Katharina Richter

Research Interests

Antimicrobial Resistance Biophotonics Clinical Microbiology Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Food Packaging, Preservation and Safety Infectious Diseases Medical Bacteriology Microbiology Microscopy Nanotoxicology, Health and Safety Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Veterinary Microbiology

APrf Katharina Richter

Internal Grant-Funded Researcher D

Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing

Division of Research and Innovation

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Associate Professor Katharina Richter is a biomedical researcher with global work stints in Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands and Australia. A trained pharmacist she completed her PhD in medicine/applied microbiology in 2017 and founded her own research group in 2019 at the University of Adelaide.Katharina has won numerous awards for excellence in science, innovation and science communication, including Innovator Under 35 Asia-Pacific, SA Science Excellence Award for PhD Researcher of the Year, SA Young Tall Poppy Science Award, Women in Innovation Award and many more.Superbugs, or antibiotic-resistant bacteria, pose one of the greatest threats to human health worldwide, causing over 1.3 million deaths every year. Bacteria naturally reside in biofilms as complex communities encased in a self-assembled slime. This lifestyle protects bacteria from medical therapies and promotes resistance contributing to therapeutic failure and exacerbation. The rise of superbugs stresses the need for novel treatments.The Richter Lab is dedicated to improve medical therapies, changing the lives of patients suffering from superbug infections, such as surgical site infections, non-healing wounds and implant infections.We furthermore collaborate with veterinary scientists to innovate industry decontamination processes for better animal wellbeing and safer, more sustainable food production.Our research focus is on i) developing effective treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and translating them from the lab to real-life applications, and ii) improving health literacy of the society by effective science communication through public speaking, science outreach activities and STEM workshops at schools.We collaborate widely in multidisciplinary teams of scientists, clinicians and industry partners to ensure a real-world impact of our work.Available projects for HDR, Honours and 3rd Year students include:-advanced drug delivery platforms for Golden Staph infections-plasma-activated water as an effective, eco-friendly sanitiser for clinical use and food safety-innovative sterilisation using UVC light-cannabinoid derivatives as antibiofilm treatment

Deadly Slime- A choose-your-own-adventure animated experience

Dive into the slimy world of supervillain superbugs in Deadly Slime - A choose-your-own-adventure animated experience.

Dr Katharina Richter and Animate Your Science turned the true story of a flesh-eating superbug-infection into an interactive adventure, promoting health education and life-saving research from the University of Adelaide.

This free, “learning by playing” experience offered science by stealth and was followed by a webinar explaining the science behind the scenes, improving health literacy of the general public.

2018 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Howard Florey and we’re proud to say his journey in health began at the University of Adelaide. His discovery of penicillin has saved over 200 million lives, and is considered one of the greatest medical advances of all time.

Today, Howard Florey's legacy continues to inspire our present generation of leaders in medical research, like Dr Katharina Richter who develops novel antibacterial treatments to halt the global rise of ‘superbugs’.

Public speaker and organiser of science outreach events, such as the Pint of Science festival.

Channel 9 interview of Dr Katharina Richter and Dr Tullio Rossi from Animate Your Science.

Toxic snack kills superbugs!! Featured in the kids' TV show Scope, season 4, episode 57, In Case of Emergency.

Channel 9 News footage

ABC News story

South Australia-coordinator of the Pint of Science festival

Researcher at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Future Making Fellow University of Adelaide
2020 - 2021 NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Fellow Ghent University
2019 - ongoing Head of Richter Lab University of Adelaide
2019 - 2022 NHMRC Early Career Fellow University of Adelaide
2018 - 2018 Beacon of Light Early Career Fellow University of Adelaide
2017 - 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide, Adelaide
2017 - 2017 Postdoctoral Researcher (casual) University of South Australia, Adelaide
2015 - 2021 South Australia coordinator of the Pint of Science Festival Pint of Science (non-profit organisation)

