chemosphere, 269(128704), 1-9.
DOI Scopus15 WoS17 Europe PMC3
2021 Meyer, G., Bell, M. J., Lombi, E., Doolette, C. L., Brunetti, G., Novotny, E. H., . . . Kopittke, P. M. (2021). Phosphorus speciation in the fertosphere of highly concentrated fertilizer bands. Geoderma, 403(115208), 1-10.
DOI Scopus43 WoS43
2021 Malysheva, A., Ivask, A., Doolette, C. L., Voelcker, N. H., & Lombi, E. (2021). Cellular binding, uptake and biotransformation of silver nanoparticles in human T lymphocytes. Nature Nanotechnology, 16(8), 926-932.
DOI Scopus95 WoS91 Europe PMC59
2021 Read, T. L., Doolette, C. L., Howell, N. R., Kopittke, P. M., Cresswell, T., & Lombi, E. (2021). Zinc accumulates in the nodes of wheat following the foliar application of ⁶⁵Zn oxide nano- and microparticles. Environmental Science and Technology, 55(20), 13523.
DOI Scopus30 WoS26 Europe PMC11
2020 Arsic, M., Le Tougaard, S., Persson, D. P., Martens, H. J., Doolette, C. L., Lombi, E., . . . Husted, S. (2020). Bioimaging techniques reveal foliar phosphate uptake pathways and leaf phosphorus status. Plant Physiology, 183(4), 1472-1483.
DOI Scopus34 WoS32 Europe PMC22
2020 Doolette, C. L., Read, T. L., Howell, N. R., Cresswell, T., & Lombi, E. (2020). Zinc from foliar-applied nanoparticle fertiliser is translocated to wheat grain: a ⁶⁵Zn radiolabelled translocation study comparing conventional and novel foliar fertilisers. Science of the Total Environment, 749(142369), 1-10.
DOI Scopus56 WoS45 Europe PMC27
2020 Read, T. L., Doolette, C. L., Li, C., Schjoerring, J. K., Kopittke, P. M., Donner, E., & Lombi, E. (2020). Optimising the foliar uptake of zinc oxide nanoparticles: do leaf surface properties and particle coating affect absorption?. Physiologia Plantarum, 170(3), 384-397.
DOI Scopus42 WoS37 Europe PMC24
2020 Meyer, G., Bell, M. J., Doolette, C. L., Brunetti, G., Zhang, Y., Lombi, E., & Kopittke, P. M. (2020). Plant-available phosphorus in highly concentrated fertilizer bands: effects of soil type, phosphorus form, and coapplied potassium. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 68(29), 7571-7580.
DOI Scopus68 WoS60 Europe PMC17
2019 Read, T. L., Doolette, C. L., Cresswell, T., Howell, N. R., Aughterson, R., Karatchevtseva, I., . . . Lombi, E. (2019). Investigating the foliar uptake of zinc from conventional and nano-formulations: a methodological study. Environmental chemistry, 16(6), 459-469.
DOI Scopus26 WoS24
2018 Doolette, C. L., Read, T. L., Li, C., Scheckel, K. G., Donner, E., Kopittke, P. M., . . . Lombi, E. (2018). Foliar application of zinc sulphate and zinc EDTA to wheat leaves: differences in mobility, distribution, and speciation. Journal of experimental botany, 69(18), 4469-4481.
DOI Scopus120 WoS106 Europe PMC47
2018 Walker, G., Kookana, R., Smith, N., Kah, M., Doolette, C., Reeves, P., . . . Navarro, D. (2018). Ecological risk assessment of nano-enabled pesticides: a perspective on problem formulation. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 66(26), 6480-6486.
DOI Scopus144 WoS105 Europe PMC56
2016 Doolette, C., Gupta, V., Lu, Y., Payne, J., Batstone, D., Kirby, J., . . . McLaughlin, M. (2016). Quantifying the sensitivity of soil microbial communities to silver sulfide nanoparticles using metagenome sequencing. PLoS ONE, 11(8), e0161979-1-e0161979-20.
DOI Scopus61 WoS51 Europe PMC35
2015 Doolette, C., McLaughlin, M., Kirby, J., & Navarro, D. (2015). Bioavailability of silver and silver sulfide nanoparticles to lettuce (Lactuca sativa): effect of agricultural amendments on plant uptake. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 300, 788-795.
DOI Scopus115 WoS96 Europe PMC53
2013 Batley, G., Halliburton, B., Kirby, J., Doolette, C., Navarro, D., McLaughlin, M., & Veitch, C. (2013). Characterization and ecological risk assessment of nanoparticulate CeO₂ as a diesel fuel catalyst. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 32(8), 1896-1905.
DOI Scopus39 WoS35 Europe PMC19
2013 Cornelis, G., Pang, L., Doolette, C., Kirby, J., & McLaughlin, M. (2013). Transport of silver nanoparticles in saturated columns of natural soils. Science of the Total Environment, 463, 120-130.
DOI Scopus214 WoS199 Europe PMC99
2013 Doolette, C., McLaughlin, M., Kirby, J., Batstone, D., Harris, H., Ge, H., & Cornelis, G. (2013). Transformation of PVP coated silver nanoparticles in a simulated wastewater treatment process and the effect on microbial communities. Chemistry Central Journal, 7(46), 11-18.
DOI Scopus112 WoS98 Europe PMC43
2012 Cornelis, G., Doolette, C., Thomas, M., McLaughlin, M., Kirby, J., Beak, D., & Chittleborough, D. (2012). Retention and dissolution of engineered silver nanoparticles in natural soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 76(3), 891-902.
DOI Scopus177 WoS159

