Professor Jamie Quinton

After studying extended majors in undergraduate Physics and Mathematics across two institutions in global and third tier cities, Jamie obtained his doctorate from the University of Newcastle, Australia in 2001 working in the area of surface physics, studying environmentally benign organosilane coatings for corrosion protection of various metal oxide surfaces (aluminium, iron, chromium, zinc, steel). From 2000-2001 he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Laboratory for Surface Modification, Rutgers University (NJ, USA) working with pioneering Professor Ted Madey, the State of New Jersey Professor of Surface Science, leading his group's synchrotron research (at Brookhaven National Laboratory). He then returned to Newcastle in 2002 to perform more research and present some lectures as a casual academic.

He joined in Flinders as a Lecturer in Nanotechnology/Physics/Chemical Physics in 2003, then progressed through the academic ranks all the way to Professor (in 2014). Throughout his career, Jamie has studied nanoscale surface and interface phenomena with a wide variety of materials, from metals through to polymers, ceramics, and even natural fibre products, with a strong focus on carbonaceous materials; and has applied them to a diverse range of applications from corrosion protection of steels and lightweight alloys, through to optically active aerospace materials, antimicrobial coatings for seagrass restoration, through to nuclear fusion reactor plasma-facing materials.
His passion remains in surface modification, optimising industrial processes and finding environmentally favourable alternative technologies. He is a Chartered Physicist but remains a curious and passionate, life-long learner who is pursuant of all aspects of knowledge in Science and Engineering, be it in teaching or research.
From 2022 he is taking on the role of Professor and Head of the School of Natural Sciences at Massey University in Aotearoa, New Zealand, though remains affiliated with Flinders with full academic status.