APrf David Jeffery
Associate Professor
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
College of Science
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
David completed a PhD on the development of methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of polypropionate marine natural products. He has experience with the synthesis of aromatic heterocycles and a strong analytical chemistry background. He uses these experiences for the isolation, identification, synthesis and analysis of interesting and complex molecules from nature, especially in the pursuit of improved knowledge about grape and wine chemistry. In particular, David conducts research in the area of aroma, flavour, and polyphenol chemistry, undertaking and overseeing analytical method development, compound synthesis, and isolation/ characterisation of grape and wine components. The effect of vineyard and winemaking conditions on grape and wine composition is evaluated through a range of experiments and application of techniques such as HPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and spectrofluorometry with machine learning modelling. David is co-author of Understanding Wine Chemistry, a modern wine chemistry textbook used in wine science programs across the globe.
David is involved in the isolation, identification, synthesis and analysis of interesting and complex molecules from nature. The application of synthetic organic chemistry, natural product isolation, structure elucidation and analytical techniques such as GC-MS and HPLC-MS are key components of his research. This extends to grape and wine components and development of methods for the analysis of aroma, flavour and phenolic compounds which are important to grape and wine quality.
David is particularly keen to develop fundamental chemical knowledge and techniques which can be directed toward understanding intricate natural phenomena. This includes the structure and function of wine tannins and the mechanisms underlying tannin rearrangements and pigmented polymer formation which impact on colour and mouthfeel properties of wine. Another area of strong interest involves improving knowledge of the formation and reactivity of aroma and flavour compounds, identifying potential sources and examining the impacts of processing.
Contact David to discuss any aspects of these research interests and to find out more about Honours or PhD projects relating to these diverse topics. Projects will appeal to students who want to continue their education in typical chemical fields such as synthesis and analysis, with potential for an applied context to help improve the scientific understanding behind a multi-billion dollar Australian industry. There are various scholarship opportunities for eligible students including supplementary scholarships periodically offered by the Wine Australia. Check the links for eligibility criteria and closing date.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 - ongoing | Associate Professor in Wine Science | The University of Adelaide |
| 2014 - 2016 | Senior Lecturer in Wine Science | University of Adelaide |
| 2010 - 2014 | Lecturer in Wine Science | University of Adelaide |
| 2009 - 2010 | Senior Research Scientist - Team Leader | The Australian Wine Research Institute |
| 2008 - 2009 | Research Scientist | The Australian Wine Research Institute |
| 2005 - 2008 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | The Australian Wine Research Institute |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Award | Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in HDR Supervisory Practice | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | JAFC Excellence in Review | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | United States | - |
| 2022 | Award | Flinders University Distinguished Alumni Award | Flinders University | Australia | - |
| 2021 | Award | JAFC Excellence in Review | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | United States | - |
| 2020 | Award | ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Supervision | Australian Council of Graduate Research | Australia | - |
| 2018 | Achievement | 2018 OIV Special Mention | International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) | France | - |
| 2015 | Award | Peter W. Alexander Medal | The Royal Australian Chemical Institute | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 - 2014 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Graduate Diploma in Online Learning (Higher Education) |
| 2002 - 2005 | Flinders University | Australia | PhD |
| 2001 - 2001 | Flinders University | Australia | BSc(Hons) |
| 1998 - 2000 | Flinders University | Australia | BTech(Forens&AnalytChem) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Sacks, G., Kreitman, G., Elias, R., & Jeffery, D. (2017). Rethinking re-stinking: A critical evaluation of hypotheses for formation of sulfurous off aromas during wine storage. Poster session presented at the meeting of ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Washington, DC: AMER CHEMICAL SOC. |
| 2017 | Capone, D., Chen, L., Francis, L., & Jeffery, D. (2017). Quantitation of potent polyfunctional thiols and their enantiomers in wine using HPLC-MS/MS after derivatization. Poster session presented at the meeting of ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Washington, DC: AMER CHEMICAL SOC. |
