Catherine Whitby

Associate Professor Catherine Whitby serves as Associate Dean for Postgraduate Studies in the College of Sciences at Massey University, where she holds the position of Associate Professor in Chemistry within the School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences. She joined Massey University in late 2014 as a Senior Lecturer and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021.

Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science from the University of New South Wales (1997) and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Melbourne (2001).

Whitby is a physical chemist whose research centers on colloid and surface chemistry. She employs nanomaterials to manipulate the chemistry of drop and bubble interfaces, thereby controlling the structure, stability, and rheology of soft materials. Her work has practical applications in food science, pharmaceutical formulations, and oilfield drilling fluids, with a particular focus on emulsion science and Pickering stabilization mechanisms.

Her contributions to the field have been recognized through prestigious fellowships:

• ARC Future Fellowship
• Gritton Postdoctoral Fellowship

As a Doctoral Supervisor, Whitby guides graduate students in their research. Her projects have attracted funding from the Australian Research Council and industry collaborators, including Rhodia Services and Halliburton Energy Services during her postdoctoral tenure.