  • Using recycled phosphorus fertilisers to increase farming profitability, resilience, P use efficiency, and sustainability, Grains Research and Development Corporation, 01/09/2025 - 31/08/2029

  • Addressing emerging nutrient limitations in the Australian grains industry for improved fertiliser management of potassium (K), Grains Research and Development Corporation, 15/04/2025 - 31/05/2029

  • Rejuvenating agricultural soils to enhance productivity, resilience and carbon sequestration using enhanced rock weathering, Natural Heritage Trust, 16/05/2025 - 31/03/2028

  • Improving farmer profitability and sustainability by understanding polyhalite fertiliser interactions with soil, Anglo American Woodsmith Limited, 21/02/2024 - 31/01/2028

  • Understanding herbicide residues on challenging soil types within the southern region, Grains Research and Development Corporation, 28/03/2025 - 30/03/2027

  • Development of methods to quantify root distribution, length and biomass using a machine learning approach based on X-ray tomography of intact field soil cores, Grains Research and Development Corporation, 17/03/2023 - 31/12/2026

  • Pesticide effects on soil microbial functions in contrasting SA soils, SA Grain Industry Trust, 01/07/2023 - 30/06/2025

Courses I teach

  • EART 1011 Soils in the Australian Landscape (2025)
  • ENVT 2014 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (2025)
  • EART 1011 Soils in the Australian Landscape (2024)
  • EART 3020 Earth and Landscape Evolution (2024)
  • ENVT 2014 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor Quantifying carbon dioxide removal by enhanced rock weathering using novel metal isotopic techniques Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Lakshmi Chamaparambil Suresh
2025 Principal Supervisor Addressing emerging nutrient limitations in the Australian grains industry for improved fertiliser management of potassium Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Tony Bernard
2024 Principal Supervisor Addressing soil constraints of post amelioration sandy soils Master of Research (Environmental Science) Master Full Time Mr Alex Michael Busch
2024 Co-Supervisor Polyhalite as fertiliser: understanding its interactions with soil Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Joy Eloiza Rosales
2024 Co-Supervisor Developing a model for the exploration of clay-hosted rare earth elements Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Jasmin Hiller
2023 Co-Supervisor Root segmentation and phenotyping of sparse-vies synchrotron X-ray computed tomography 3D images Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Hurriyatul Fitriyah
2022 Co-Supervisor Single cell analysis of nanoparticle uptake: Impact of environmental plastic pollutants - Doctorate Full Time Mr Quang Minh Luu
2022 Co-Supervisor Developing a DGT methodology to assess bioavailability of herbicide residues Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Vijay Aralappanavar
2022 Co-Supervisor Single cell analysis of nanoparticle uptake: Impact of environmental plastic pollutants Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Quang Minh Luu
2021 Principal Supervisor Developing high-throughput spectroscopic methods for screening cereals genotypes for their micronutrient contents  Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Rashin Andayesh

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2022 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Diffusive gradients in thin-films technique for predicting nitrogen availability in soils Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Krishantha Kodithuwakku
2020 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Investigating foliar-applied phosphorus absorption and translocation in barley using bioimaging techniques Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Maja Arsic
2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Comparative effects of agricultural pesticides on South Australian soil microbial functions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jowenna Xiao Feng Sim
2018 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The absorption and translocation of foliar-applied zinc oxide nanoparticle fertilisers in wheat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Thea Read

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