Stephen Blanksby

Professor Stephen Blanksby is a leading academic at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), holding roles as Professor of Chemistry, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure), and Director of the Central Analytical Research Facility. His research focuses on advancing mass spectrometry techniques for molecular discovery in chemistry and biology, particularly structural lipidomics. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and serves as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Secretary of the International Mass Spectrometry Foundation.

• Education: PhD in Chemistry (University of Adelaide, 1999)
• Previous Positions: University of Wollongong (2002–2013), Postdoctoral Research in Europe/USA

Research Interests: Development of novel mass spectrometry methods (e.g., ozone-induced dissociation, ion mobility spectrometry) for lipid isomer resolution, gas-phase reaction dynamics, and applications in environmental, biomedical, and materials science. Specific areas include lipidomics in cancer, membrane biology, and polymer analysis.

Recent Trends in Articles: Focus on lipid isomer identification, distonic radical ion mechanisms, and applications of mass spectrometry in cancer biology, environmental chemistry, and polymer science. Techniques include high-resolution ion mobility, photodissociation spectroscopy, and cross-platform validation.

• Awards: Graeme Batley Medal (2018), Morrison Medal (2015), RCM Beynon Prize (2015), Fellowships from RACI and ANZSMS
• Grants: ARC Discovery/Linkage projects totaling >$3.5M AUD, including lipidomics, tear film lipid analysis, and soot formation studies

Labs/Teams: Leads QUT’s mass spectrometry research infrastructure, collaborates with industry partners (e.g., Allergan, Bluescope Steel) and international organizations (e.g., International Mass Spectrometry Foundation).