Dr Joses Nathanael

Post doctoral researcher - Theme 2 and 3

 

Urea is one of the most widely utilised nitrogen fertilisers in the agricultural sector, significantly improving crop yield and productivity. Plants absorb most of the urea nitrogen in the form of ammonium ions, following urea hydrolysis by the enzyme urease produced by soil microbes. However, due to the inefficiency of nitrogen uptake, approximately 50% of the applied nitrogen is lost to waterways and the atmosphere, resulting in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. One effective strategy to improve nitrogen uptake is the inhibition of urease, which slows down urea hydrolysis. Dr Joses Nathanael’s research focuses on developing novel urease inhibitors that surpass the efficacy of current commercial options. These new compounds will be evaluated in Australian soils to assess their potential as next-generation soil urease inhibitors. Additionally, Joses collaborates closely with other Themes within the Hub to facilitate the testing of these products in soil incubations, glasshouse studies, and field trials.

Joses completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Uta Wille. His dissertation investigated the fundamental reactivity of air pollutants with biomolecules, including peptides, amino acids, and lipids. He believes that fundamental research is essential for enhancing the mechanistic understanding of chemical interactions between air pollutants and biological systems. The findings from these studies serve as a basis for exploring more complex model systems, which are crucial for ensuring public health and mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution. Joses’ research extensively involved organic synthesis and kinetic studies using laser flash photolysis. Leveraging his expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and physical organic chemistry, he joined the Wille Group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2019.