Daniel Preston

Dr. Daniel Preston is an ARC DECRA Fellow and leader of the Preston Group at the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University. His research focuses on supramolecular chemistry, designing structurally and functionally complex architectures from metal ions and organic ligands in solution.

• Education: PhD in Chemistry from the University of Otago, Rutherford Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Canterbury (NZ).

Key research themes include:

• Supramolecular self-assembly of metallosupramolecular systems
• Development of stimuli-responsive foldamers and sensors
• Photophysical applications in FRET, donor-acceptor systems
• Anion recognition and gas adsorption studies

His recent publications highlight work on:

• Low-symmetry metal cages (Fe²⁺, Pd²⁺, Pt²⁺)
• Dynamic covalent approaches to lantern-shaped architectures
• Excited state control in bichromophoric photosensitizers
• Heterometallic and heteroleptic systems with positional/orientational control

Scientific Awards:

• ARC DECRA Fellow
• ARC Future Fellow
• Rutherford Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Preston supervises PhD candidates Jessica Algar and Zack Avery, with active projects in mixed-metal clusters, self-assembled systems, and molecular machine development.