Show me a quirky problem I can get my teeth into!
I'm a Distinguished Research Scientist within the Applied Technologies group working on Sensing, Microfab, and Polymers. My expertise spans a range of fields including bio-electronics, electrical impedance measurement, nanotechnology and radio frequency circuitry. This diversity is fuelled by my interest in peculiar problems that pique my curiosity.
My motivation comes from discovering innovative and unexpected ways to solve problems. The late Prof. Dr. Hermann P. Schwan of the University of Pennsylvania profoundly influenced my analytical thinking. From him I learned how to distil complex problems into practical solutions.
In New Zealand, I contributed to the identification and resolution of an issue causing vending machines to reject certain gold coins, eventually leading to the specification of a new coin set. Further afield, I pioneered the electrorotation technique, a groundbreaking method for characterising biological cells.
The life-altering impact of innovations like the cardiac pacemaker is inspiring. Did you know that its first recipient had another 43 years of life after getting his pacemaker? He eventually died from melanoma, not heart disease.
My contributions have been recognized by the Science New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.