Associate Professor John Foster
- Position: Associate Professor
- Room: S133, Samuels
- Phone: (+61 2) 9385 2054
- Fax: (+61 2) 9385 1483
- email: j.foster@unsw.edu.au
Bio/Polymer Research Group Website: http://www.biopolymers.unsw.edu.au
Professional Experience
- 2008-present: Associate Lecturer, UNSW
- 1997-2003: Lecturer, 2003-2007: Senior Lecturer, UNSW
- 1996-1997: Research Consultant, BFEurope, Cologne, Germany
- 1995-1996: Research Scientist, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
- 1993-1995: Johnson & Johnson Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
- 1988-1993: Research Associate & Senior Residence Tutor, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
Research Contribution
Dr Foster has internationally recognised expertise in the production, characterisation and potential applications of novel biopolymers. His multidisciplinary research spans the fields of polymer science and engineering to applied microbiology, and is founded on experience at both academic (Aston University, University of Massachusetts) and industrial institutions (Bayer AG, BFConsult GmbH). Research outputs from these positions were instrumental in my appointment at UNSW. Since joining UNSW, he has established a significant research program as the Bio/Polymer Research Group (BRG). Funding for his research has been generated through competitive grants and industrial support. He has established successful research collaborations with eminent researchers both nationally and internationally. As a recent measure of research success, he has completed the position of Marie Curie Incoming International Fellow at a premier research facility in Germany, Forschungszentrum-Jülich GmbH.
Since joining UNSW in S2, 1997, he has raised in excess of AU$3.2 million from industry and competitive grants. He has supervised 8 PhD and 14 Honours research students. He is an adjunct for the internationally renowned Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD)
In 2007, after 20 years of service as a Member, he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Biology (IoB, UK). He is an Oz-reader for the ARC (Discovery and Linkages) and an International Reader for the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, Germany) and the Czech Science Foundation (GA CR).
Honours & Awards
- 2008: UNSW proposal for a National Carrick Citation in Teaching Excellence (Australia)
- 2005-2007: Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship (International)
- 2004: Visiting Fellow- Aston University (UK)
- 2002: Innovative Teaching & Educational Technology Fellowship (Australia)
- 2000: Sir Anthony Mason Fellowship (Australia)
- 1993-1995: Johnson & Johnson Fellowship (USA)
Active Research Projects
Publications
- Woolnough, C.A., Yee, L.E., Charlton, T. and Foster, L.J.R. (2009)
- Environmental degradation and biofouling of ‘green’ plastics including short and medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates
- Polymer International, Accepted July, 2009
- Lauto, A; Mawad, D. & Foster, LJR. (2008)
- Adhesive Biomaterials for Tissue Reconstruction
- Chem. Tech. Biotech. 83:464-472
- Foster, LJR; Schwahn, D; Pipich, V; Holden, PJ. & Richter, D. (2008)
- Small-angle neutron scattering characterisation of polyhydroxyalkanoates and their bioPEGylated hybrids in solution
- Biomacromolecules 9:314-320
- Woolnough, C.A., Charlton, T., Yee, L.H., Sarris, M. and Foster, L.J.R. (2008)
- Surface changes in polyhydroxyalkanoate films during biodegradation and biofouling.
- Polymer International, 57:1042-1051
- Lauto, A., Foster, L.J., Avolio, A., Sampson, D., Raston, C., Sarris, M., McKenzie, G. and Stoodley, M. (2008)
- Sutureless nerve repair with laser-activated chitosan adhesive: A pilot in vivo study.
- Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 26: 227-234.
- Marcel H, Wanandy NS, Sanguanchaipaiwong V, Woolnough CE, Lauto A, Mahler SM and Foster LJR (2008)
- BioPEGylation of polyhydroxyalkanoates: Influence on properties and satellite-stem cell cycle.
- Biomacromolecules 9: 2719-2726
- Mawad, D., Foster, L.J.R. and Lauto, A. (2008)
- Drug-delivery study and estimation of polymer-solvent interaction parameter for bisacrylate ester-modified Pluronic hydrogels.
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 360: 231-235.
- Russell, R.A., Holden, P.J., Wilde, K.L., Garvey, C.J., Hammerton, K.M. and Foster, L.J.R. (2008)
- In vivo deuteration strategies for neutron scattering analysis of bacterial polyhydroxyoctanoate.
- European Biophysics Journal. 37: 711-715.
- Foster, LJR (2007)
- Biosynthesis, Properties and Potential of Natural-Synthetic Hybrids of Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Polyethylene Glycols
- Appl. Micro. Biotech. 75:1241-1247
- Lauto, A; Stoodley, M; Marcel, H; Avolio, A; Sarris, M; McKenzie, G; Sampson, DD. & Foster, LJ. (2007)
- In vitro and in vivo tissue repair with laser-activated chitosan adhesive
- Las. Surg. Med. 39:19-27
- Foster, LJR; Russell, RA; Sanguanchaipaiwong, V; Stone, DJM; Hook, JM. & Holden, PJ. (2007)
- Biosynthesis and Characterisation of Deuterated Polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO)
- Biomacromolecules 7:1344-1349
- Albertin, L; Stenzel, MH; Barner-Kowollik, C; Foster, LJR & Davis, TP. (2005)
- Well Defined Diblock Glycopolymers from RAFT Polymerisation in Homogeneous Aqueous Medium
- Macromolecules 38:9075-9084
- Foster, LJR; Sanguanchaipaiwong, V; Gabelish, C. & Hook, J. (2005)
- A Natural-Synthetic Hybrid Copolymer of Polyhydroxyoctanoate-Diethylene Glycol: Biosynthesis and Properties.
- Polymer 46:6587-6594
- Albertin, L; Stenzel, M; Barner-Kowollik, C; Foster, LJR. & Davis, TP. (2004)
- Well-Defined Glycopolymers from RAFT Polymerisation: Poly(methyl-6-O-methacryloyl-α-D-glucoside) and its Block Copolymers with 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate
- Macromolecules 37:7530-7537
- Albertin, L; Kohlert, C; Stenzel, M; Foster, LJR. & Davis, TP. (2004)
- Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Narrow-Polydispersity Glycopolymers: Poly(6-O-Vinyladipoyl-D-Glucopyranose)
- Biomacromolecules. 5:255-260
- Ben-David, EA; Holden, PJ; Stone, DJM; Harch, BD. & Foster, LJR (2004)
- The Use of Phospholipid Fatty Acid Analysis to Measure Impact of Acid Rock Drainage on Microbial Communities in Sediments
- Microb. Ecol. 48:300-315