1336707
Professor Kathryn Fairfull-Smith
Faculty of Science,
School of Chemistry & Physics
Biography
Research Discipline : Chemistry Areas of Expertise- Organic Synthesis
- Free Radical Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry
- Materials for Extreme Environments
- Anti-biofilm therapeutics and coatings
- Fluorescent probes
- Anti-hypertensives
- Photosensitive alkoxyamines for NMP2
- Nano sensors for drug delivery and imaging
- 2024 QLD-Bavaria collaborative seed grant
- 2024 ARC Linkage Grant (LP230201118)
- 2023 ARC Training Centre for Bioplastics and Biocomposites
- 2021 ARC Discovery Project Grant (DP210101317)
- 2016 Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development Grant
- 2015 Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development Grant
- 2014 ARC Discovery Project Grant (DP150100234)
- 2014 ARC Future Fellowship (FT140100746)
- 2014 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
- 2014 ATN-DAAD Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
- 2021-present - Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Science, QUT
- 2020-present – Co-Director QUT Centre for Materials Science
- 2020-present – Professor, QUT
- 2015-2020 – A/Professor, QUT
- 2014-2015 – Senior Lecturer, QUT
- 2014-2024 – ARC Future Fellow, QUT
- 2012-2014 – Senior Lecturer, QUT
- 2009-2012 – Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow, QUT
- 2006-2009 – Postdoctoral research at Queensland University of Technology
- 2004-2006 – Postdoctoral research at the University of Sheffield
- 2001-2004 – PhD in Chemistry at Griffith University
- 1997-2000 – B. Ad. Science with 1st Class Honours at Griffith University
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Chemistry & Physics
Research field
Organic chemistry, Macromolecular and materials chemistry, Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Griffith University)
Professional memberships and associations
MRACI CChem, MRSC
Publications
- Larin, A., Pfrunder, M., Mullen, K., Wiedbrauk, S., Boase, N. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2023). Synergistic or antagonistic antioxidant combinations - a case study exploring flavonoid-nitroxide hybrids. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 21(8), 1780–1792. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238038
- Boase, N., Michalek, L., Hooker, J. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2022). A Versatile Light-Triggered Radical-Releasing Surface Coating Technology. Advanced Materials Technologies, 7(4), Article 2100898. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/230066
- Verderosa, A., Hawas, S., Harris, J., Totsika, M. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2022). Isothiazolone-Nitroxide Hybrids with Activity against Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. ACS Omega, 7(6), 5300–5310. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/229639
- Ndukwe, A., Wiedbrauk, S., Boase, N. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2022). Strategies to Improve the Potency of Oxazolidinones towards Bacterial Biofilms. Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 17(11), Article e202200201. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/230365
- Hansen, K., Chambers, L., Eing, M., Barner-Kowollik, C., Fairfull-Smith, K. & Blinco, J. (2020). A methoxyamine-protecting group for organic radical battery materials: An alternative approach. ChemSusChem, 13(9), 2386–2393. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/199919
- Verderosa, A., Dhouib, R., Fairfull-Smith, K. & Totsika, M. (2020). Nitroxide functionalized antibiotics are promising eradication agents against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 64(1), 1–13. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/197197
- Lussini, V., Blinco, J., Fairfull-Smith, K., Bottle, S. & Colwell, J. (2020). Profluorescent nitroxide sensors for monitoring the natural aging of polymer materials. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 174, Article 109091.
