Ian Madsen has over 50 years of experience in X-ray analysis, including X-ray fluorescence and both X-ray powder and single-crystal diffraction. He started in CSIRO Minerals since 1969. His expertise include but not limited to:
Accuracy in powder diffraction, especially for QPA. Ian was the organiser and coordinator of a Round Robin on quantitative phase analysis conducted under the sponsorship of IUCr Commission on Powder Diffraction.
Methodology development in quantitative phase analysis and the determination of optimum data collection strategies for the analysis of powder diffraction data with particular reference to Rietveld analysis.
The development of instrumentation and methodology for on-line mineralogical analysis in mineral processing plants. This makes it possible to control the process using mineralogical, rather than chemical information.
In-situ XRD under extreme conditions. Ian’s group in CSIRO Minerals has had long involvement in studies which aim to measure the mineralogical changes taking place under extreme conditions (temperature, pressure, pH etc..) which emulate those found in real industrial processing plants and manufacturing lines.
He is author or joint author of >100 research papers and 9 book chapters including Chapter 3.9 - Quantitative Phase Analysis in the IUCr International Tables for Crystallography, Volume H – Powder Diffraction.
Ian was a long-serving member of (i) the Australian X-ray Analytical Association’s (AXAA) National Council, (ii) the IUCr Commission on Powder Diffraction (CPD) and (iii) advisory panels for powder diffraction beamline instruments at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Australian Synchrotron and the OPAL research reactor.
In February 2008, Ian was the inaugural recipient of the Bob Cheary Award for Excellence in Powder Diffraction at the AXAA national meeting and was made a Life Member of the AXAA in 2015.
Dr Fong is currently a Senior Lecturer & EMCR in the School of Chemistry at Monash University. Dr Fong started her academic career in 2019 as a Lecturer in the Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle. Between this and the award of her PhD (Pharmacy, Monash University 2013), she held postdoctoral fellowships at ETH Zurich, Monash University and the Adolphe Merkle Institute at the University of Fribourg. Since 2019, Dr Fong has been a Director of AusCRS, the Australian chapter of the Controlled Release Society and is the current VP. She is currently on the Program Advisory Committee for the SAXS/BSX at the Australian Synchrotron.
Her research has developed both analytical and computational tools to investigate and control the bio-nano interface to create on-demand lipidic nanomedicines and diagnostic tools for enhanced treatment outcomes. Beyond drug delivery, she leads projects related to environmental microplastics, developing innovations in analytical chemistry to highlight the impact of microplastics on marine and human health. Notably, Dr Fong demonstrates an excellent capability in exploiting advanced analytical technologies into innovative solutions for complex physicochemical and environmental challenges.
Dr Fong has participated in many engagement activities including as a presenter at “An Evening with 500 Queer Scientists” as part of World Pride, Sydney (2023), highlighting her passion for enabling EDI activities. She has been interviewed by SBS World News (2024) and ABC Radio National (2022) for her research in microplastics
Dr Denis Korneev is currently working at Monash University (Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-EM) in Melbourne. He is a specialist in electron microscopy, including FIB-SEM and correlative methods for light microscopy and micro-CT. Denis received his PhD in biophysics from Moscow State University in 2017, then he moved to Australia to work in development of new techniques and protocols in microscopy, including applications of plasma-FIB-SEM and advanced volume data analysis.
Dr Billy James Murdoch received his PhD in Physics at RMIT University in 2016. He has previously worked as a Research Associate at the National EPSRC XPS Users Service (NEXUS) at Newcastle University, UK and postdoctoral research fellow at RMIT University. He is currently a Senior Technical Officer in the RMIT Microscopy & Microanalysis Facility. His areas of expertise are electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vacuum thin film deposition & neuromorphic computing.