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2025 Award Top 40 Under 40, 2025 InDaily, Solstice Media Australia -
2025 Award Discovery Award 2025 InDaily, Solstice Media, CMAX Australia -
2023 Award Women in MedTech Champion Award Medical Technology Association of Australia Australia -
2023 Achievement Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, category Frank Fenner Life Scientist of the Year, Finalist Australian Government Australia -
2023 Award International travel grant The Hospital Research Foundation Australia 2500
2023 Award Travel Grant Australian Society for Antimicrobials Australia 2500
2023 Award Best Research Paper Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide Australia 500
2022 Award University Award for Outstanding Achievement: Early Career Excellence in Research University of Adelaide Australia 5000
2022 Achievement Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, category New Innovator, Finalist Australian Government Australia -
2022 Award Best Research Paper Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide Australia 500
2022 Achievement Eureka Award for Emerging Leader in Science, Runner-up Australian Museum Australia -
2022 Achievement L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship finalist (top 10) L'Oréal-UNESCO Australia -
2022 Award Best Research Paper Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide Australia 500
2022 Award School Communicator Award (Outreach Award) Healthy Development Adelaide Australia 3000
2021 Award Best Oral Presentation Australian Society for Medical Research Australia -
2021 Achievement L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship finalist (top 10) L'Oréal-UNESCO Australia -
2021 Achievement Woman of the Year Awards finalist (top 5), category Innovator The Advertiser-Sunday Mail Australia -
2021 Award Best Science Outreach Award Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide Australia 700
2020 Award Jim Pittard Award (Early Career Researcher of the year) Australian Society for Microbiology Australia 1000
2020 Award Best Science Outreach Award Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide Australia 500
2019 Award Engagement Prize 2019 BLiSS Adelaide symposium Australia -
2019 Award Winnovation award in Science Women in Innovation Australia Australia -
2019 Award Innovator Under 35 (Asia Pacific) MIT Technology Review Asia Pacific Singapore -
2018 Award Early Career Researcher of the Year Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide Australia -
2018 Award SA Science Excellence Award for PhD Research Excellence University of Adelaide Australia 10000
2018 Award Tall Poppy Award (Best Science and Science Outreach Award) Australian Institute of Policy and Science Australia -
2018 Award Ross Wishart Memorial Award Australian Society for Medical Research Australia 1000
2018 Award Global Innovation Award TechConnect Corporate & Investment Partner World United States -
2018 Award Winner Delegates' Choice Award in the Pitch it Clever Competition Universities Australia Australia 1500
2018 Invitation Conference Attendance Grant Universities Australia Australia 2500
2017 Achievement Winner of Fresh Science SA (Best ECR Science Communicator) Science in Public Australia -
2017 Distinction Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence University of Adelaide Australia -
2017 Award Conference Attendance Grant European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Netherlands 1000
2017 Award Research Travel Award Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide Australia 1000
2017 Achievement Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year Award 2017 - Australia -
2016 Award People’s Choice Winner of the 3 Minute Thesis Competition - Australia 1000
2016 Scholarship Trevor Prescott Memorial Scholarship Freemasons Foundation Australia 6000
2016 Award Northern Communities Health Foundation Award - Australia 500
2016 Award Winner Best 3 Minute Thesis Presentation Australian Society for Microbiology Australia 100
2016 Award International Research Travel Award Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide Australia 3000
2016 Award Conference Attendance Grant European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Belgium 500
2016 Award Student Award Australian Society for Microbiology Australia 1000
2016 Scholarship The Hospital Research Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship The Hospital Research Foundation Australia 13500
2016 Achievement Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year Award 2016 - Australia -
2016 Scholarship Research Abroad Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia 2500
2015 Award Winner Best Lay Description The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Day Australia 300
2015 Fellowship D R Stranks Travelling Fellowship University of Adelaide Australia 2500
2015 Award International Travel Award The Hospital Research Foundation Australia 2500
2015 Scholarship Bertha Sudholz Research Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia 5000
2014 Award Winner Best Oral Presentation The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Day Australia 1000
2014 Scholarship The Hospital Research Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship The Hospital Research Foundation Australia 13000
2011 Distinction First Class Honours University of Otago New Zealand -
2010 Award International Travel Award Bavarian State Government/Pharmacy Guild Germany 2500

