Jiajia Zhao

I’m Jiajia, a PhD student at RMIT University. I finished my Bachelors degree at Hebei University (China), where I majored in inorganic nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications.

I received my Masters degree in Materials Engineering, during which I worked on self-assembly of fullerene nanomaterials at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2018, I began my PhD research into catalyst development for CO₂ hydrogenation.

Skills

  • Preparation of inorganic nanoparticles & carbon nanomaterials
  • Structural characterisation
    • Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
    • Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis)
    • In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in-situ DRIFT)
    • In-operando synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction
    • Rietveld refinement analysis using TOPAS software
    • Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
    • Inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP)
    • X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
    • Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF)
    • Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • In vitro: cell culture, microplate reader, confocal fluorescence microscope, and flow cytometry
  • In vivo: small-animal magnetic resonance imaging system, small-animal bioluminescence imaging, small-animal ultrasound imaging
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PhD project

Prior work

  • Undergraduate project (2012-2015): Synthesis of rare earth metal nanoparticles and their photocatalytic properties 
    • Hydrothermal synthesis of SnO₂ nano-powders and their photocatalytic properties 
    • Preparation & enhancement of luminescent intensity of new rare earth molybdate NaLa(MoO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphors 
  • Postgraduate project (2015-2018): Fullerene nanoparticles as biomedical materials 
    • C70[(COOH)₂]₃ & Gd-DO3A were linked by PEG to form self-assembled nanoclusters 
    • These nanoclusters have an enhanced T₁ contrast ability and MRI -guided photodynamic therapy

Publications

Papers

  • Zhai, Y-Q, Zhao, Q, Wang, M, Zhao, J-J, Liu, X, & Li, Y-M (2015). 'Hydrothermal synthesis of SnO2 nanopowders and their photocatalytic properties', Journal of Applied Chemical Science International, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 191-196.
  • Zhai, Y-Q, Ma, J, Hu, Z-C, Zhao, J-J, Yang, M-Y, & Zhao, L (2014). 'Preparation and enhancement of luminescent intensity of new rare earth molybdate NaLa(MoO4)2:Eu3+ Phosphors', Asian Journal of Chemistry, vol. 26, no. 11, pp. 3129-3133. DOI: doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2014.15832.
  • Zhai, Y-Q, Ma, J, Hu, Z-C, Zhao, J-J, Cui, Y-X & Song, S-S (2013). 'Synthesis and luminescent properties of red-emitting phosphors NaLa(MoO4)2:Eu3+ by microwave-assisted sol-gel method', Journal of Synthetic Crystals, vol. 42, no. 7, pp. 1323-1329.
  • Ma, H-J, Zhao, J-J, Meng, Haibing, Hu, D-N, & Zhou, Y (2020 ). ‘Carnosine-modified fullerene as a highly enhanced ROS scavenger for mitigating acute oxidative stress’, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 12, pp. 16104−16113. DOI: doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c01669.

Patents

  • C. R. Wang, J. J. Zhao, C. Y. Shu, and M. Y. Guan, “Synthesis of metal complex with polyazan ligand based on fullerene and application for MRI and photodynamic therapy,” Chinese Patent 201711066996.6, Nov. 2, 2017.
  • C. R. Wang, J. J. Zhao, C. Y. Shu, D. Sun, M. R. Guan, S. Liu, and C. L. Bai, “Preparation and application of fullerene phthalocyanine derivative,” Chinese Patent 201810326303.0, Apr. 12, 2018.

Further information

  • Joint Senior Supervisors: Prof. Ivan Cole (RMIT University) & Prof. Rachel Caruso (RMIT University)
  • Associate Supervisor 1: Dr Yunxia Yang (CSIRO)
  • Associate Supervisor 2: Dr Renata Lippi (Australian Synchrotron)
  • Associate Supervisor 3: Dr Anita D’Angelo (Australian Synchrotron)
  • Dr Anita D’Angelo (Australian Synchrotron)

Honours and awards

  • National Encouragement Scholarship, first-class scholarship of Hebei University (2011-2012)
  • Merit Student, second-class scholarship of Hebei University (2012-2013)
  • Group Leader of College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (2013-2014)
  • Excellent Graduation Thesis, third-class scholarship of Hebei University (2014-2015)
  • AINSE Postgraduate Research Awards (2019-2022)
  • AIM 21 Best Presentation by an Early Career Researcher Award (2021)

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.