Associate Professor Matthew Griffith

A/Prof Matthew Griffith is an ARC Future Fellow and Research Leader within UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, where he focuses on developing innovative new polymer materials that solve some of the biggest challenges facing humanity in the areas of Health and Energy. He is also the host of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's official podcast, Chemically Speaking, and the Facility Director for the Microscopy Australia activities at UniSA. Before joining UniSA, A/Prof Griffith completed a PhD at the University of Wollongong, before working as a NEDO Fellow at Shinshu University in Japan, a Lecturer in Physics at the University of Newcastle, and a Senior Researcher in Engineering at the University of Sydney.

Matthew's current research focuses on communicating with the human body using electronic devices to enable new ways to treat incurable diseases or create implants that allow the deaf to hear and the blind to see again. Hard, inflexible electronic materials like metals and silicon have problems communicating with the soft, flexible nerve cells in our bodies. Matthew's research overcomes this gap between the electronic and the biological worlds by combining soft carbon-based organic semiconductors with nanotechnology. His team manipulate the chemical and mechanical properties of these materials to create electronically active bio-inks that they can print into soft and flexible interfaces that mimic the natural environment in the body – all using openly available technology developed as part of the Australian National Fabrication Facility. His research has also had substantial cross-discplinary impact, with the materials and devices he develops having strong impact via printed solar cells and radiation detectors that are revolutonising treatment processes for cancer during radiotherapy.

Matthew is an internationally recognised leader in the application of printable organic conductors to electronic devices, with a multitude of high-impact research outputs that have created both new materials and new fabrication routes for bioelectronic devices. His research is regularly published in the top international journals and has extended beyond academia to be translated into industry, utilized by clinicians, and shaped community engagement, both directly and via extensive national media attention. To date, Matthew has secured continuous funding totalling $9.3M from competitive external grants since the award of my PhD (half as lead CI), which spans Category 1 funding (ARC & NHMRC), Category 2 (Innovations Connections) and Category 3 (international and industry) sources. Matthew has also been involved in several major multi-institutional initiatives e.g. the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science ($60M), the CRC for Polymers ($15M), the NCRIS Microscopy Australia Program ($150M).

As a result of his research achievements, he has been awarded a number of przes and awards, including:

• 2024 ARC Future Fellowship (Australian Research Council). Austraian government fellowship provided to support outstanding mid-career researchers, with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research, leadership, research training and mentoring

• 2022 NSW Tall Poppy Award (Australian Institute of Policy and Science).National award for research excellence, considered indicative of Australia’s future leaders.

• Vice Chanecellor’s Award for Outstanding Research Engagement and Innovation (University of Sydney). USyd’s top prize ($2k) for research that exhibits impact, leadership, and innovation.

• Winner: Development Supported by Infrastructure (Greater Sydney Planning Commission). Led project that designed and integrated printed solar cells into public park in Lane Cove.
• NSW Runner Up: Best Planning Ideas (Small Project) (Planning Institute of Australia). Awarded for work on Canopy project with Lane Cove Council as above.
• Finalist: Early-Stage Investment Forum (Ausbiotech). Top 10 of ~300 applicants for translating research into products with impact in biotechnology.
• New Energy and Industrial Development (NEDO) Fellowship (Japanese Government). Prestigious international government fellowship for young global leaders in materials science.
• NSW Finalist for Science in Public Media Communication Competition (Fresh Science). National competition recognizing ability to communicate scientific research to the public.
• Prime Minister's Asia Australia Endeavour Award (Australian Federal Government)$65k prize awarded to support an international research secondment for 12 months.

Royal Australian Chemical Insitute (MRACI, CChem)

Australian Institute of Physics (AIP)

Ausbiotech

Microscopy Australia

Founding Biomaterials Expert, Radiation Oncology Cancer Imaging Flagship

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of Wollongong Australia

Work history

2013 - 2015: Postodcotral Researcher (Shinshu University and University of Newcastle)

2015 - 2017: Industrial Research Project Manager (TUNRA)

2017 - 2019: Lecturer (University of Newcastle)

2020 - 2023: Senior Researcher (University of Sydney)