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
French Can read, write, speak and understand spoken
German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
Italian Can read and understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
2014 - 2017 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy (with distinction), PhD in Medical Sciences
2011 University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Germany Master of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
2011 University of Otago New Zealand First Class Honours in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Year Citation
2025 Abdo, A. I., Nguyen, H. T., Kaul, L. D., Schmitt-John, T., Kopecki, Z., Ogunniyi, A. D., & Richter, K. (2025). Plasma-activated water accelerates wound healing and reduces Staphylococcus aureus infection in vivo. Biofilm, 10(100308), 100308.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2024 Kolbe, B. H., Coad, B., & Richter, K. (2024). Plasma-activated water’s potential contribution to ‘One Health’. Microbiology Australia, 45(2), 83-87.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2024 Zelmer, A. R., Yang, D., Gunn, N. J., Solomon, L. B., Nelson, R., Kidd, S. P., . . . Atkins, G. J. (2024). Osteomyelitis-relevant antibiotics at clinical concentrations show limited effectivity against acute and chronic intracellular S. aureus infections in osteocytes. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 68(10), 0080824-1-0080824-14.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC6
2023 Zelmer, A., Starczak, Y., Solomon, L., Richter, K., Yang, D., & Atkins, G. (2023). Culture of Saos-2 cells under hypoxic conditions stimulates rapid differentiation to an osteocyte-like stage.
DOI
2023 Kaul, L., Abdo, A. I., Coenye, T., Swift, S., Zannettino, A., Süss, R., & Richter, K. (2023). In vitro and in vivo evaluation of diethyldithiocarbamate with copper ions and its liposomal formulation for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. Biofilms, 5, 100130-1-100130-10.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2023 Abdo, A., McWhorter, A., Hasse, D., Schmitt-John, T., & Richter, K. (2023). Efficacy of Plasma-Treated Water against Salmonella Typhimurium: Antibacterial Activity, Inhibition of Invasion, and Biofilm Disruption. Antibiotics, 12(9), 1371-1-1371-13.
DOI Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC2
2023 Zelmer, A. R., Starczak, Y., Solomon, L. B., Richter, K., Yang, D., & Atkins, G. J. (2023). Saos-2 cells cultured under hypoxia rapidly differentiate to an osteocyte-like stage and support intracellular infection by Staphylococcus aureus.. Physiol Rep, 11(21), e15851-1-e15851-12.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC4
2022 Kaul, L., Grundmann, C. E., Köll-Weber, M., Löffler, H., Weiz, A., Zannettino, A. C. W., . . . Süss, R. (2022). A Thermosensitive, Chitosan-Based Hydrogel as Delivery System for Antibacterial Liposomes to Surgical Site Infections. Pharmaceutics, 14(12), 2841.
DOI Scopus5 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2022 Patiniott, P., Jacombs, A., Kaul, L., Hu, H., Warner, M., Klosterhalfen, B., . . . Richter, K. (2022). Are late hernia mesh complications linked to Staphylococci biofilms?. Hernia, 26(5), 1293-1299.
DOI Scopus10 WoS11 Europe PMC7
2022 Zelmer, A. R., Nelson, R., Richter, K., & Atkins, G. J. (2022). Can intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in osteomyelitis be treated using current antibiotics? A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Bone Research, 10(53), 1-18.
DOI Scopus73 WoS70 Europe PMC59
2022 Kaul, L., Abdo, A. I., Coenye, T., Krom, B. P., Hoogenkamp, M. A., Zannettino, A. C. W., . . . Richter, K. (2022). The combination of diethyldithiocarbamate and copper ions is active against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms in vitro and in vivo. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 1-15.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC12
2021 Kaul, L., Süss, R., Zannettino, A., & Richter, K. (2021). The revival of dithiocarbamates – from pesticides to innovative medical treatments. iScience, 24(2), 102092-1-102092-14.
DOI Scopus69 WoS71 Europe PMC31
2021 Frkic, R. L., Richter, K., & Bruning, J. B. (2021). The therapeutic potential of inhibiting PPARγ phosphorylation to treat type 2 diabetes.. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 297(3), 101030-1-101030-9.
DOI Scopus56 WoS52 Europe PMC37
2020 Vediappan, R. S., Mascarenhas, A., Nguyen-Hoang, A., Fong, S. A., Jukes, A., Richter, K., . . . Wormald, P. (2020). Prevention of peridural adhesions in spinal surgery: assessing safety and efficacy of Chitogel with Deferiprone in a sheep model. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 72, 378-385.
DOI Scopus13 WoS12 Europe PMC9
2020 Rossi, T., Slattery, F., & Richter, K. (2020). The evolution of the scientific poster: From eye-sore to eye-catcher. Medical Writing, 29(1), 36-41.
Scopus1
2020 Coenye, T., Kjellerup, B., Stoodley, P., Bjarnsholt, T., Richter, K., & The 2019 Biofilm Bash Participants. (2020). The future of biofilm research – Report on the ‘2019 Biofilm Bash’. Biofilm, 2, 100012-1-100012-11.
DOI WoS40 Europe PMC30
