Aaron Schultz

Position

Lecturer in Animal Biology

Faculty

Faculty of Sci Eng & Built Env

Department

School of Life & Env. Sciences

Campus

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Deakin University, 2011
Bachelor of Science (Biological Science), Deakin University, 2005

Contact

aaron.schultz@deakin.edu.au
+61 3 924 45433

Biography

Dr. Aaron Schultz completed his PhD at Deakin University in 2010, where his studies focused on fish physiology, and fish health and disease in aquaculture. He then held a Postdoctoral fellow position (2010-2012) and Research Associate position (2012-2014) in Professor Greg Goss's laboratory at the University of Alberta, Canada. Dr. Schultz's main research interests lie in examining the transformation and behaviour of engineered nanomaterial’s in complex media, the uptake mechanisms and potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterial’s on living systems, and potential therapeutic applications of nanomaterials in medicine.

Awards

2015 - Disease Models and Mechanisms Travelling Fellowship (http://dmm.biologists.org/site/about/fellowships/TF2015.xhtml)

2012 - Awarded “Best PDF Research Seminar”, CSZ 2012 Meeting in Sackville, NB, Canada (see link http://www.csz-scz.ca/awards/pdf/recipients.html#top)

2011 - Canadian Society of Zoologists Travel Award
Helped fund attendance at the ICCPB 2011 Conference in Nagoya, Japan

2011 - Canadian Society of Zoologists Travel Award
Helped fund attendance at the CSZ Meeting in Ottawa, Canada

2007 - Company of Biologists Travelling Fellowship from SEB
Helped fund a research trip to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, BC, Canada

Projects

What do socks, wound dressings, cosmetics, sunscreens, teddy bears, washing
machines, and medical devices all have common? Each of these products contain engineered nanomaterial’s (NMs), which are man-made materials ranging in size from 1 – 100 nm. Due to theirsmall size and unique surface properties, NMs have many desirable and useful properties, and in recent years they have shown great promise for improving the treatment of a number of diseases, including cancer. However, NMs can also interact with living cells in potentially undesirable and toxic manners and it is, therefore, very important for us to understand any potential adverse effects of NMs on humans and other organisms in the environment.

My research examines the transformation of engineered nanomaterial’s in complex media, and the uptake mechanisms and toxicity of engineered nanomaterial’s on living systems. This research will provide important nanotoxicological profiles to government and health agencies, which will aid in the development of policies and regulations for the safe manufacture, handling and disposal of NMs to limit future human and environmental exposure.

I am also a co-investigator in a new collaborative project that is examinging the potential therapeutic application of novel nanomaterials to treat neurological diseases and cancer.

For more information on nanotoxicology please see my recent review article: Schultz, A.G, et al. Environmental Chemistry, 2014, 11, 207-226 (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/188/paper/EN13221.htm).