What is the problem you are trying to address?
Communicating with the nervous system in our body using electronic devices is an exciting new method to treat diseases or create artificial sensory devices. However, hard and inflexible electronic materials like metals and silicon have poor biocompatibility, leading to problems communicating with the soft, flexible nerve cells in our bodies.
What is your research doing to solve this problem?
Matthew’s research focuses on using soft carbon-based electronic materials to solve this problem. By tuning the chemical and mechanical properties of these materials, his team creates electronically active bio-inks that can be printed into soft and flexible interfaces that communicate with nerve cells – all using openly available technology developed as part of the Australian National Fabrication Facility.
Public outreach or science communication outputs:
Matthew loves to share his passion for STEM. His extensive public engagement includes initiating the official podcast for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, building and demonstrating printed electronics interactive exhibitions, government advocacy, and frequent media commentary, public presentations, and primary and secondary school visits.
Matthew completed his PhD at the University of Wollongong in 2012 and is currently leads the Bioelectronic Nanomaterials group in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.