| 2012 | Capone, D. L., Sefton, M. A., Francis, I. L., & Jeffery, D. W. (2012). Origin of eucalyptol in wine. Poster session presented at the meeting of ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. CA, San Diego: AMER CHEMICAL SOC. |
| 2012 | Capone, D. L., Black, C. A., & Jeffery, D. W. (2012). Harvest, storage, and processing effects on 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol precursor concentrations in Sauvignon Blanc grape juice. Poster session presented at the meeting of ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. PA, Philadelphia: AMER CHEMICAL SOC. |
| 2010 | Herderich, M. J., Siebert, T., Parker, M., Capone, D., & Jeffery, D. (2010). Spice up your life: Analysis of key aroma compounds in Shiraz. Poster session presented at the meeting of ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. AMER CHEMICAL SOC. WoS40 |
| 2010 | Capone, D. L., Sefton, M. A., & Jeffery, D. W. (2010). Analytical investigations to relate important wine odorant 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol to its precursors. Poster session presented at the meeting of ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. AMER CHEMICAL SOC. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Ferrero-del-Teso, S., Arapitsas, P., Jeffery, D., Ferreira, C., Mattivi, F., Fernández-Zurbano, P., & Sáenz-Navajas, M. -P. (2023). Exploring Uplc‐Qtof-Ms‐Based Targeted and Untargeted Approaches for Understanding Wine Mouthfeel: A Sensometabolomic Approach. DOI |
David has been named as a Chief Investigator for the following Category 1 projects:
- Australian Research Council (ARC) funded Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Innovative Wine Production (ARC-TC-IWP) led by Centre Director Prof Vladimir Jiranek in conjunction with other UofA researchers, Wine Innovation Cluster (WIC) partners and industry stakeholders, 2013-2017 and 2018-2023
- Wine Australia (WA) funded project investigating the causes and consequences of grape berry cell death led by Em Prof Steve Tyerman in conjunction with Dr Vinay Pagay, A/Prof Cas Collins, A/Prof Sue Bastian and Dr Richard Muhlack (UofA), 2018-2022
- WA funded project investigating plant sensor-based precision irrigation for improved water use efficiency led by Dr Vinay Pagay in conjunction with Em Prof Steve Tyerman, Prof Kerry Wilkinson and Dr Richard Muhlack (UofA), 2018-2022
- WA funded project investigating sensor-based precision irrigation for improved vineyard water use efficiency, grape and wine quality, and profitability led by Dr Vinay Pagay (UofA) in conjunction with other UofA researchers, 2018-2020
- WA funded project investigating the use of glutathione during winemaking led by Dr Simon Schmidt from the Australian Wine Research Institute in conjunction with Dr Gabriel Perrone at Western Sydney University, 2016-2020
- WA funded project investigating in-canopy misting to mitigate the effects of heatwaves on grapevines led by Dr Vinay Pagay (UofA) in conjunction with other UofA and WIC researchers, 2016-2018
- WA funded project investigating the influence of grape quality on wine composition led by Dr Paul Boss (CSIRO) in conjunction with A/Prof Sue Bastian (UofA), 2013-2017
- WA funded project investigating wine composition effects on Australian wine consumer mood and liking led by A/Prof Sue Bastian (UofA) in conjunction with other UofA researchers, 2013-2017
David has been named as a Chief Investigator for the following Category 2 project:
- Department of Industry, Science, Energy Innovation Connections grant for determining key quality parameters for gin based on chemical and sensory testing, 2021-2022
- PIRSA Wine Industry Development Scheme project for evaluating innovative technologies to ameliorate smoke taint in juice and wine led by Prof Kerry Wilkinson in conjunction with Dr Richard Muhlack and Prof Vladimir Jiranek (UofA), 2020
- PIRSA Advanced Food Manufacturing grant for developing a vodka from potato waste led by Dr Richard Muhlack in conjunction with Prof Kerry Wilkinson (UofA), 2017-2018
David has been named as an Associate Investigator for the following Category 1 project:
- National Health and Medical Research Council funded Centre of Research Excellence involving targeted nutrition to improve maternal and child health outcomes led by Prof Maria Makrides (SAHMRI/UofA) in conjunction with other UofA and SAHMRI researchers, 2017-2022
Stabilisation and Clarification (Course Coordinator) - lecture topics include methods of clarification, tartrate stability and testing, fining agents, and odour, colour and oxidative stability
Distillation, Fortified and Sparkling Winemaking (Course Coordinator) - lecture topics include vapour-liquid equlibria, batch and continuous distillation, industrial still design, and cognac and armagnac production
Advances In Wine Science - lecture topics include red wine polyphenol chemistry and application of modern analytical methods
Brewing Technology and Beer Production - lecture on adjuncts, flavourings and hops
Sensory Studies - lectures on wine aroma and flavour
Introductory Winemaking - lecture on stabilisation and clarification
Fundamentals of Spirit Production - A Boutique Perspective - 5 day short course open to the public
Online learning free to the public - EdX MOOC World of Wine: From Grape to Glass
Winners of:
~ 2015 South Australian Interactive Media Excellence Award (Government, Education & Non-profit) ~
~ 2015 Best Wine Educator, Wine Communicators of Australia ~