2020 Jacombs, A. S. W., Karatassas, A., Klosterhalfen, B., Richter, K., Patiniott, P., & Hensman, C. (2020). Biofilms and effective porosity of hernia mesh: are they silent assassins?. Hernia, 24(1), 197-204.
DOI Scopus22 WoS22 Europe PMC13
2019 Richter, K. (2019). Tackling superbugs in their slime castles: innovative approaches against antimicrobial-resistant biofilm infections. Microbiology Australia, 40(4), 165-168.
DOI Scopus5 WoS3
2019 Cherian, L. M., Cooksley, C., Richter, K., Ramezanpour, M., Paramasivan, S., Wormald, P. J., . . . Psaltis, A. J. (2019). Effect of commercial nasal steroid preparation on bacterial growth. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 9(7), 766-775.
DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC7
2018 Zhang, G., Zhao, Y., Paramasivan, S., Richter, K., Morales, S., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2018). Bacteriophage effectively kills multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates from chronic rhinosinusitis patients. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 8(3), 406-414.
DOI Scopus42 WoS37 Europe PMC31
2018 Kong, C., Chee, C. -F., Richter, K., Thomas, N., Abd Rahman, N., & Nathan, S. (2018). Suppression of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and virulence by a benzimidazole derivative, UM-C162. Scientific reports, 8(1), 2758-1-2758-16.
DOI Scopus115 WoS107 Europe PMC79
2018 Ooi, M., Richter, K., Bennett, C., Macias-Valle, L., Vreugde, S., Psaltis, A., & Wormald, P. (2018). Topical colloidal silver for the treatment of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9(article no. 720), 1-7.
DOI Scopus22 WoS20 Europe PMC15
2018 Ooi, M., Richter, K., Drilling, A., Thomas, N., Prestidge, C. A., James, C., . . . Wormald, P. J. (2018). Safety and efficacy of topical chitogel- deferiprone- gallium protoporphyrin in a sheep sinusitis model. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9(917), 1-9.
DOI Scopus17 WoS16 Europe PMC12
2018 Richter, K., & Thomas, N. (2018). Science in the Eye of the Beer-Holder—How To Put On an Effective Pint of Science: The Adelaide Experience. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 19(1), 1-3.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2017 Richter, K., Van Den Driessche, F., & Coenye, T. (2017). Innovative approaches to treat Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-related infections. Essays in Biochemistry, 61(1), 61-70.
DOI Scopus39 WoS34 Europe PMC22
2017 Richter, K., Thomas, N., Claeys, J., McGuane, J., Prestidge, C., Coenye, T., . . . Vreugde, S. (2017). A topical hydrogel with deferiprone and gallium-protoporphyrin targets bacterial iron metabolism and has antibiofilm activity. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 61(6), e00481-17-1-e00481-17-11.
DOI Scopus71 WoS68 Europe PMC51
2017 Richter, K., Facal, P., Thomas, N., Vandecandelaere, I., Ramezanpour, M., Cooksley, C., . . . Vreugde, S. (2017). Taking the silver bullet colloidal silver particles for the topical treatment of biofilm-related infections. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 9(26), 21631-21638.
DOI Scopus49 WoS45 Europe PMC32
2017 Richter, K., Thomas, N., Zhang, G., Prestidge, C., Coenye, T., Wormald, P. -J., & Vreugde, S. (2017). Deferiprone and gallium-protoporphyrin have the capacity to potentiate the activity of antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 7(JUN), 280-1-280-10.
DOI Scopus57 WoS48 Europe PMC37
2017 Chan, C., Richter, K., Wormald, P., Psaltis, A., & Vreugde, S. (2017). Alloiococcus otitidis forms multispecies biofilm with Haemophilus influenzae: effects on antibiotic susceptibility and Growth in Adverse Conditions. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 7(AUG), 344-1-344-9.
DOI Scopus25 WoS18 Europe PMC16
2016 Richter, K., Ramezanpour, M., Thomas, N., Prestidge, C. A., Wormald, P. J., & Vreugde, S. (2016). Mind “De GaPP”: in vitro efficacy of deferiprone and gallium-protoporphyrin against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 6(7), 737-743.
DOI Scopus45 WoS41 Europe PMC37
2016 Thomas, N., Thorn, C., Richter, K., Thierry, B., & Prestidge, C. (2016). Efficacy of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid micro- and nanoparticles of ciprofloxacin against bacterial biofilms. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 105(10), 3115-3122.
DOI Scopus48 WoS46 Europe PMC33
2015 Thomas, N., Dong, D., Richter, K., Ramezanpour, M., Vreugde, S., Thierry, B., . . . Prestidge, C. (2015). Quatsomes for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 3(14), 2770-2777.
DOI Scopus30 WoS28 Europe PMC17
2015 Rao, S., Richter, K., Nguyen, T., Boyd, B., Porter, C., Tan, A., & Prestidge, C. (2015). Pluronic-functionalized silica-lipid hybrid microparticles: improving the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble weak bases. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 12(12), 4424-4433.
DOI Scopus32 WoS30 Europe PMC21
2014 Thomas, N., Richter, K., Pedersen, T., Holm, R., Müllertz, A., & Rades, T. (2014). In vitro lipolysis data does not adequately predict the in vivo performance of lipid-based drug delivery systems containing fenofibrate. AAPS Journal, 16(3), 539-549.
DOI Scopus104 WoS103 Europe PMC78

