Teaching Strengths
Prof David Lewis
Pro Vice Chancellor, College of Engineering and Information Technology
Office of Engineering and Information Technology
College of Engineering and Information Technology
David Lewis is Pro Vice Chancellor of the College of Engineering and Information Technology at Adelaide University. A Chartered Chemical Engineer, he has built a successful career spanning the petroleum, mining, automation, hospitality, and defence sectors before moving into senior academic leadership. David is recognised for his practical and inclusive leadership style, with a strong track record of building high performing teams, delivering organisational change, and strengthening partnerships between universities, industry, and government.
His research focuses on the development and commercialisation of sustainable technologies that support the decarbonisation of industrial processes, with a current emphasis on e-waste recycling and resource recovery. Throughout his career, he has led research, innovation, and commercialisation activities aimed at translating engineering and scientific advances into practical outcomes with economic, environmental, and societal impact.
David has extensive experience in risk management, strategic planning, industry engagement, education, and mentoring. He is committed to developing future engineering leaders and fostering environments that promote excellence, collaboration, quality, safety, and continuous improvement. His expertise spans technology development, business growth, operational excellence, and the delivery of complex initiatives that create lasting value for organisations and communities.
My research is centred on the development of engineering solutions that enable industrial decarbonisation, resource recovery, and sustainable economic growth. Current activities focus on advancing technologies for e-waste recycling and the recovery of critical minerals that are essential for future energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing supply chains.
The research combines engineering science, process innovation, and commercial translation to develop technologies that can be deployed at scale. Working closely with industry and government partners, the program seeks to create practical pathways for reducing waste, lowering emissions, increasing resource security, and strengthening Australia's industrial capability. Through this work, I aim to bridge the gap between research and impact by delivering solutions that address real world environmental and economic challenges.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Pro Vice Chancellor | Adelaide University |
| 2024 - 2025 | Executive Dean | University of Adelaide |
| 2018 - 2023 | Head of School | University of Adelaide |
| 2016 - ongoing | Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 2014 - 2016 | Chief Executive Officer | Muradel Pty Ltd |
| 2013 - 2013 | Chief Technology Officer | Muradel Pty Ltd |
| 2012 - 2015 | Associate Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 2011 - 2012 | Senior Process Engineer | Muradel Pty Ltd |
| 2008 - 2008 | Visiting Researcher | University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley |
| 2008 - 2014 | Senior Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 2005 - 2005 | Visiting Researcher | Lancaster University, Lancaster |
| 2002 - 2007 | Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 1997 - 1997 | Higher Education Officer | University of Adelaide |
| 1996 - 1999 | Electrical Fitter Mechanic | Sage Automation |
| 1994 - 1996 | Service Technician | All Bake Services Pty Ltd |
| 1991 - 1992 | Service Technician | Caterquip Pty Ltd |
| 1990 - 1991 | Electrical Fitter Mechanic | Electricity Trust of South Australia |
| 1985 - 1990 | Assistant Electrical Supervisor | Adelaide Casino |
| 1985 - 1985 | Electrical Fitter Mechanic | Plasteel Pty Ltd |
| 1980 - 1985 | Able Seaman Electrical Technical Weapons | Royal Australian Navy |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 - 2003 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Doctor of Philosophy |
| 1993 - 1998 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Engineering |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | BHERT Leadership and Career Development | University of Melbourne | - |
| 1999 | Environmental Fluid Mechanics | Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe | Germany |
| 1992 | Matriculation | Christies Beach High School | - |
| 1991 | Progammable Controllers I | Technical and Further Education - Kingston | - |
| 1989 | Basic Electronics I | Technical and Further Education - Regency Park | - |
| 1987 | S.A.A. Wiring Rules and Regulations B | Technical and Further Education - Kingston | - |
| 1983 | Fremantle Class Patrol Craft ETP/ETW AN 40/60 | HMAS Cerberus | - |
| 1980 | Electrical Fitter Mechanic Trade Course | Technical and Further Education - New South Wales | - |
| 1980 | Apprentice Electrical Technical Weapons | HMAS Nirimba | - |
| 1976 | School Leavers Certificate | Christies Beach High School | - |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Orandi, S., Erkelens, M., Ball, A. S., & Lewis, D. M. (2014). An Investigation On Community Dynamics Of Acidophilic Micro-Algae Exploited For Phyto-Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage. Poster session presented at the meeting of ISAP2014. Sydney. |
Industry:
2019 to 2021 [Category 1]
Industry Investigator: B. Tabulo Academic investigator: D.M. Lewis.
