Dr Farzana Kastury

I am a Research Fellow at the Future Industries Institute, UniSA and a passionate advocate for sustainable environmental solutions. My research focuses on Contaminant Remediation and Toxicolgy, including legacy contaminants such as lead and arsenic, as well as emerging ones such as PFAS and microplastics. As UCL Santos Research Fellow, my current research includes

• Upcycling waste plastic to develop porous carbon materials for environmental remediation.
• Developing plumbojarosite formation technique that can be applied to Australian mining and smelting impacted communities.
• Assessing bioavailability of PFAS 
• Assessing arsenic exposure and immobilization in the legacy Victorian goldfields.
• Contaminant exposure in seabirds and the role of microplastics as a potential vector.

I recevied Fulbright Future Scholarship from the Australian American Fulbright Commission in 2020, Early Career Researcher Grant by Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) in 2021, AMP Tomorrow Maker award by the AMP Foundation in 2021 and "Winnovation - Regional, Rural or Remote" category award for my research into reducing childhood lead exposure in 2023.

I am an Editor of Frontiers in Environmental Toxicology - Terrestrial Toxicology.

I am very happy to be contacted by students interested in learning more about my research, summer vacation scholarship, honours or PhD projects.

International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ISTEB).

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Asia Pacific.

Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia

• Bacelor of Science (Biotechnology) University of New South Wales

Work history

I completed Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) from the University of New South Wales with Honours and the University Medal in 2014. During my honours, I undertook research on Ecotoxicity of a synthetic phenazine dye known as neutral red.

Between 2015-2019, I completed Doctor of Philosophy from University of South Australia and received the Ian Wark Research Medal. My thesis investigated inhalation exposure of metals in particulate matter and developing remediation strategies.

I joined University of South Australia as a Research Associate in 2020, investigating bioavailability of PFAS and developing plumbojarosite formation technique for soils contaminated with lead.

I completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Columbia University (NY, USA) between 2022-2023 with the focus of developing African turquoise kilifish as a model organism for assessing particulate matter toxicity and its relationship with neurodegenerative disorders.

Since 2023, I have accepted a position at the University of South Australia as UCL Santos Research Fellow. My current research includes optimization of plumbojarosite formation technique and PFAS remediation.