Michael Manefield

Professor Michael Manefield is a distinguished academic at the University of New South Wales, holding a position in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. With a PhD from UNSW completed in 2000, he has established himself as a leading researcher in environmental microbiology and bioremediation. His international research experience includes positions in Cambridge (UK), Copenhagen (Denmark), Kamaishi (Japan), and Oxford (UK), before returning to UNSW where he has held various prestigious roles including Senior Research Associate in the Centre for Marine BioInnovation and recipient of an ARC Future Fellowship.

Professor Manefield's research spans environmental microbiology with a focus on applications in bioremediation and sustainable engineering. His work encompasses bacterial quorum sensing, biofilm formation, organohalide respiration, and microbial processes for contaminated site remediation. He has made significant contributions to the field including the discovery of the first bacterial quorum sensing inhibitors, development of RNA-based stable isotope probing, creation of experimental models for activated sludge floc formation, and identification of novel bacteria capable of degrading chloroform and isoprene. His research bridges fundamental microbial ecology with practical environmental applications.

His extensive publication record shows a clear trend toward addressing contemporary environmental challenges, particularly PFAS contamination, heavy metal remediation, and sustainable waste treatment. His recent work demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, combining microbiology with chemical engineering, materials science, and analytical chemistry to develop innovative solutions for environmental problems. The research spans from fundamental microbial processes to applied field studies, showing a commitment to translating laboratory findings into practical remediation strategies.

• August Wilhelm Scheer Visiting Professorship from the Technical University of Munich, Germany (2015)
• ARC FT2 Future Fellowship (2011-2014)

Professor Manefield has graduated over 15 PhD students and acquired more than $20 million in research funding from government and industry sources. He is actively involved in mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers, with a focus on translating research into practical applications. He founded the Joint Academic Microbiology Seminars (JAMS Inc), which has grown from a Sydney-based initiative to include nodes across Australia and Southeast Asia, demonstrating his commitment to building research communities.

Professor Manefield leads a dynamic research team focused on environmental microbiology and bioremediation. His laboratory investigates microbial processes for contaminated site remediation, with particular expertise in organohalide respiration and biofilm dynamics. He is also the founder of Micronovo/Novorem, a bioremediation company that translates academic research into commercial applications. His team maintains active collaborations with government agencies, industry partners, and international research institutions, working on projects ranging from fundamental microbial ecology to field-scale remediation demonstrations.