The Institute of Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), led by Prof. Tanya Monro, at the University of Adelaide brings together research on the development of new optical materials with research in glass processing and optical fibre development, notably micro and nanostructuring, surface functionalization, and device development. I will present an overview of this research capability and describe recent advances, including optical materials for the mid-infrared, nanoparticles embedded within glass, new classes of chemical and biological sensors, laser devices, and nonlinear effects in novel fibres. I will then present details on two current projects that I am closely involved in. First, I will present my PhD work on the development of a microstructured optical fibre corrosion sensor. In this work, I fabricated an exposed-core fibre, which can be utilized for time-resolved distributed sensing, and functionalized this fibre to be sensitive to aluminum ions, a by-product of aluminium alloy corrosion. I will then present recent results of my current project, where I am developing an optical fibre based enzyme activity assay. In particular, I am developing an assay of an enzyme known as proprotein convertase 5/6 (PC6), which is a known biomarker of uterine receptivity.

报告人简介：Stephen completed his PhD in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Tanya Monro. His PhD project was in collaboration with the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) and Swinburne University of Technology to develop microstructured optical fibre sensors for the application of corrosion sensing of aircraft. His work spanned theory, simulations, fabrication, and experiments. Following Stephen's PhD submission he recently cycled from Australia to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden via the length of Africa on a recumbent tricycle in order to promote adventure and responsible risk-taking to Scouts and youth in Australia and around the World. On Stephen's return in August 2011 he began an Australian Research Council (ARC) Super Science Fellowship, investigating novel optical fibre sensing architectures for women’s health. Stephen's research interests include soft-glass microstructured fibre fabrication, fluorescence sensing modeling, surface functionalization of optical fibres, and optical sensor development for chemical and biological analytes.