Rate My Professor Clovia Holdsworth

Professor Clovia Holdsworth serves as Head of School of Science within the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She earned her PhD from Griffith University, MSc in Chemistry from De La Salle University in the Philippines, and Graduate Certificate in the Practice of Tertiary Teaching from the University of Newcastle. Holdsworth began her academic career at De La Salle University, advancing from Assistant Lecturer in 1985 to Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Science by 2001. Joining the University of Newcastle in 2002 as a part-time Research Associate, she transitioned to a full-time Lecturer position in 2006, progressed to Senior Lecturer in 2013 and Associate Professor in 2019, and assumed various leadership roles including Head of Chemistry Discipline (2014-2015 and 2018-2019), Deputy Head of School for Teaching and Learning (2019-2022), Research Training (2023), Acting Head of School of Environmental and Life Sciences (2023-2024), before her current appointment.

Trained as a polymer chemist, Professor Holdsworth's research focuses on molecularly imprinted polymers for use as extractants and sensing materials, with expertise in supramolecular chemistry, sensor technology, and macromolecular materials. Her contributions include pioneering MIP synthesis using ionic liquids as porogens, microwave irradiation, and development of two-dimensional MIP films. She has collaborated on projects involving plasma polymerisation of greenhouse gases and capillary electrophoresis with MIPs. In teaching, she coordinates and delivers courses in organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental methods, and polymer chemistry at undergraduate levels. Holdsworth has received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2010), multiple Faculty Teaching and Learning Awards (2008/2009, 2011, 2014, 2018), CESE Leadership Excellence Award (2022), and Balik Scientist Program recognition (2010). Notable publications encompass 'Molecular Imprinting Made Easy' (Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2004), 'Preparation and Binding Evaluation of Histamine-Imprinted Polymers' (2016), and 'Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Using a Functionalized Initiator' (2020).