Alexander Mason

Alexander Mason is a DECRA Fellow at the University of Wollongong, leading the Synthetic Biomimetic Compartments research group. His work focuses on bottom-up synthetic cell design, integrating polymer chemistry, membrane engineering, and open-source hardware solutions like the DIB-BOT droplet interface bilayer robot. Mason holds a PhD and BSc in Nanotechnology from UNSW Sydney, with postdoctoral experience at Eindhoven University of Technology and UNSW.

• Educations:
  • PhD in Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, 2017
  • BSc in Nanotechnology, UNSW Sydney, 2012

His research interests span synthetic cells, biomimetic compartments, and stochasticity in biological systems. Key projects include the DECRA-funded 'Building a synthetic chemical synapse through harnessed stochasticity' (2023–2027), exploring molecular fluctuations' impact on higher-order biological phenomena.

Publications emphasize droplet-based systems (e.g., DIB-BOT), polymer vesicle engineering, and synthetic cell applications in tissue engineering. Notable recognition includes the 2023 ASB Best ECR Talk Award for his DIB-BOT work.

Current supervision includes PhD projects on synthetic chemical synapses and neural progenitor cell guidance systems. The lab also develops DIY hardware solutions and collaborates on interdisciplinary biomaterials projects.