Dr Wanjun Xu

Post doctoral researcher - Theme 1

Wanjun completed her PhD in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Prof. Frank Caruso. She has worked on investigating and regulating the coordination chemistry of metal–phenolic networks, an emerging class of coordination polymers composed of metal ions and phenolic ligands. Her research elucidated interactions between metal ions and organic components, leading to customized properties and enhanced performance. This knowledge has implications across various disciplines, encompassing chemistry, biology, and materials science. To date, Wanjun has 15 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, including three first-authored papers in Angewandte Chemie International Edition and two co-authored papers in Advanced Science and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Wanjun is an early career researcher with expertise in materials science and engineering optimizing materials for environmental, agricultural, and biomedical applications. Her current research focuses on developing advanced coatings for the controlled release of fertilisers, particularly using biodegradable materials as a promising candidate. Wanjun aims to contribute to the development of a new generation of smart fertilisers and align with the broader trend in sustainable agriculture and precision farming. Such smart fertilisers can enhance the efficiency of nutrient use by plants, minimizing waste and reducing the environmental impact associated with excessive fertiliser application.