Ben Greatrex

Dr. Ben Greatrex is a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Pharmacy at the School of Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England (UNE), Australia. He is actively involved in teaching and research, with a focus on organic chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences.

• Position: Senior Lecturer, Course Coordinator (Pharmacy)
• Institution: University of New England
• School: School of Health
• Contact: ben.greatrex@une.edu.au | +61 2 6773 2402

Education:

• BSc (Hons), Chemistry – University of Adelaide
• PhD, Chemistry – University of Adelaide (2004)

Ben's research interests lie at the intersection of synthetic organic chemistry and sustainable drug development. He specializes in the use of biomass-derived levoglucosenone as a chiral, renewable platform for synthesizing pharmaceuticals, chiral auxiliaries, and metal ligands. His work emphasizes green chemistry principles, leveraging carbohydrate chemistry and reaction methodology to develop efficient, stereoselective synthetic routes. He has made significant contributions to the functionalization of levoglucosenone and its application in synthesizing complex molecules like γ-butyrolactones and antiviral precursors.

An analysis of his publications from 2013–2017 reveals a strong focus on sustainable synthetic methodologies using renewable feedstocks. Key themes include palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, cyclopropanation reactions, chiral synthesis from sugars, and biorenewable platform chemicals. His work also extends into natural products chemistry, particularly the study of bioactive compounds in Australian Aboriginal medicinal plants such as Eremophila and Phebalium species, highlighting his interest in ethnopharmacology and antimicrobial discovery.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards mentioned in the text.

Ben has extensive experience in research supervision, having guided two PhD students and one MSc student to completion in the past five years, and currently supervises four PhD candidates. His lab is vibrant and offers opportunities for motivated students. He has been involved in competitive grant-funded projects and industry collaborations, including work with Johnson & Johnson. His teaching covers pharmaceutical science, medicinal chemistry, and analytical chemistry, with curriculum development in first- and second-year units.

Labs and Research Environment: Dr. Greatrex leads an active research group at UNE focused on organic synthesis and green chemistry. His lab utilizes techniques in synthetic organic chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, and formulation science. Collaborations with carbohydrate chemists and natural products researchers enhance the interdisciplinary nature of his work.