Title: Commercialisation of Renewable Crude Oil Production
Type: Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Funding: $4,000,000
Industry Lead: Southern Oil Refining Pty Ltd, Funding: $8,290,000
2016 to 2018 [Category 1]
Lead Investigator: G. Nathan. Partner investigator: D.M. Lewis (2016/17).
Title: Commercial scale production of biocrude by hydrothermal liquefaction
Type: Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant – LP150101241, Funding: 2015 - $296,634; 2016 - $299,930; 2017 - $294,101.
Industry Partner: Southern Oil Refining Pty Ltd, Funding $441,505
2015 to 2017 [Category 1]
Lead Investigator: B. Hankamer. Partner investigators: D.M. Lewis and G. Henderson.
Title: Model guided design of advanced microalgae production systems
Type: Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant – LP150101147, Funding: 2015 - $258,559; 2016 - $226,342; 2017 - $113,510.
Industry Partner: Muradel Pty Ltd and Kellogg, Brown and Root, Funding $150,000
2014 to 2015 [Category 2]
Lead Investigator: D.M. Lewis
Title: The integration of renewable energy into a biofuels production plant
Type: Bio Innovation SA - Project No: BioSA/1202, Funding $150,000
Shareholders: Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd, Murdoch University, SQC Pty Ltd
2013 to 2014 [Category 2]
Lead Investigator: D.M. Lewis
Title: Advancing Established and Integrated Marine Microalgae Biofuel to Commercialisation
Type: Australian Renewable Energy Agency Advanced Biofuels Investment Readiness Program, Funding Agreement Q00150, Funding 2013/14 $4,398,000
Industry funding: SQC Pty Ltd $2,000,000
Shareholders: Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd, Murdoch University, SQC Pty Ltd
Academic:
2011 to 2014 [Category 1]
Lead Investigator: D.M. Lewis. Chief Investigators: P.J. Ashman and S. Clarke
Title: Energy from microalgae – industrial scale development and downstream processing of co-products
Type: Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant – LP100200616, Funding: 2011 - $279,454; 2012 - $381,307; 2013 - $249,239
Industry Partner: SQC Pty Ltd, Funding $450,000
2009 to 2011 [Category 2]
Chief Investigators: M.A. Borowitzka, D.M. Lewis and Ashman, P.J.
