Rate My Professor Erica Wanless

Professor Erica Wanless is a Professor of Chemistry in the Discipline of Chemistry, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry and a PhD in Surface Sciences from the Australian National University. After completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Otago, New Zealand, she joined the University of Newcastle as a lecturer in December 1996. She advanced through the ranks to Senior Lecturer in 2004, Associate Professor in 2007, and full Professor in 2013. Wanless served as Head of Chemistry from 2021 to 2023 and Assistant Dean Research Training in the Faculty of Science and Information Technology from 2009 to 2010. She teaches undergraduate courses in Physical, Colloid, and Surface Chemistry across levels 1000 to 3000.

Her research focuses on colloid and interface science, including surfactant adsorption kinetics, stimulus-responsive polymer coatings responsive to pH, salt, and temperature, specific ion effects, and particle-stabilized foams and emulsions for applications in mineral processing, personal care, and food products. In 2003, she published the most comprehensive study of surfactant adsorption kinetics to date. She pioneered the use of soft-contact atomic force microscopy to image surfactant layers on the molecular scale in water. Current projects include ARC Discovery grants on salt effects in hairy polymer films and polyethylene degradation for microplastic reduction, and she is a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals. Wanless has earned awards including the Jack Jacobs Trophy from the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists in 2000, University of Newcastle Inspiring Excellence Academic Award in 2021, CESE Research Supervision Excellence Award in 2021, and University of Newcastle Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2019. She held positions such as President of the Australasian Colloid and Interface Society Board (2021-2022), Chair of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Colloid and Surface Science Division (2011-2012), member of the ARC College of Experts (2017-2019), Editorial Board member of Advances in Colloid and Interface Science (since 2015), and Advisory Board member of the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (since 2016). Her international collaborations and supervision of higher degree students underscore her influence in the field.