Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Assoc Prof Paul Francis
  Phone   +61 3 522 71294
Email   paul.francis@deakin.edu.au
Position   ARC Future Fellow
Campus   Geelong
Research grouping   Chemistry and Forensic Sciences

Dr Francis’s research in analytical chemistry and molecular luminescence spectroscopy has been
recognised both nationally and internationally through the following honours: the Max O'Connor
Research Lecture Award (2011) from La Trobe University; an Australian Research Council Future
Fellowship (2011-2015); a Victoria Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2010) from The Australian
Institute of Policy and Science; the inaugural Robert Cattrall Early Career Medal (2007) from the
Analytical Chemistry Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute for excellence in pure or
applied analytical chemistry research; The Gordon F. Kirkbright Bursary Award (2005) from the
Association of British Spectroscopists for his research into near-ultraviolet and near-infrared
chemiluminescence; and the Jim O’Donnell International Travel Award (2002) from the Royal
Australian Chemical Institute.

Research interests

  1. The chemistry, spectroscopy and application of chemiluminescence and electrochemiluminescence reactions
  2. Rapid screening of illicit drugs using flow-analysis and microfluidics
  3. New methodology to determine the antioxidant status of foods and biological fluids

Career

ARC Future Fellow (2011-2015).
Associate Professor, Deakin University (2013-current substantive position).
Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Deakin University (2012).
Lecturer in Chemistry, Deakin University (2010-2011).
Research Fellow, Deakin University (2004-2010).

Key publications

E.H. Doevan, E.M. Zammit, G.J. Barbante, C.F. Hogan, N.W. Barnett and P.S. Francis (2012) Selective excitation of concomitant electrochemiluminophores: tuning emission color via electrode potential, Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 51, 4354-4357

E.H. Doeven, E.M. Zammit, G.J. Barbante, P.S. Francis, N.W. Barnett and C.F. Hogan (2013) A potential-controlled switch on/off mechanism for selective excitation in mixed electrochemiluminescent systems, Chemical Science, DOI: 10.1039/c2sc21707d.,

G.P. McDermott, J.M. Terry, X.A. Conlan, N.W. Barnett and P.S. Francis (2011) Direct detection of biologically significant thiols and disulfides with manganese(IV) chemiluminescence, Analytical Chemistry, 83, 6034-6039

J.M. Terry, S. Mohr, P.R. Fielden, N.J. Goddard, N.W. Barnett, D.C. Olson, D.K. Wolcott and P.S. Francis (2012) Chemiluminescence detection flow-cells for flow injection analysis and high performance liquid chromatography, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 403, 2353-2360

S. Mohr, J.M. Terry, J.L. Adcock, P.R. Fielden, N.J. Goddard, N.W. Barnett, D. Wolcott and P.S. Francis (2009) Precision milled flow-cells for chemiluminescence detection, Analyst, 134, 2233-2238

View entire list of audited publications

Professional activities

Division Secretary, Australian National RACI Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Division.
Chair Elect, Australian National RACI Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Division.
Editorial Advisor for Analytica Chimica Acta.
Honorary Visiting Scientist, La Trobe University.

 

Postdoctoral fellows

NameProject title
Greg BarbanteNew analytical strategies based on electrochemiluminescence detection. Egan DoevenElectrogenerated chemiluminescence sensors Jessica TerryNovel detection systems for microfluidic devices  

 

PhD students

Student nameThesis title
Jessica Terry (Completed)Enhancing the chemiluminescence determination of biologically and forensically important molecules. Elizabeth Zammit (Completed)Exploration of the chemiluminescence of platinum group metal complexes. David DonaldsonDetection of nitro-explosive compounds using derivatisation and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence. Zoe SmithManganese-based chemiluminescence reagents.  

 

Honours students

Student nameThesis title Mark Roderick(2012) Enhanced chemiluminescence reagents for the detection of biomolecules and controlled drugs. Noah Kebede(2012) The relationship between analyte/co-reactant structure and chemiluminescence/ electrochemiluminescence intensity with tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II). Brendan Holland(2011) Determination of cannabinoids in hemp extracts using high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and chemiluminescence detection. Zoe Smith (2010) Investigations into manganese-based chemiluminescence reagents. Laura Noonan(2009) Acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence for the rapid detection of antioxidants. Dimi Papettas(2009) Evaluation of [Ru(BPS)n(bipy)3-n]2-2n complexes for chemiluminescence detection. Jessica Terry(2008) A rapid chemiluminescence screening test for heroin. Elizabeth Zammit(2008) Synthesis and evaluation of chemiluminescent reagents for the detection of biomolecules. Dane Percy(2007) Determination of adrenergic amines and flavonoids from Citrus aurantium in weight-loss nutraceuticals using HPLC. Michaela Cooke(2007) Synthesis of heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes and evaluation of their potential for chemiluminescence detection.  

 

Teaching areas

Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Instrumental Analysis
Spectroscopy


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8th February 2013