Leigh Donnellan

Leigh Donnellan is a Researcher at the University of South Australia (UniSA), affiliated with the Clinical and Health Sciences department within the Health and Biomedical Innovation school. He serves as a Research Degree Supervisor and focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environmental science, biochemistry, and agricultural science. His work emphasizes innovative analytical techniques such as DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films), MALDI-MSI (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging), and lipidomics/proteomics for applications in soil contamination assessment, plant lipid regulation, and food quality analysis.

Recent research highlights include:

• Developing DGT methods to measure bioavailable pesticide residues in soils, addressing environmental and agricultural safety concerns.
• Exploring lipid and starch synthesis pathways in oat grain development using proteomic and lipidomic approaches.
• Advancing MALDI-MSI for spatial metabolite analysis in cereal grains and legumes to improve industrial applications.

His collaborative projects involve partnerships with institutions like SARDI (South Australian Research and Development Institute) and the Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils. No specific awards or grants are explicitly noted, but funding sources include government initiatives and industry collaborations.