Erik Schartner

Dr Erik Schartner

Postdoctoral Researcher

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Erik completed his BSc (Hons) at the University of Adelaide in 2007. From 2008-2011 he completed his PhD under the supervision of Prof Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, and Prof Tanya Monro on a collaborative project with The Defence Science and Technology Organisation on a project entitled "Hydrogen peroxide sensing with microstructured optical fibres: fuel, wine and babies."

Since the completion of his PhD Erik has worked on a range of industrial, medical and biological sensing applications based on the interactions of light with the environment, and methods to obtain information from these interactions. His core interests involve optical fibre fabrication & sensing, fluorescence & Raman spectroscopy, and design of optical systems for field and industrial uses.

Erik's current project is looking at the development of an optical sensor for Asbestos detection, in partnership with Flawless Photonics, funded through The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency and the Australian Government Business Research and Innovation Initiative.

My research looks primarily at optical sensing, focused on industry and commercial applications. 

  • Real-time identification of asbestos. Using Novel Fluorescence we are developing a portable system that can identify asbestos in real-time. This utilises a mix of imaging and morphological feature recognition, as well as multispectral fluorescence sensing. This work is partnered with Flawless Photonics, and the Australian Government Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency.
  • Mineralogical applications of Novel Fluorescence. We are developing a range of devices for potential use in minerals and mining applications. Using Novel Fluorescence, unique emissions are identified in samples and bespoke devices developed that can identify samples.
  • Optical fibre fabrication. Working with either pure fused silica, or with silicate & tellurite soft glasses we are developing new fibres for sensing and power delivery applications. The current focus of this work is on the development of antiresonant hollow-core fibres. Fabrication methods here cover both traditional stacking techniques, as well as the use of extrusion for the development of soft glass fibres. This work is partnered with IRFlex corporation, and Northrup Grumman Australia.
  • Food & beverage spectroscopy. By looking at optical properties of commercially valuable samples such as wine or whisky we are able to determine the provenance and composition of the items, without the need for destructive laboratory analysis methods.
Date Funding Body Project Role Amount
2024 Defence Trailblazer Silica Hollow Core Fibre Fabrication Chief Investigator $150,000
2023 BRII Hand-Portable Real-Time Non-Contact Fluorescence-based Asbestos Sensor Chief-Investigator $999,000
2023 AWRI AWRI Friendship Fund - Identification of Wine Using Raman Spectroscopy Chief Investigator $36,000
2022 Dept Industry, Innovation & Science Innovation Connections (Part 2) Chief Investigator $100,000
2022 Dept Industry, Innovation & Science Innovation Connections (Part 1) Chief Investigator $100,000
2019 NHMRC Developing a novel device to accurately assess fetal distress in labour Chief Investigator $450,000
2017 IPAS Pilot project grant Imaging needles Co-Investigator $10,000
2016 Commercial accelerator scheme (University of Adelaide) Development of a real-time Cancer Cell Detector for achieving clean margins at primary breast cancer surgery Chief Investigator $80,000
2016 IPAS Pilot project grant Hollow-core fibre fabrication Chief Investigator $14,000
2015 JSPS Travel grant 7th HOPE meeting, Tokyo, Japan  Chief Investigator $2,000
2014 IPAS Pilot project grant In vivo fibre sensors Co-Investigator $20,000

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Exploring laser-induced fluorescence of water and aqueous minerals for space applications Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Joshua Grant Rusby

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Mechanical and optical characterisation of glass optical fibres for sensing applications Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Mustaf Bekteshi
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Advanced Preclinical Assessment of Hyper-Nociception Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Azim Arman
    2014 - 2019 Co-Supervisor An optical fibre point temperature sensor for investigation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') induced hyperthermia in the rat brain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Stefan Tyrone Musolino

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2024 - ongoing Member Frontiers in Optics Technical Program Committee 2024 Frontiers In Optics United States
    2023 - 2023 Board Member Frontier in Optics Technical Program Committee 2023 Frontiers in Optics United States
    2022 - 2022 Member Workshop of Speciality Optical Fibres Local Organising Committee WSOF Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2020 - ongoing Editor Fibers University of Adelaide Australia

  • Expert Witness
    Date Case Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Laser Injury University of Adelaide -

  • Offices Held
    Date Office Name Institution Country
    2018 - ongoing Laser Safety Officer University of Adelaide Australia
  • Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Phone: 83132327
  • Email: erik.schartner@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: The Braggs, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Physics
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