Cindy Gunawan

Dr. Cindy Gunawan is an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), leading the Biofunctional Nanomaterials Research Group within the ithree Institute. Her work focuses on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, particularly bacterial adaptation to nanoparticles, and the development of novel antimicrobial technologies. She holds adjunct roles at the University of Sydney and UNSW. Gunawan earned her BEng (Honours Class I & University Medal) and PhD in Biotechnology from UNSW Sydney, followed by postdoctoral research at UNSW's Particle and Catalysis Research Group. Her research has attracted over AUD 1.6M in grants, including ARC and Australian Academy of Science funding. Key contributions include discovering bacterial resistance to nanosilver and pioneering studies on nanoparticle environmental impacts.

Education:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Bioprocess Engineering, Honours Class I & University Medal), UNSW Sydney (2002)
• PhD in Biotechnology, UNSW Sydney (2006)

Research Interests: Her interdisciplinary research spans nanobiotechnology, microbial adaptation to nanomaterials, and the development of smart antimicrobials. She investigates how nanoparticles interact with bacterial biofilms and their broader implications for public health and the environment. Recent work explores nanosilver resistance mechanisms, sonocatalytic bacteria eradication, and the neurodegenerative effects of air pollutants.

Grants & Awards:

• ARC Discovery Project Fellowship
• Australian Academy of Science Fellowship
• Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (UTS)
• International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS)

Service & Media: Gunawan actively reviews for journals like Small, ACS Nano, and Environmental Science and Technology. Her work has been featured in Nature Nanotechnology and media outlets such as the Australian Research Council. She advocates for responsible nanoparticle regulation to mitigate resistance risks.

Labs & Teams: Her lab at UTS integrates nanomaterial engineering, microbiology, and toxicology to address global challenges in antimicrobial resistance and environmental health.