Justin Chalker

Professor Justin Chalker is the Matthew Flinders Professor and Research Leader at Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering, affiliated with the Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology. He works at the intersection of organic chemistry, chemical biology, and materials science, focusing on sustainable chemistry solutions for environmental and technological challenges.

• Education: B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in History/Philosophy of Science (University of Pittsburgh, 2006); D.Phil. in Chemistry (University of Oxford, supervised by Benjamin Davis)
• Career: Assistant Professor at University of Tulsa (2012-2015); Lecturer (2015) and Senior Lecturer (2017-present) at Flinders University

His lab develops chemical tools for biological system interrogation and novel materials like sulfur-based polymers for mercury remediation, recyclable composites, and zinc-ion battery cathodes. Current projects include inverse vulcanization, waste valorization, and environmental applications of sustainable chemistry.

His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for environmental protection and resource efficiency, particularly in material science (vulcanization, composite materials, polysulfides) and chemical biology (cysteine modification, protein chemistry).

• Key scientific recognitions: 2016 Tall Poppy Award, 2017 Dream Chemistry Award Finalist, Eureka Prize Finalist (2018), SA STEM Educator of the Year (2018), AMP Tomorrow Maker Award (2018)

Prospective students can contact Dr. Chalker directly for Ph.D. and Honours opportunities. The lab website (www.chalkerlab.com) provides details on their research in sulfur chemistry, recyclable polymers, and chemical sustainability.