Jiayan Liao

Dr. Jiayan Liao is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and a Chancellor’s Research Fellow. He holds an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship and is a core member of the Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD). His research focuses on nanophotonics, materials science, and biomedical applications, particularly in developing advanced diagnostic tools using nanotechnology.

Dr. Liao earned a Ph.D. in material chemistry and bio-optics, with postdoctoral experience in leading global institutions such as the University of Göttingen and Utrecht University. His work integrates nanomaterials, optical physics, and AI algorithms to advance multiplexed detection systems, including groundbreaking UCNP-based COVID-19 antigen tests and placental insufficiency diagnostics.

His research emphasizes photochromic materials, upconversion nanoparticles, and super-resolution imaging, with applications in anti-counterfeiting, 3D optical storage, and cancer detection. Key contributions include the development of reversible X-ray-responsive materials and high-sensitivity diagnostic assays.

Dr. Liao has secured significant grants, including NHMRC and ARC funding, and leads collaborations with industry partners such as Minomic International and SpeeDX. His awards include the NSW Premier’s Prize for Science & Engineering (2024) and the NHMRC Research Excellence Award (2023).

He teaches courses in Advanced Materials, Analytical Chemistry, and Optics, and actively supervises postdoctoral researchers. His lab’s future work includes expanding nanophotonic tools for early-stage disease detection and advancing biomedical device technologies.