STAFF PROFILE
Professor Rajesh Ramanathan
Professor Rajesh Ramanathan is an interdisciplinary scientist, research leader and innovator with a strong passion for using nanotechnology and materials chemistry for biological applications.
Professor Rajesh Ramanathan is a self-driven researcher and gifted team leader who has built strong capabilities in materials science, nanobiotechnology and Analytical Chemistry to advance knowledge in applying nanotechnology to healthcare. His passion for research translation has enabled him to foster partnerships with national and international academic institutes and industries to create real world impact.
He has published over 85 peer-reviewed articles in the highest quality outlets including Nature Communications, and Advanced Materials, among many others. He is a named inventor on over 20 patents and has a medical technology licensed to an Australian Start-up. He is consistently recognised for his performance excellence through several awards.
He is keen to translate his cutting-edge research into accessible and engaging materials for professional and public audiences. He is currently the President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) VIC Branch.
Please look at my website for further information: https://rajeshramanathan.owlstown.net
Research
Prof Ramanathan's research is highly multidisciplinary underpinned by a strong focus on nanobiotechnology. His research is focused on creating new nanomaterials and manipulating nanomaterial characteristics to control the interface between nanoparticles and biomolecules. He uses this expertise to create new sensing technologies, antimicrobial surfaces, imaging modalities and catalysts.
Examples include creating sensor technologies to detect a range of biologically relevant analytes, chemicals and environmental pollutants, creating new photoactive materials to tackle antimicrobial resistance, modulating the interaction between nanomaterials and biomolecules, creating efficient catalysts for pollutant degradation and water splitting reactions, and creating new nanomaterials with interesting properties.
Teaching
I have expertise in curriculum development, program management of the OUA Bachelors program and teaching a range of courses including Biological Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Chemistry Fundamentals.
- 2012 - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), RMIT University
- 2006 - Master of Biotechnology (MBiotech.), RMIT University
- 2004 - Bachelor of Science (Botany & Biotech.), Ruia College, University of Mumbai
Awards
- 2022 - Hartung Lecturer Award, Royal Australian Chemical Institute VIC Branch
- 2022 - Rising Star Award, Ruia College Alumni Association & the Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai, India
- 2019 - Philip Law Postdoctoral Award for Physical Sciences, Royal Society of Victoria
- 2018 - AkzoNobel Chemical Start-up Finalist, Imagine Chemistry collaborative innovation challenge (Nouryon)
- 2017 - Vice Chancellor Research Excellence Award, RMIT University
- 2017 - Design to Improve Life Award Finalist, INDEX, Denmark (Rated top 50 life changing innovative designs from 1400 nominations across 85 countries)
- 2016 - Hitachi Social Impact Prize – Connected Health, Hitachi Social Innovation Awards
- 2016 - Global Media Star, RMIT University
Professional Activities and memberships
- President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) VIC Branch
- Royal Society of Victoria (RSV)
- Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN)
- Sarkar, D.,Weerathunge, P.,Ramanathan, R.,Bansal, V., et al, . (2023). Aptamer-based NanoBioSensors for seafood safety In: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 219, 1 - 29
- Bagree, G.,Srivastava, T.,Mahasivam, S.,Sinha, M.,Bansal, V.,Ramanathan, R.,Priya, S.,Sharma, S. (2023). Differential interactions of a-synuclein conformers affect refolding and activity of proteins In: Journal of biochemistry, 173, 107 - 114
- Singh, M.,Ingle, A.,Gonzalez, A.,Mariathomas, P.,Ramanathan, R.,Taylor, P.,Christofferson, A.,Spencer, M.,Low, M.,Ahmed, T.,Walia, S.,Bansal, V., et al, . (2023). Repairing and Preventing Photooxidation of Few-Layer Black Phosphorus with ß-Carotene In: ACS Nano, 17, 8083 - 8097
- Bagree, G.,De Silva, G.,et al, .,Bansal, V.,Ramanathan, R. (2023). a-synuclein as a promising biomarker for developing diagnostic tools against neurodegenerative synucleionopathy disorders In: TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 159, 1 - 17
- Pablo Sainz-Ezquerra, A.,Taitt, R.,Riporto, F.,Mugnier, Y.,Mariathomas, P.,Le Dantec, R.,Aouine, M.,Geantet, C.,Ramanathan, R.,Bansal, V.,Chevolot, Y.,Monnier, . (2023). Synergetic Peroxidase-Mimic Catalytic Activity of Noble-Metal-Decorated Lithium Niobate Nanozymes for Potential Biological Applications In: ACS Applied Nano Materials, 6, 13166 - 13176
- Zou, W.,Ramanathan, R.,Urban, S.,Sinclair, C.,King, K.,Tinker, R.,Bansal, V. (2022). Sunscreen testing: A critical perspective and future roadmap In: TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 157, 1 - 19
- Naveen Prasad, S.,Anderson, S.,Joglekar, M.,Hardikar, A.,Bansal, V.,Ramanathan, R. (2022). Bimetallic nanozyme mediated urine glucose monitoring through discriminant analysis of colorimetric signal In: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 212, 1 - 10
- Hussain, Z.,Ojha, R.,La, D.,Abdellah, A.,Bhosale, S.,Martin, L.,Bond, A.,Ramanathan, R.,Bansal, V. (2022). Galvanic replacement of anions in metal-organic semiconductors: a spontaneous redox reaction between TCNQ1- and TCNQF40 (TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) In: Materials Today Chemistry, 26, 1 - 10
- Ingle, A.,Singh, M.,Abbas, S.,Murdoch, B.,Mayes, E.,Spencer, M.,Ramanathan, R.,Bansal, V. (2022). Reactive Oxygen Species Sequestration Induced Synthesis of ß-PbO and Its Polymorphic Transformation to a-PbO at Atomically Thin Regimes In: ACS Nano, 16, 10679 - 10691
- De Silva, G.,Singh, M.,Mahasivam, S.,Mahmood, N.,Murdoch, B.,Ramanathan, R.,Bansal, V. (2022). Importance of Phase Purity in Two-Dimensional ß-Co(OH)2for Driving Oxygen Evolution In: ACS Applied Nano Materials, 5, 12209 - 12216
16 PhD Completions and 1 Masters by Research Completions8 PhD Current Supervisions and 1 Masters by Research Current Supervisions
- ARC Research Hub for Molecular Biosensors at Point-of-Use (MOBIUS) [Administered by La Trobe University]. Funded by: ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub via other University Grant from (2025 to 2029)
- Rational design of array-based nanozyme sensors. Funded by: ARC-Discovery Projects from (2023 to 2026)
- Metal-organic semiconductor-based sensing and photocatalytic nanotechnologies for environmental pollution management (administered by King Saud University). Funded by: Ministry of Education (Saudi Arabia) - Competitive from (2021 to 2023)
- DREAM-Nano Study: Developing a Robust and Efficient Analytical Method for diabetes progression using Nanotechnology (Administered by Western Sydney Uni). Funded by: The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust - Grant from (2017 to 2023)
- Photochemical toolkit based on TCNQ(F) metal-organic semiconducting hybrids. Funded by: 010-ARC Discovery Projects 2017 from (2017 to 2021)