Year Citation
2022 Richter, K., & Kragh, K. N. (Eds.) (2022). Antibiofilm Strategies: Current and Future Applications to Prevent, Control and Eradicate Biofilms (Vol. 11). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
DOI
2022 Richter, K., & Kragh, K. N. (Eds.) (2022). Antibiofilm Strategies: Current and Future Applications to Prevent, Control and Eradicate Biofilms (Vol. 11). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
DOI

Year Citation
2023 Panchatcharam, B. S., & Richter, K. (2023). Susceptibility Testing for the Determination of Biofilm Associated Resistance. In Biofilm Associated Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Recovery (pp. 33-48). CRC Press.
DOI
2022 Abdo, A., Schmitt-John, T., & Richter, K. (2022). Cold Plasma Therapy as a Physical Antibiofilm Approach. In K. Richter, & K. Kragh (Eds.), Antibiofilm Strategies (Vol. 11, pp. 225-261). Springer Nature.
DOI
2022 Abdo, A., Schmitt-John, T., & Richter, K. (2022). Cold Plasma Therapy as a Physical Antibiofilm Approach. In K. Richter, & K. Kragh (Eds.), Antibiofilm Strategies (Vol. 11, pp. 225-261). Springer Nature.
DOI
2022 Kragh, K., & Richter, K. (2022). Biofilms 101. In K. Richter, & K. Kragh (Eds.), Antibiofilm Strategies (Vol. 11, pp. 3-15). Springer Nature.
DOI
2022 Kragh, K., & Richter, K. (2022). Biofilms 101. In K. Richter, & K. Kragh (Eds.), Antibiofilm Strategies (Vol. 11, pp. 3-15). Springer Nature.
DOI
2022 Facal Marina, P., Kaul, L., Mischer, N., & Richter, K. (2022). Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Biofilm Treatment and Infection Control: From Basic Research to Clinical Translation. In K. Richter, & K. Kragh (Eds.), Antibiofilm Strategies (Vol. 11, pp. 467-500). Springer Nature.
DOI
2022 Facal Marina, P., Kaul, L., Mischer, N., & Richter, K. (2022). Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Biofilm Treatment and Infection Control: From Basic Research to Clinical Translation. In K. Richter, & K. Kragh (Eds.), Antibiofilm Strategies (Vol. 11, pp. 467-500). Springer Nature.
DOI