Title: A fully integrated process for biodiesel production from microalgae in saline water
Type: Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development & Climate (Project RDG-07-26), Funding: 2009 - $700,000, 2010 - $700,000, 2011 - $800,000,
Industry Partner: SQC Pty Ltd, Funding $500,000
I currently teach the following subjects:
CE4054 Research Project
CE3036 Unit Operations
Previously I have taught:
Water and Wastewater Engineering
Professional Practice IV
Introductory Process Fluid Mechanics
Environmental Engineering
Process Control & Instrumentation
Introduction to Biochemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering Laboratory Projects
Process Design and Plant Engineering
Professional Practice III
Biochemical Engineering
Plant Design Projects
Wastewater Engineering & Design
Environmental Modelling
Water and wastewater Treatment
Unit Operations
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Principal Supervisor | Integrating ESG principles and life-cycle assessment to advance sustainability, ethical sourcing, transparency, and innovation in battery recycling supply chains | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Fadzai Praise Musakana |
| 2026 | Principal Supervisor | OPTIMISATION OF PETROLEUM WASTE TREATMENT | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Percival S of David Jeyapal |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Recycling of critical minerals via subcritical leaching | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Mike Jureidini |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Investigating and optimising existing hydrometallurgy processes for green recycling of Li-ion batteries | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Mahaveer Bilkhu |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Study on recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Juan Chen |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | New Processes to Recycle Lithium Ion Batteries | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Hassan Imran Masud |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) into Process Design | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Muhammad Yousaf Arshad |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Synthesizing ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials using plasma-assisted Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) for next generation quantum and power devices. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Gary Lim |
| 2019 | Principal Supervisor | Environmental Implications of Aqueous Phase Product from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Municipal Wastewater Sludge | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Robran Kim Cock |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | High performance III-V quantum dots in microcavity structures for quantum-light | Doctor of Philosophy | Master | Full Time | Mr Declan Jotay Gossink |
| 2021 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Measuring and Monitoring Particle Size Distribution to Divert Low Value Waste in Mining | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Nazym Baizhiyen |
| 2021 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Design of Gallium Oxide based Materials for Selective and Efficient Solar-Driven Water Splitting | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Sijia Fu |
| 2021 - 2026 | Principal Supervisor | Experimental and molecular dynamics investigation of inductively coupled plasma etching of ß-Ga2O3 | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Xiting Zhou |
| 2020 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Plastic as an Alternative Recycling Method | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Chye Yi Leow |
| 2019 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Effect of Catalysts on Kinetics of Hydrothermal Processing of Biomass | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Andres Chacon Parra |
| 2019 - 2021 | Principal Supervisor | Quantification of feedstock characteristics before and during hydrothermal liquefaction under subcritical conditions of water | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Sylvia Yawa Elikplim Edifor |
| 2018 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Hydrothermal Liquefaction in Batch and Continuous Reactors | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Thomas Scott |
| 2017 - 2020 | Co-Supervisor | Reaction Kinetics for Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biomass | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Reem Obeid |
| 2017 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Investigation of the formation and interaction of solids and renewable crude during hydrothermal liquefaction | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Md Arafat Hossain |
| 2016 - 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Hydrothermal liquefaction of biosolids | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jasim Mohammed Jasim Al-Juboori |
| 2014 - 2019 | Principal Supervisor | The efficacy of Moringa oleifera as a practical application for sustainable water treatment | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Frances Elizabeth Williams |
| 2013 - 2016 | Co-Supervisor | Predictive Modelling and Experimental Studies on Taste-Taint as Geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in Farmed Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Priyantha Indrajith Hathurusingha Arachchige |
