Rate My Professor Damian Laird

Dr. Damian Laird is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics at Murdoch University, where he holds the position of Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching in the Chemistry and Minerals section. He obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2003, with a focus on Marine Natural Products Chemistry. Laird joined Murdoch University in 2005, initially affiliated with the School of Engineering and Information Technology, before transitioning to his current school. His research encompasses chemical analysis of organic molecules, analytical techniques for mineral and ore samples, nanomaterials for photocatalysis and energy storage, biodegradable plastics derived from algal biomass, microalgae biotechnology for products like phytosterols and heme, stability of soil organic carbon under various amendments, and evaluations of seaweed additives in cattle feed for methane reduction.

With 39 publications and over 1,297 citations, Laird has made contributions to several key areas. Prominent publications include 'Zn Metal Atom Doping on the Surface Plane of One-Dimensional TiO2 Nanotubes for Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production' published in 2020 in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, cited 96 times; 'Egg shell membrane template stabilises formation of β-NiMoO4 nanowires and enhances hybrid supercapacitor behaviour' from 2018, cited 38 times; 'Sodium peroxide fusion for reliable determination of gold in ores and metallurgical samples'; 'Halogenated Cyclic Peptides Isolated From the Sponge Corticium sp.'; and 'Contributions of Root Water Soluble Carbohydrates during Grain Filling in Wheat under Drought Conditions' in 2016. He has supervised doctoral research, including theses on phytosterol production from Phaeodactylum tricornutum in 2020, heme production from microalgae in 2024, and stability of soil organic carbon under different amendments projected for 2026. Additionally, Laird has collaborated on projects investigating environmentally friendly bioplastics and algal applications for addressing iron deficiency. As Associate Dean, he oversees the Chemistry major and contributes to educational leadership at the university.