Year Citation
2023 Zelmer, A., Yang, D., Gunn, N., Solomon, B., Nelson, R., Kidd, S., . . . Atkins, G. (2023). Antibiotics at Clinical Concentrations Show Limited Effectivity Against Acute and Chronic Intracellular<i>S. aureus</i>Infections in Osteocytes.
DOI
  • Chief investigator A (CIA) of NHMRC Ideas Grant, $ 1,000,000 (2021-2025)
  • CIA on MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers initiative, $ 760,000 (2023-2025)
  • CIA of NHMRC CJ Martin Early Career Fellowship, $ 420,000 (2019-2022)
  • CIA of The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) research grant, $ 240,000 (2019-2022)
  • CIA of Research Grant/European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Switzerland, $ 32,000 (2022-2023)
  • CIA of Research Grant/Academic Consortium 21, Japan, $ 21,000 (2022-2023)
  • CIA of community grant/Inspiring Australia, $ 2,500 (2021)
  • CIA of research grant/THRF, $ 130,000 (2020-2021)
  • CIA of community grant/Inspiring Australia, $ 5,000 (2020)
  • CIA of patent support/Adelaide Innovation & Commercialisation, $ 6,000 (2020)
  • CIA of Beacon of Light Fellowship/University of Adelaide, $ 120,000 (2018)
  • CIA of research grant/THRF, $ 25,000 (2018)
  • CIA of global engagement grant/University of Adelaide, $ 3,800 (2018)
  • CIA of externally funded PhD scholarship, $ 80,000 (2014-2017)
  • CIC of Commercial Accelerator Grant/Adelaide Innovation & Commercialisation, $ 60,000; co-funding by THRF, $ 60,000; in-kinds by industry partner Chitogel, $ 40,000 (2018)
  • CIC of equipment grant/University of Adelaide, $ 98,000 (2018)
  • CIC of equipment grant/Sansom Institute, $ 12,000 (2018)
  • Co-investigator (CoI) of Catalyst Fund/UniSA Ventures, $ 75,000 (2017-2018)
  • CoI of patent support/UniSA Ventures, $ 6,000 (2017)
  • Associate investigator (AI) of Research Infrastructure Fund/TechInSA, $ 37,500 (2017)
  • AI of research grant/China-Australia Centre for Health Research, $ 10,000 (2017)
  • 9 travel grants, total $ 26,500

2022

  • Guest lecturer for the German Day Out, University of Adelaide for Year 10-12 students from various Adelaide high schools
  • Guest lecturer for undergraduate students at The University of Adelaide, Infection and Immunity 3rd year course

2021

  • Guest lecturer for undergraduate students at Gent University/Belgium, Philosophy, methodology and integrity in pharmaceutical research

2020

  • Guest lecturer for undergraduate students at Gent University/Belgium, Philosophy, methodology and integrity in pharmaceutical research

2019

  • Guest lecturer for the German Day Out, University of Adelaide for Year 10-12 students from various Adelaide high schools
  • Guest lecturer for undergraduate students at The University of Adelaide, Winter School course Communicating Science
  • Supervisor & demonstrator for undergraduate students at The University of Adelaide, 3rd year research placement course (Adelaide Medical School)