| 2012 - 2015 | Principal Supervisor | Investigation into the closed loop systems developed for microalgal biofuels. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Mason Erkelens |
| 2012 - 2016 | Co-Supervisor | Thermochemical Fuel Behaviour of Micro- and Macroalgal Biomass | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Daniel James Lane |
| 2012 - 2017 | Co-Supervisor | Quantitative FR 13 failure Modelling of UV Irradiation for Portable Water Production - Demonstrated with Escherichia coli | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Nadiya Abdul Halim |
| 2011 - 2014 | Principal Supervisor | Catalytic Hydro-cracking of Bio-oil to Bio-fuel | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Amir Ahmad Forghani |
| 2011 - 2015 | Co-Supervisor | Direct Conversion of Microalgae Biomass to Biocrude with Hydrothermal Liquefaction | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Blessing Elo-Oghene Eboibi |
| 2010 - 2013 | Principal Supervisor | A Sustainable Low-Cost Phytodisinfectant-Sand Filter Alternative for Water Purification | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Kenneth Anchang Yongabi |
| 2010 - 2015 | Principal Supervisor | The anaerobic digestion of halophytic microalgae | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Andrew James Ward |
| 2010 - 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Seawater Systems for Sustainable Development: Evaluation of a Marine Microalgal Strain as Biomass Feedstock for Hypersaline Bioethanol Production | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Quang Cong Doan |
| 2009 - 2013 | Principal Supervisor | Investigation of Algal-microbial Biofilms for Acid Mine Drainage Treatment | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Sanaz Orandi |
| 2009 - 2013 | Co-Supervisor | Downstream processing of marine microalgae for the commercial scale production of biofuels | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Kwong Shui Andrew Lee |
| 2008 - 2009 | Co-Supervisor | Screening and Selection of a Cyanobacteria for Production of Poly-B-Hydroxybutyrate in a Closed Photobioreactor | Master of Engineering Science | Master | Full Time | Mr Michael David Roberts |
| 2008 - 2010 | Principal Supervisor | Culturing and Harvesting Marine Microalgae for the Large-Scale Production of Biodiesel | Master of Engineering Science | Master | Full Time | Mr Suraj Sathe |
| 2008 - 2012 | Co-Supervisor | Predictive Modelling of Eutrophication and Algal Bloom Formation in Tropical Lakes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Mohd Yusoff Ishak |
| 2007 - 2012 | Principal Supervisor | Elucidation and Isolation of Specific Bioactive Compound in Cyanobacteria Isolates | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Chee Kwei |
| 2007 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | AN INVESTIGATION INTO MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF INTEGRATED BIOSYSTEMS FOR OPERATIONAL CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Khalid Shamim |
| 2007 - 2009 | Co-Supervisor | Microbial Flocculation for Large Scale Harvesting of Marine Microalgae for the Production of Biodiesel | Master of Engineering Science | Master | Full Time | Mr Kwong Shui Andrew Lee |
| 2007 - 2008 | Co-Supervisor | Optimisation and Scale-up of a Biotechnological Process for Production of L(+)- Lactic Acid from Waste Potato Starch by Rhizopus arrhizus | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jan Zhang |
| 2007 - 2009 | Co-Supervisor | Physical Characteristics of Pleurochrysis Carterae in Relation to Harvesting Potential for Biodiesel Productions | Master of Engineering Science | Master | Full Time | Ms Marjan Rahbari |
| 2007 - 2011 | Co-Supervisor | Spatial and Temporal Features of Hydrodynamics and Biogeochemistry in Myponga Reservoir, South Australia | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Wai Chan |
| 2006 - 2006 | Principal Supervisor | Adsorption and Biological Filtration of Microcystins | Master of Engineering Science | Master | Full Time | Miss Haixiang Wang |
| 2006 - 2008 | Principal Supervisor | life Cycle Assessment Comparison of Pepfactant and Chemical Surfactant Production | Master of Engineering Science | Master | Full Time | Miss Huai Huang |
| 2006 - 2009 | Principal Supervisor | Phyto-exploration in Arid Subtropical, Arid Mediterranean and Tropical Savanna Environments: Biogeochemical Mechanisms and Implications for Mineral Exploration | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Nathan Reid |
| 2005 - 2008 | Principal Supervisor | Removal of Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol from Drinking Water Through Biologically Active Sand Filters | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Bridget McDowall |
| 2005 - 2008 | Co-Supervisor | Experimental Field Studies and Predictive Modelling of PCB and PCDD/F Levels in Australian Farmed Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Samuel Phua |
| 2004 - 2009 | Principal Supervisor | Isolation and Characterisation of Antimicrobial Compounds Synthesised by Cyanobacteria | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Ms Kyleigh Victory |
| 2003 - 2010 | Principal Supervisor | Heterotrophic Production of the Mircoalgae Cyclotella cryptica; Feed for Aquaculture | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Dr Stephen Pahl |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | Rotary International | Australia |
| 1996 - ongoing | Member | Institute of Chemical Engineers | Australia |
| Date | Engagement Type | Partner Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 - ongoing | Consultant | Southern Oil Refining |