Siegbert Schmid

Professor Siegbert Schmid is a distinguished academic in the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney. With over three decades of experience in crystallography and materials science, he has established himself as an expert in modulated structures and inorganic materials. His research spans fundamental crystallographic studies to practical applications in energy materials and chemical education. He is also a member of both the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and The University of Sydney Nano Institute.

Professor Schmid earned his Dipl.-Chem. from the University of Tübingen in 1986, followed by a Dr. rer. nat. from the same institution in 1990. His academic journey includes postdoctoral and research fellow positions at the Research School of Chemistry at the Australian National University (1991-1999), a research scientist position in Wood Science (1999-2000), and a Wissenschaftlicher Assistant position back at Tübingen (2000-2002) before joining the University of Sydney as a Senior Lecturer in 2002.

His primary research interests focus on commensurate and incommensurate modulated structures, composite modulated structures, and structure-property relationships of inorganic materials. He also maintains a strong interest in chemical education and the development of web-based teaching materials. His work employs various characterization techniques including X-ray and neutron powder and single-crystal diffraction as well as electron microscopy, often utilizing major research facilities.

Professor Schmid's publication record shows a consistent trajectory from fundamental crystallographic studies toward applications in energy storage materials, particularly in the last decade. His recent work increasingly focuses on battery materials, solid electrolytes, and characterization of novel inorganic compounds for energy applications, while maintaining his expertise in structural analysis techniques.

• Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI)
• Chartered Chemist (CChem)

Professor Schmid has supervised numerous research students, with current projects examining curriculum governance in Australian secondary science education and pre-sodiation techniques for battery anodes. His collaborative approach is evident in his extensive co-authorship network across multiple institutions and disciplines, particularly in crystallography, materials science, and chemical education research.

His laboratory work leverages both in-house equipment and major research facilities, with recent instrumentation developments including multi-analyser detectors for high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Professor Schmid is actively involved in several research teams focusing on next-generation materials, particularly in the areas of clean energy and sustainable technologies through his membership in The University of Sydney Nano Institute.