2018

  • Supervisor & demonstrator for undergraduate students at The University of Adelaide, 3rd year research placement course (Adelaide Medical School)

2017

  • Guest lecturer for undergraduate students at The University of Adelaide, Infection and Immunity 3rd year course

2016

  • Guest lecturer for undergraduate students at The University of Adelaide, Infection and Immunity 3rd year course

2014

  • Demonstrator for undergraduate students at the University of South Australia, Physical Pharmacy 2nd year course 

2010

  • Tutor for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry at the University of Otago, New Zealand

2007-2009

  • Tutor for Chemical Nomenclature at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Date Course Title Institution Course Level/ Code URL
         
         
         

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Principal Supervisor Nebulised plasma-activated water as an antimicrobial treatment of foodborne and clinical pathogens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Shizuku Inomata
2025 Principal Supervisor Defying Gravity: Cold Plasma Technology to Defeat Superbugs in Microgravity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Georgina Monica Neville
2025 Principal Supervisor Nebulised plasma-activated water as an antimicrobial treatment of foodborne and clinical pathogens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Shizuku Inomata
2025 Principal Supervisor Defying Gravity: Cold Plasma Technology to Defeat Superbugs in Microgravity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Georgina Monica Neville
2024 Principal Supervisor Cold plasma technology for antibiotic-free treatment of multidrug resistant pathogens and biofilms in diabetic wounds Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Angela Boahen
2024 Principal Supervisor CSI Superbugs: Unveiling unique fingerprints of antibiotic-resistant microbes through light Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Harriet Jane Cooling
2024 Principal Supervisor CSI Superbugs: Unveiling unique fingerprints of antibiotic-resistant microbes through light Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Harriet Jane Cooling
2024 Principal Supervisor Cold plasma technology for antibiotic-free treatment of multidrug resistant pathogens and biofilms in diabetic wounds Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Angela Boahen
2023 Principal Supervisor Plasma-activated water as a novel disinfectant against foodborne bacteria Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bjoern Hendrik Kolbe
2023 Principal Supervisor Plasma-activated water as a novel disinfectant against foodborne bacteria Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bjoern Hendrik Kolbe

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2022 - 2025 Co-Supervisor The bioactivity of cannabis phytochemicals for antimicrobial activity, gastrointestinal and urological protection Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Luke Thomas Wooley
2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Mechanisms of Persistence, Reactivation and Eradication of Staphylococci in Orthopaedic Infections Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Anja Ruth Zelmer
2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor A Novel Antibiofilm Treatment for Surgical Site Infections Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Mrs Laurine Dorothea Kaul
2019 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Understanding PPARg-Ligand Interactions to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rebecca Louise Frkic

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2024 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Cold plasma technology to fight multispecies biofilms University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Georgina Neville
2024 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Cold plasma technology effect on protein expression University of Adelaide Summer School Research Project Other - Stefany Limanto
2023 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Antimicrobial Efficacy and Non-Toxicity of a Far-UVC Laser University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Harriet Cooling
2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Safety of novel hernia mesh materials University of Adelaide Summer School Research Project Other - Filbert Christone
2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Synergy of antibiotics with cold-plasma technology University of Adelaide Summer School Research Project Other - Janette Maharani
2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Cold-plasma technology to treat foodborne pathogens University of Adelaide - Postdoctorate Full Time Dr Hang Thi Nguyen
2021 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Cold-plasma technology to fight antimicrobial resistant bacteria and fungi University of Adelaide - Postdoctorate Full Time Dr Adrian Abdo
2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Plasma-activated surgical meshes to prevent bacterial infections University of Freiburg German Diploma in Pharmacy Honours Full Time Elena Leist
2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Metal-based nanoparticles for biofilm treatment and infection control University of Freiburg - Honours - Nils Mischer
2020 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Advanced mesh materials to prevent biofilm infections University of Adelaide - Postdoctorate Full Time Dr Paula Facal Marina
2019 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Novel strategies against biofilms University of Adelaide Summer School Research Project Other Full Time Kiera Lowe
2019 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Disrupting bacterial water channels to prevent S. aureus biofilm formation University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Zein Amro
2018 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Novel treatment for invasive infections The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Ashley Twigger
2017 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Boosting antibiotic activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria The University of Adelaide Summer Vacation Research Projects Other Full Time Emily Hammond
2017 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Boosting antibiotic activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria The University of Adelaide Summer Vacation Research Projects Other Full Time Lauren Footner

