Graham Chandler

Graham Chandler is an Associate Professor and Senior Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia. With a BSc and PhD from Adelaide, he has established himself as a prominent researcher in theoretical and computational chemistry. His work bridges the gap between theoretical approaches and experimental validation, focusing on problems that can be investigated in greater detail through computational methods than through experiment alone.

Chandler's research interests span theoretical chemistry, computational chemistry, and chemical bonding. He specializes in applying quantum mechanical principles to understand molecular structure and behavior. His work particularly focuses on small inorganic molecules, transition states in sulfoxide chemistry, theories predicting molecular shapes, and transition metal complexes. Chandler employs both ab initio and density functional techniques to explore potential energy surfaces of molecules like S$$4$$N$$2$$, C$$2$$O$$2$$, C$$2$$S$$2$$, and C$$2$$OS. His collaborative work with Dr. G. A. Koutsantonis examines small metal-containing molecules including GaAs, GaP, and InH$$3$$, while his partnership with Professor B. N. Figgis investigates spin and charge density distributions in transition metal complexes.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on computational approaches to chemical problems, with particular emphasis on molecular structure, bonding analysis, and quantum mechanical interpretations. Chandler's work spans from fundamental theoretical developments to applications in diverse chemical systems, showing consistent productivity in high-impact journals across physical, inorganic, and computational chemistry.

• FRACI (Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute)
• Travel grant from Australian Academy of Science (1996)

Chandler has secured multiple research grants, including four ARC Early Career grants for projects on chemical valence concepts and bonding in transition metal complexes. His collaborative approach is evident in his work with researchers like Dr. D. Jayatilaka on projection-based approaches to chemical bonding. While specific student mentees aren't listed in the available information, his profile indicates supervision of honours projects requiring expertise in quantum theory of chemistry.

His research utilizes advanced computational techniques to solve chemical problems, with particular emphasis on theoretical approaches that complement experimental work. Chandler maintains an active research program that bridges theoretical chemistry with practical applications across multiple subdisciplines of chemistry.