David Lewis

Professor David Lewis

Executive Dean, Faculty of SET

Sciences, Engineering and Technology Faculty Office

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD, but is currently at capacity - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I am an experienced Chartered Chemical Engineer with a strong background in leadership and experience with motivating teams. My industry and academic careers have provided me the opportunity to work in the petroleum, mining, automation, hospitality and defence industries. I am proficient at managing risk and have wide industry knowledge. From 2012 to 2016 I was on leave without pay from the University of Adelaide managing a technology start-up company developing new commercial opportunities focused on production of sustainable oils from hydrothermal liquefaction using renewable feedstocks such as biomass and organic wastes. I continue to consult to the process industry.

As an academic I teach Chemical Engineering undergraduate students and supervise postgraduate students on projects involving process technology R&D with a focus on design and commercialisation, and have international recognition in the biomass processing industry. My academic focus is on leadership, education and mentoring; and improving productivity, quality and safety. I am experienced in developing business opportunities for project executions. I currently serve as the Head of the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials.

The theme of my research is low carbon solutions at the energy-water-environment nexus. Currently my research team is focussing on flow chemistry for hydrothermal liquefaction, in particular developing commercially relevant fully integrated sub-critical water technologies to provide sustainable solutions for managing waste streams and by-products that have significant organic content. This work encompasses fundamental and applied aspects of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and process control. The research aligns with the Petroleum and Municipal Waste Water industries both nationally and internationally.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    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
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1999 - 2003 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    1993 - 1998 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Engineering
  • Certifications

    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 -
  • Research Interests

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

 

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) into Process Design Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Muhammad Yousaf Arshad
    2024 Co-Supervisor New Processes to Recycle Lithium Ion Batteries Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Hassan Imran Masud
    2022 Principal Supervisor Producing High Efficiency Multijunction Photovoltaics for Aerospace Applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jiayuan Pan
    2022 Principal Supervisor Synthesizing highly selective and tuneable wide-bandgap ternary Aluminium-Gallium Oxide (AlxGa1-x)2O3 using Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition (PEALD) with Trimethylaluminum (TMA,AI(CH3)3) and Trimethylgallium (TMG,Ga(CH3)3). Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Yong Cheow Gary Lim
    2022 Co-Supervisor Semiconductor Quantum-dot quantum-light sources Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Declan Jotay Gossink
    2022 Principal Supervisor Production of personalised mRNA vaccines - a process based modelling approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr The Nhut Nguyen
    2021 Principal Supervisor iPhD Project: Upscaling Atomic Layer Etching from the Bench to Full Fabrication Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Xiting Zhou
    2021 Co-Supervisor Design of Semiconductor Based Photo-/Electro-Catalyst Materials for Water Splitting Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sijia Fu
    2021 Co-Supervisor Measure and monitor particle size distributions and grade so as to divert low value waste Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Nazym Baizhiyen
    2020 Co-Supervisor Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Plastic as an Alternative Recycling Method Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Chye Yi Leow
    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
    2018 Co-Supervisor In-situ Solids Separation During Large Scale Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Carbonaceous Feedstocks Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Thomas Brailey Scott
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    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
    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 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Thermochemical Fuel Behaviour of Micro- and Macroalgal Biomass Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Daniel James Lane
    2012 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Investigation into the closed loop systems developed for microalgal biofuels. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Mason Erkelens
    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 - 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
    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
    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
    2009 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Investigation of Algal-microbial Biofilms for Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sanaz Orandi
    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
    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 - 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 Roberts
    2007 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Elucidation and Isolation of Specific Bioactive Compound in Cyanobacteria Isolates Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Chee Kwei
    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
    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 - 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 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 - 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
    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
    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 - 2006 Principal Supervisor Adsorption and Biological Filtration of Microcystins Master of Engineering Science Master Full Time Miss Haixiang Wang
    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
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2017 - ongoing Member Rotary International Australia
    1996 - ongoing Member Institute of Chemical Engineers Australia
  • Industry Partnerships

    Date Engagement Type Partner Name
    2017 - ongoing Consultant Southern Oil Refining
  • Position: Executive Dean, Faculty of SET
  • Phone: 83134700
  • Email: david.lewis@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering North, floor First Floor
  • Room: N119
  • Org Unit: Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

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