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2025 - ongoing Board Member Biofilm Special Interest Group Australian Society for Microbiology Australia
2023 - ongoing Board Member Research Leadership Committee Adelaide Medical School Research Committee, University of Adelaide Australia
2023 - ongoing Chair Conference organising committee of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Australian Society for Microbiology Australian Society for Microbiology Australia
2023 - 2024 Member Investigator Grants Peer Review Working Committee NHMRC Australia
2023 - 2023 Member Ideas Grants Peer Review Working Committee NHMRC Australia
2023 - 2023 Board Member Organising committee of the 2023 SA Antimicrobial Resistance Summit University of Adelaide Australia
2022 - 2022 Member Ideas Grants Peer Review Working Committee NHMRC Australia
2021 - 2021 Member Ideas Grants Peer Review Working Committee NHMRC Australia
2021 - ongoing Board Member Scientific Leadership Committee Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide Australia
2019 - 2020 Board Member Faculty Research Committee Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide Australia
2018 - ongoing Co-Chair Australian Society for Microbiology, SA/NT Branch University of Adelaide Australia
2018 - ongoing Chair Faculty Seminar Series Organising Committee University of Adelaide Australia
2017 - ongoing Board Member Organising committee of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association Australia
2017 - ongoing Co-Chair Organising committee of the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Australian Society for Microbiology Australian Society for Microbiology Australia
2016 - ongoing Board Member Australian Society for Microbiology, SA/NT Branch - Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2025 - ongoing Member Public Communication of Science and Technology Network Australia
2021 - ongoing Member Healthy Development Adelaide Australia
2017 - ongoing Member Australian Society of Antimicrobials Australia
2015 - ongoing Member European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Switzerland
2015 - ongoing Member American Society for Microbiology United States
2014 - ongoing Member American Rhinologic Society -
2014 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Microbiology Australia
2010 - ongoing Member German Pharmaceutical Society Germany

Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
2020 - ongoing Educational game designer & Public speaker Public Community Engagement National Science Week event "Deadly Slime" Australia
2020 - ongoing TV Role model for science Public Community Engagement Hard Quiz on ABC (Series 5, Episode 17) Australia
2018 - ongoing Presenter for an episode of Network 10’s children’s science show Scope Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2018 - ongoing Newsletter article in The Hospital Research Foundation Newsletter Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2018 - ongoing Nationwide TV footage on Channel 9 News Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2017 - ongoing Newsletter article in The Hospital Research Foundation Newsletter Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2017 - ongoing Invited public speaker at a fund-raising event by The Hospital Research Foundation Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2016 - ongoing Outreach article published in Lumen, the University of Adelaide Alumni Magazine Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2016 - ongoing Author of a popular science article in Australasian Science Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2016 - ongoing Invited public speaker at the University of the Third Age Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2015 - ongoing Nationwide TV footage on Channel 9 News Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2015 - ongoing South Australia-coordinator and team leader of the Pint of Science Festival Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
2015 - ongoing Newsletter article in The Hospital Research Foundation Newsletter Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia

Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
2021 - 2022 Editor-In-chief Springer Nature Book "Antibiofilm Strategies" Springer Nature Germany
2018 - ongoing Editor Microbiology Australia University of Adelaide Australia
2018 - ongoing Editor Sinusitis University of Adelaide Australia

Date Engagement Type Partner Name
2023 - 2023 Research Contract Three Peaks Medical, Australia
2019 - ongoing Research Contract Plasmatreat GmbH, Germany
2018 - 2020 Collaboration PreviPharma, Germany

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