Rate My Professor Greg Qiao

Professor Greg Qiao is a Professor of Macromolecular Chemistry and Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering within the Melbourne School of Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He leads the Polymer Science Group and has served as Associate Dean (Research Training) in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. Qiao obtained his B.Eng. in Polymer Engineering from Donghua University in 1982 and his Ph.D. from the University of Queensland in 1996. After completing his doctorate, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, he joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Melbourne as a Lecturer, progressing to Senior Lecturer in 2002, Associate Professor in 2005, and full Professor in 2009. His career at the University of Melbourne spans over two decades, during which he has supervised numerous graduate researchers and contributed significantly to graduate research training.

Qiao's academic interests center on macromolecules, polymer chemistry, polymer materials, and chemical engineering. His research group develops advanced polymers for diverse applications, including CO2 capture via gas separation membranes, antimicrobial peptide polymers to combat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, nanoparticle-facilitated Fenton reactions for cancer treatment, and biosorbable biopolymers for soft tissue engineering. Notable publications include 'Polymeric CO2/N2 gas separation membranes for the capture of carbon dioxide from power plant flue gases' (2006, with C.E. Powell), 'Star polymers' (2016, with J.M. Ren et al.), 'Combating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria with structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers' (2016, with S.J. Lam et al.), 'Cancer treatment through nanoparticle-facilitated fenton reaction' (2018, with H. Ranji-Burachaloo et al.), and 'Some aspects of the properties and degradation of polyacrylamides' (2002, with M.J. Caulfield and D.H. Solomon). These contributions have advanced solutions in healthcare, environmental sustainability, and materials innovation, with his laboratory exploring bio-inspired polymers such as compostable plastics from amino acids and peptide polymers targeting superbugs. Qiao maintains state-of-the-art polymer science facilities and engages in collaborative projects like ARC-funded initiatives.