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.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2023 - ongoing Externally-Funded Research Fellow (C) University of Adelaide 2021 - 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Adelaide 2019 - ongoing Co-CEO HT Sensing 2016 - 2022 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2015 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2012 - 2015 Postdoctoral Researcher, ARC Linkage Grant The University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2017 Award IPAS Best transdisciplinary paper award The University of Adelaide Australia - 2014 Invitation Invitation to attend 7th HOPE meeting, Tokyo, Japan Australian Academy of Sciences Australia - 2012 Distinction Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence The University of Adelaide Australia - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2008 - 2012 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2003 - 2007 The University of Adelaide Australia B.Sc. (Hons, 1st class) -
Research Interests
Classical and Physical Optics Lasers and Quantum Electronics Machine learning Medical biotechnology diagnostics (incl. biosensors) Nonlinear Optics and Spectroscopy Optical Technology Photodetectors, Optical Sensors and Solar Cells Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Photonics and Electro-Optical Engineering
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Journals
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Conference Papers
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Conference Items
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Preprint
Year Citation 2023 Morizet, J., Chow, D., Wijesinghe, P., Schartner, E., Dwapanyin, G., Dubost, N., . . . Dholakia, K. (2023). UVA hyperspectral light-sheet microscopy for volumetric metabolic imaging: application to pre-implantation embryo development.
DOI2023 Smith, D. L., Nguyen, L. V., Reja, M. I., Schartner, E. P., Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H., Ottaway, D. J., & Warren-Smith, S. C. (2023). Harnessing the power of complex light propagation in multimode fibers
for spatially resolved sensing.2023 Lee, K. J., Trowbridge, A. C., Bruce, G. D., Dwapanyin, G. O., Dunning, K. R., Dholakia, K., & Schartner, E. P. (2023). Learning algorithms for identification of whisky using portable Raman spectroscopy..
| Date | Funding Body | Project | Role | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ARC LIEF | Micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) Facility for unique materials identification | Chief Investigator | $589,000 |
| 2024 | ARC Linkage | Real-time detection of Asbestos in the field | Chief Investigator | $675,000 |
| 2024 | Aust Govt - Critical Technologies Challenge Program | Quantum Optical Sensing for On-site Detection of Rare-Earth Elements | Chief Investigator | $491,000 |
| 2024 | Defence Trailblazer | Advanced Innovation fund: Novel Fluorescence | Chief Investigator | $2,029,000 |
| 2024 | Defence Trailblazer | Advanced Innovation fund: 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 | ARC Linkage | Ultra-low-loss fluoride glass optical fibres for the future global network | Chief Investigator | $898,000 |
| 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 |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Co-Supervisor Novel Fluorescence of heavy minerals for terrestrial and space applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate 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
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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
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