The Sumby Doonan Group

Dr Oliver Linder-Patton

Oliver graduated from a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) in Chemistry at the University of Adelaide in 2014. He then completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry at the University of Adelaide in 2015 under the supervision of Professor Christopher Sumby and Christian Doonan, with a focus on size effects in flexible Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs). Oliver then went on to complete his PhD in Materials Chemistry at the University of Adelaide, under the supervision of Professor Christopher Sumby, Professor Christian Doonan and Dr Kenji Sumida, investigating the influence of nanoscale structuralisation on catalysis with MOFs.

Currently Oliver is working as a Postdoctoral Researcher on a series of projects with Petronas Research Sdn Bhd, with his work focused on how porous framework materials can be used to solve industrially relevant problems, including their use as supports for catalysts for CO2 to methanol conversion and as promising materials for Hydrogen Storage applications.

Dr Rashid

Rashid completed his PhD in synthetic metallo-supramolecular chemistry at the University of Queensland (UQ) in June 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Jack Clegg and Prof. John McMurtrie. His PhD work mainly involved the synthesis of new enantiopure ligands through multi-step organic synthesis and preparation of metallo-supramolecular cages and their interconversion mechanisms. He then worked on a teaching-only position at National University of Science and Technology Islamabad, Pakistan in 2020-2021. Before moving to Adelaide, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow under supervision of Prof. Paul Burn at UQ on a short term position in the development of near IR absorbing non-fullerene acceptors for use in ultrathin tandem perovskite:OPV cells. Prior to his PhD studies he worked on heterogeneous photocatalysis at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia. Currently Rashid is working on Structuralization of MOFs for catalysis application.

Dr Kate Flint

Kate completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide in 2022, under the supervision of Emeritus Professor F. Richard Keene and Professor Christopher Sumby, investigating biological interactions of ruthenium supramolecular assemblies. She has worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Adelaide with Professor Christian Doonan, most recently as a part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide. Kate is also currently an Associate Lecturer in the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences.

Outside of the lab Kate is a keen saxophonist and enjoys tasting all the amazing SA gin!

Dr Huong Nguyen

Huong graduated from a Bachelor of Science (Nanoscience & Materials) in Chemistry at the University of Adelaide in 2017. She then completed a Master of Philosophy in Chemistry at the University of Adelaide under the supervision of Associate Professor David Huang and Tak Kee, with a focus on molecular dynamics simulations of organic semiconductors used in organic solar cells. In 2019, Huong continued a PhD at the University of Adelaide under the supervision of Associate Professor David Huang and Tak Kee, with a deeper focus on the development of simulation methods for mesoscale simulations of organic semiconductors using coarse-grained models. 

Huong completed her PhD in 2024 and has since started her position as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide with Dr. Jack Evans on a project funded by Petronas Research Sdn Bhd. Her work focuses on high-level computational calculations of photocatalysts used in hydrogen production and hydrogenation. 

Dr Ian Gass

Ian completed his PhD on “Molecular Nanomagnets of Fe(III)” at the University of Edinburgh in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Euan K Brechin. He then moved to Monash University as a postdoctoral research fellow from 2008 to 2013 working under Professor Keith S Murray focussing on spin-crossover Fe(II) systems and the interplay of exchange and spin-crossover in metal radical coordination compounds. He then took up a senior lecturer position at the University of Brighton 2014 to 2023 working on metal-radical systems, metallomesogens, and carbon dioxide uptake materials. In 2023 Ian moved to Adelaide and is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide under Professor Christian Doonan and Dr Cameron Shearer in a Petronas funded project on photocatalysis and hydrogenation.

Outside of the lab Ian likes to shout at football matches, buys books that he never reads and collects records mainly for their cost and inconvenience.

Emeritus Professor F. Richard Keene

Richard Keene retired in 2012 from James Cook University where he held the title of Distinguished Professor, and moved from Townsville to Adelaide:  he is now an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Physics, Chemistry & Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide. 

Richard’s research interests have centred around the steroeochemistry of oligonuclear metal complexes – the elucidation of the effect of molecular geometry on intramolecular electron transfer; and the interaction of such complexes with nucleic acids and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents against tumour cells, and particularly against bacteria (including multidrug-resistant pathogens such as MRSA), parasites and fungi.

For more information see Richard’s researcher profile.

Dr Jack Evans

Jack recently received the discovery early career researcher award, which brought him back to Australia after working in labs throughout Europe. He uses computational chemistry methods to improve our understanding of the chemical and physical properties of emerging materials.

For more information see Jack’s researcher profile.