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Investigating the impact of spinning cone column dealcoholisation processes on wine flavour | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Bingqi Shan |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Elucidating the effect of environmental volatiles on red wine aroma and flavour, and evaluating the potential for novel cover crops in viticulture | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Andrew Raymond O'Brien |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Investigating the impact of spinning cone column dealcoholisation processes on wine flavour | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Bingqi Shan |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Elucidating the effect of environmental volatiles on red wine aroma and flavour, and evaluating the potential for novel cover crops in viticulture | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Andrew Raymond O'Brien |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Predicting and Managing Mouthfeel in Red Wines through AI-guided Process Metrics | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Yingxin Miao |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Varietal thiol precursor formation in grape and fate of thiols during alcoholic fermentation and wine storage | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Ruomeng Li |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Application of A-TEEM spectroscopy combined with machine learning as an efficient approach for prediction and classification in alcoholic beverages | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Han Wang |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | High Impact sulfur compounds in hop products | Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Bradley Jack Maddison |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Varietal thiol precursor formation in grape and fate of thiols during alcoholic fermentation and wine storage | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Ruomeng Li |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Application of A-TEEM spectroscopy combined with machine learning as an efficient approach for prediction and classification in alcoholic beverages | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Han Wang |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | High Impact sulfur compounds in hop products | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Bradley Jack Maddison |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Predicting and Managing Mouthfeel in Red Wines through AI-guided Process Metrics | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Yingxin Miao |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Assessment of rapid detection methods for identifying smoke taint in grape juice. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ysadora Ashton Mirabelli-Montan |
| 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Evolution of spectrofluorometric fingerprint of red wine under different ageing conditions | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Shuyue Fan |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Use of Instrumentation to Characterise Plant Based Meat Analogs (PBMA) and Develop Flavour Improvements to Drive Purchase Intent | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Nick Kuhlman |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Remediation of taint arising from vineyard exposure to bushfire smoke | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Song Yan |
| 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Evolution of spectrofluorometric fingerprint of red wine under different ageing conditions | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Shuyue Fan |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Remediation of taint arising from vineyard exposure to bushfire smoke | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Song Yan |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Assessment of rapid detection methods for identifying smoke taint in grape juice. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ysadora Ashton Mirabelli-Montan |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Use of Instrumentation to Characterise Plant Based Meat Analogs (PBMA) and Develop Flavour Improvements to Drive Purchase Intent | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Nick Kuhlman |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | The role of polysulfides in the appearance of reduced wine aromas | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Yu Hou |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | The role of polysulfides in the appearance of reduced wine aromas | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Yu Hou |
| 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Efficient Red Winemaking by Monitoring Extraction and Evolution of Colour and Polyphenols | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Ms Judith Unterkofler |
| 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Efficient Red Winemaking by Monitoring Extraction and Evolution of Colour and Polyphenols | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Judith Unterkofler |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Mathematical Modelling of Anthocyanin Self-Association and Implications for Colour Expression and Red Winemaking Efficiency | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Ms Rachael Tindal |