- Verderosa, A., Totsika, M. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2019). Bacterial biofilm eradication agents: A current review. Frontiers in Chemistry, 7, 1–17. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/197210
- Woehlk, H., Trimble, M., Mansour, S., Pletzer, D., Trouillet, V., Welle, A., Barner, L., Hancock, R., Barner-Kowollik, C. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2019). Controlling biofilm formation with nitroxide functional surfaces. Polymer Chemistry, 10(31), 4252–4258. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/132180
- Verderosa, A., Harris, J., Dhouib, R., Totsika, M. & Fairfull-Smith, K. (2019). Eradicating uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms with a ciprofloxacin-dinitroxide conjugate. MedChemComm, 10(5), 699–711. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/128614
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Kathryn, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Filter publications:
A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/k.fairfull-smith
Awards
- Type
- University Prize including VC Award
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- QUT Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research
- Type
- Funded Fellowship
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- ARC Future Fellowship - Fighting slime with free radicals
Selected research projects
- Title
- Eradicating Bacterial Biofilms with Nitroxide-Antimicrobial Hybrids
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP210101317
- Start year
- 2021
- Keywords
- DP210101317
- Title
- Fighting Slime with Free Radicals - New Surface Coatings for Biofilm Remediation
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- FT140100746
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- Radicals; Functionalised Surfaces; Biofilms
- Title
- Nitroxide-containing scaffolds for controlling biofilm-related infections
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP150100234
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- nitroxide; microparticle; surface coating
- Title
- ARC Centre of Excellence: Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CE0561607
- Start year
- 2005
- Keywords
- Free Radical; Flourescence; Antioxidant; Polymer Degradation; Disease; Oxidation; Reactive Oxygen Species; Oxidative Stress; Ataxia Telangiectasia; Chemiluminescence; Stabilisers; Nitroxide
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Looking for a postgraduate research supervisor?
I am currently accepting research students for Honours, Masters and PhD study.
You can browse existing student topics offered by QUT or propose your own topic.
Current supervisions
- Analysis of slow-release singlet oxygen aza-BODIPY photosensitisers for application in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
MPhil, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Distinguished Professor Greg Cook - Design and synthesis of novel PolQ inhibitors for treatment of cancers
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Emma Bolderson - Development of Protective Coatings Using Microwave Pyrolyzed Biomass-Derived Graphene-Like Carbon and Its Derivatives with Machine Learning Optimization
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Deepak Dubal, Dr Nathan Boase - Evaluation of structure-property relationship of polysaccharides reinforced polyurethane composites
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam, Dr Sandra Wiedbrauk - Fabrication and characterization of ceftriaxone-loaded liposomal nanoparticles for lower respiratory tract infections
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Nazrul Islam - Novel light-triggered systems to combat bacterial biofilms
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Sandra Wiedbrauk, Distinguished Professor Greg Cook - Production of rigid polyurethane foam for the construction industry and PF resins as a wood adhesive using Biomass
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam, Professor Ian O'Hara - Synthesis of bio-based plasticizers from sugar bagasse for selected biopolymers
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam, Professor Mike O'Shea - The Design and Synthesis of Novel Hybrid Molecules Linking Quorum Sensing Inhibitors with Antibiotics
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Adjunct Associate Professor Makrina Totsika, Dr Sandra Wiedbrauk - The electronic and structural properties of extended, disordered, 2D conjugated polymers synthesized on-surface
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Jennifer MacLeod
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Biofilm Dispersal Mechanisms in Clinically Relevant Bacteria and New Biofilm-Targeting Antimicrobials (2026)
- Nitroxide Hybridized Redox-Active Therapeutic Agents (2026)
- Radiation-Activated Drug Delivery for Enhanced Cancer Treatment (2025)
- Design, Synthesis and Testing of Oxazolidinone Antimicrobials That Target Biofilms (2024)
- Programming Polymer Function via Ring-Opening Polymerization of Peptides (2024)
- Hybrid and synergistic drug strategies for biofilm eradication (2023)
- Assembly and Reactions of Carboxylic Acids on Metal-Passivated Silicon (2021)
- Photocycloadditions as Tools for Particle Synthesis (2021)
- Dynamic Covalent Chemistry at the Solution: Surface Interface (2020)
- Nitroxide Functionalised Antibiotics for the Eradication of Bacterial Biofilms (2019)
Completed supervisions (Masters by Research)
- High Performance n-Type OFETs Enabled by Pyridine Substituted Diketopyrrolopyrrole Organic Semiconductor and Elastomer Stretchable Blends (2025)
- Molecular modelling and machine learning for the investigation of 2-oxazolidinone ribosomal antibacterials (2023)
- Modification of Small-Molecule Organic Thin Films Using Energetic Beams and Plasma (2019)
The supervisions listed above are only a selection.