Matthew Lee

Dr. Matthew Lee serves as a Senior Research Associate at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering's Water Research Centre (WRC). His research focuses on environmental microbiology and bioremediation of persistent pollutants, particularly PFAS and chlorinated compounds. Based at the Vallentine Annexe (H22), Level 1, Room VA127 on Kensington Campus, he collaborates extensively with Professor Manefield and other researchers in advancing water treatment technologies.

Dr. Lee's research interests center on microbial degradation pathways for environmental contaminants, with emphasis on PFAS destruction, chlorinated volatile organic compound remediation, and anaerobic microbial processes. His work integrates biochemical, genomic, and electrochemical approaches to develop innovative solutions for water purification. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in metal-catalyzed defluorination, microbial community analysis for pollutant degradation, and development of novel remediation systems using zero-valent metals.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong trend toward PFAS remediation technologies (60% of recent work), with significant contributions to electrochemical degradation methods and branched isomer treatment. His research bridges fundamental microbial ecology with practical engineering applications, particularly in developing catalytic systems for chlorinated compound destruction. Key subfields include reductive defluorination mechanisms, microbial community dynamics in contaminated sediments, and enzyme characterization for pollutant transformation.

Dr. Lee actively collaborates with environmental engineering teams on remediation projects, though no specific grants are mentioned in available materials. His work with the Water Research Centre focuses on translating laboratory findings to field applications for contaminated site management.

He is based at the Water Research Centre (WRC), a specialized facility within UNSW's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering dedicated to developing advanced water treatment technologies and remediation strategies for contaminated environments. The WRC provides laboratory and analytical infrastructure supporting his research on microbial and chemical degradation processes.