Hans Coster

Professor Hans Coster is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney, where he previously served as Director of Biophysics and Bioengineering. He holds an MSc and a PhD. His academic career includes a long tenure at the University of New South Wales School of Physics from 1968 to 2004. Coster's research centers on membrane science and technology, electrical impedance spectroscopy, self-assembled molecular films on silicon and gold substrates, biophysical studies of cell membranes, electrophysiology, electroporation, cell fusion, lipid bilayers, synthetic separation membranes, thin films, nanotechnology, surface characterization, surface science, biotechnology, wastewater treatment, chemical engineering, nanocomposites, nanomaterials, material characterization, and electrodes.

With over 210 publications and more than 6,600 citations, Professor Coster has made significant contributions to his fields. Notable publications include 'A quantitative analysis of the voltage-current relationships of fixed charge membranes and the associated property of “punch-through”' (1965, 405 citations), 'Direct observation of particle deposition on the membrane surface during crossflow microfiltration' (1998, 406 citations), 'The mechanism of electrical breakdown in the membranes of Valonia utricularis' (1975, 315 citations), 'Impedance spectroscopy of interfaces, membranes and ultrastructures' (1996, 294 citations), and 'Detection of reverse osmosis membrane fouling with silica, bovine serum albumin and their mixture using in-situ electrical impedance spectroscopy' (2013, 149 citations). He pioneered the use of electrical impedance spectroscopy for detecting and monitoring fouling in reverse osmosis membranes, enabling real-time, in-situ assessment that has advanced desalination, water treatment, and biorefinery processes. Coster holds patents including 'In situ membrane monitoring' and 'System for complex impedance measurement'. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE, elected 2005) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (FRSN), recognizing his distinguished work in biophysics and membrane technology.

Professional Email: hans.coster@sydney.edu.au