Professor Andrew White, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj, Professor Max Lu, Professor David Craik and Professor Matthew Brown
Professor Andrew White, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj, Professor Max Lu, Professor David Craik and Professor Matthew Brown
27 March 2013

The University of Queensland’s place as a global research leader has been highlighted with today’s announcement that five UQ scientists are among 20 new Australian Academy of Science Fellows for 2013.

The prestigious fellowships were announced in Sydney this morning, honouring a select group of Australian scientists for their outstanding contributions to science.

The UQ fellows are Professor Matthew Brown, Professor David Craik, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Professor Max Lu and Professor Andrew White.

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj congratulated the five, who he said were part of the backbone of UQ’s outstanding research culture.

“These scientists reflect a diversity of research interests, but one thing they have in common is a passion to deliver results that will benefit individuals and society,” Professor Høj said.

“The fact that UQ can contribute five new fellows in one year is a sign of the amazing depth of talent at UQ, and shows our researchers’ capacity to make inroads into an array of local, national and global challenges.

“Our latest fellows reflect a breadth of science disciplines across the University, from mapping the genes that cause arthritis, to important discoveries in structural biology and discoveries in coral bleaching that have directly influenced global policy.

“They have significant strengths in individual areas and, together, they represent a powerful research force across the University.”

Such scientific strengths continue to ensure UQ’s consistent appearance in the top 100 of the world’s key university rankings.

The five new Fellows join an existing group of 19 UQ scientists admitted to the Australian Academy of Science as Fellows since 1988 and brings to 95 the total number of UQ academics who are members of one of Australia’s four prestigious learned academies.

The Australian Academy of Science comprises Australia’s leading research scientists.

Its roles include recognising and supporting research excellence, advising government, sponsoring scientific conferences, publishing scientific books and journals, fostering international scientific relations and promoting science education and public awareness of science and technology. Fellows are elected by academy members.

The Australian Academy of Science is largely modeled on the Royal Society in London and was founded as a scientific body independent to the government.

Below is a summary of the new Fellows from UQ:

Professor Matthew Arthur Brown FAA
UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute

Played a significant role in the development of genomewide association studies resulting in identification of thousands of genes responsible for common diseases. Has also identified genetic mutations responsible for many monogenic forms of arthritis, ectopic bone development and skeletal dysplasias.

Professor David James Craik FAA
Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Professor David Craik discovered a new class of proteins known as cyclotides whose circular shape makes them ultra-stable and therefore an ideal base for therapeutic drugs.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg FAA
UQ Global Change Institute

Discovering the molecular mechanism behind coral bleaching during his PhD and early career, his discoveries have directly influenced global policy through their integration of the thermal physiology of corals with projections of future sea temperatures.

Professor Max (Gao Qing) Lu FAA
UQ ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology

A world leading scientist in materials science and chemical engineering, he has made many significant and sustained contributions including the new method for synthesis of highly reactive single crystal TiO2, new insights into the surface chemistry and modifications of nanoporous materials, molecular engineering of membranes and efficient photocatalyst for clean energy and water.

Professor Andrew Gerard White FAA
UQ School of Mathematics and Physics, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems

Has pioneered world-leading experiments in quantum computation and quantum optics. His research on the first unambiguous demonstration of a quantum-logic gate operation set the standard for all competing quantum logic gates.

The new Fellows will be admitted to the Australian Academy of Science and present summaries of the work for which they have been honoured at the Academy’s annual three-day celebration, Science at the Shine Dome, 29 May 2013 in Canberra.

A full list of the new Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science is available here.

Media/photo opportunity: Janelle Kirkland, UQ Communications, 07 3346 0561 or j.kirkland@uq.edu.au

For any additional information please contact Cameron.Williams@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9452/0447 679 612

UQ recipients in previous years:

2012: Paul Leslie Burn, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics.
2011: Professor Mark Blows, Head of the School of Biological Sciences.
2010: Profesor Scott Leslie O'Neill, Head of the School of Biological Sciences.
Professor Peter Visscher, Queensland Brain Institute.
2009: Professor Robert Glenn Parton, Institute for Molecular Bioscience.
2008: Professor Sven Ole Warnaar, Chair of Pure Mathematics, School of Mathematics and Physics.
Professor Peter Anthony Koopman, Institute for Molecular Bioscience.
Professor John Stanley Mattick, Institute for Molecular Bioscience.
2005: Professor Hugh Philip Possingham, Professor and Director of The Ecology Centre, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions.
2003: Professor Perry Francis Bartlett, Director of The Queensland Brain Institute, Professor (Foundation Chair) of Molecular Neuroscience.
2003: Professor Maria Orlowska, Information Systems in the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.
2000: Professor Julie Hazel Campbell, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.
Professor Curt Wentrup, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences.
1999: Professor Gerard James Milburn, Professor and Deputy Director of Centre for Quantum Computer Technology, Director of ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems.
1998: Emeritus Professor John Foxton Ross Kerr.
1996: Adjunct Professor David James Kemp, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition.
1995: Professor Mandyam Veerambudi Srinivasan, Visual Neuroscience, The Queensland Brain Institute.
1994: Research Professor Robert Goulston Gilbert Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences.
1993: Adjunct Professor Robyn Williams.
1989: Emeritus Professor Raymond John Stalker, Department of Mechanical Engineering
1988: Adjunct Professor Ian McDougall, School of Physical Sciences.