| 2021 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Navigating Water Stress in Vineyards: Insights From Water Management Strategies and Hydraulic and Chemical Signalling Under Soil Moisture Deficit | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Rochelle Therese Schlank |
| 2020 - 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Inter-vine Signalling via Plant Volatiles | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Joanah Midzi |
| 2020 - 2021 | Principal Supervisor | Sensory Characterisation of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Typicity | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Lira Souza Gonzaga |
| 2019 - 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Rootstock Effects on Grape Rachis Composition and the Implications for Red Wine Quality | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Ross David Sanders |
| 2018 - 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Authentication of Australian Red Wines Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Machine Learning Classification | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Ruchira Ranaweera |
| 2018 - 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Varietal Thiols and Precursors: Biogenesis, Reactivity, and Impact of Winemaking Practices | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Xingchen Wang |
| 2018 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Investigating Grape Heterogeneity Effects on Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Chemical and Sensory Characteristics using Chemometrics and Machine Learning Models | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Claire Elizabeth Jane Armstrong |
| 2016 - 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Development of Flash Détente Applications for Impacting Red Wine Style and for Production of Colour Stable Red Wines and Concentrate | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Richard Gondai Ntuli |
| 2015 - 2019 | Co-Supervisor | The gastronomic experience of fine Australian wines of provenance and food pairings | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Marcell Kustos |
| 2015 - 2019 | Principal Supervisor | Polyfunctional Thiols in Wine: Chirality, Precursor Stereochemistry, Winemaking Impacts, and Fate | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Liang Chen |
| 2015 - 2019 | Co-Supervisor | Testing Consumer Perception for a New Australian Wine Product for the Australasian Market: Sensory Properties, Chemical Composition and Consumer Acceptance of Shiraz Wine Containing Ganoderma lucidum | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Anh Ngoc Hoang Nguyen |
| 2015 - 2019 | Principal Supervisor | Developing process simulation models for red wine fermentation: Anthocyanin mass transfer and extraction | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Patrick Charles Setford |
| 2014 - 2018 | Principal Supervisor | INVESTIGATION OF AN EARLY HARVEST REGIME AND PRE-FERMENTATIVE BLENDING TREATMENTS TO PRODUCE LOWER ALCOHOL WINES: IMPACT ON GRAPE AND WINE COMPOSITION AND QUALITY | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Olaf Jan Schelezki |
| 2014 - 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Preparation and application of new sorptive polymers applied to wine with a focus on removal of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Chen Liang |
| 2014 - 2020 | Co-Supervisor | Getting Alcohol Content Right: The Compositional and Sensory Basis for the Alcohol Sweetspot | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Duc-Truc Pham |
| 2013 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | The Impact of Water Deficit and High Temperature on Berry Biophysical Traits and Berry and Wine Chemical and Sensory Traits | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Marcos Bonada |
| 2013 - 2017 | Principal Supervisor | Development of Quality Assessment Tools for Chardonnay in Relation to Grape and Wine Composition | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Joanna Gambetta |
| 2012 - 2016 | Principal Supervisor | Comprehensive Study of Australian Rose Wines: Characterisation of Chemical and Sensory Profiles | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jiaming Wang |
| 2009 - 2012 | External Supervisor | Development and Application of Novel Analytical Methods to the Identification, Formation and Fate of Two Important Wine Aroma Compounds | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Dimitra Liacopoulos Capone |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Member | RACI SA Branch | The Royal Australian Chemical Institute | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Secretary | RACI SA Branch | The Royal Australian Chemical Institute | Australia |
| 2014 - 2017 | Member | RACI SA Branch | The Royal Australian Chemical Institute | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 - ongoing | Member | American Chemical Society | United States |
| 2012 - ongoing | Member | International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry | Australia |
| 2000 - ongoing | Member | The Royal Australian Chemical Institute (Fellow, FRACI) | Australia |
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | Associate Editor | OENO One | IVES | France |
| 2020 - ongoing | Board Member | ACS Food Science & Technology | American Chemical Society | United States |
| 2016 - 2021 | Associate Editor | Molecules | MDPI | Switzerland |