Profile image for Feng Wang

Professor Feng Wang

Professor, Chemistry
PhD, The University of Newcastle, Australia; MSc (Quantum Chemistry by Research), Sichuan University, China; BSc (Physical Chemistry), Sichuan University, China

Biography

Dr. Feng Wang is a Professor of Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, located in Melbourne, Australia. She earned her PhD Degree from The University of Newcastle in Australia. Dr. Wang has held academic positions, including an NESRC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) Canada International Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Waterloo in Canada, The University of Melbourne in Australia, and Swinburne University of Technology. 

As a theoretical expert in molecular science and molecular spectroscopy, Dr. Wang's research has diverse applications in environmental science, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and energy materials.

Professor Wang is honored as a Fellow of both the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP). She has contributed significantly to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme (NCMAS), serving in roles such as Deputy Chair and Chair. Professor Wang serves as the Australian Research Council (ARC) as a College of Expert (CoE), she also evaluates research proposals for international National Research Agencies, including those of Canada (FRQNT), Ireland (SFI), Portugal (FCT), Czech Republic (CSF), Singapore (A*STAR), and Switzerland (SNSF).

In addition to her research contributions, Professor Wang is dedicated to education. She teaches undergraduate chemistry units across all levels (1-3 years) and mentors honors students. Dr. Wang supervises higher degree researchers (HDRs) and provides guidance to young and early-career researchers (ECRs). She has also played a  role in mentoring colleagues for academic promotions and supporting women pursuing careers in STEM for many years.

Useful Links
Video1: Professor Feng Wang discusses her recent research in robust quantum mechanical optical reporting of EGFR inhibitors at Faculti (https://faculti.net/accelerating-optical-reporting-for-conformation-of-tyrosine-kinase-inhibitors-in-solutions/?gl=AU, Dec 2022)
Video2: Rational New Dye Design (for Organic dye DSSCs) with Machine Learning and AI (DyeMaker) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EdwUKXD1UA, Mr Minh Tai Nguyen, May 2019)
Video3: Girls4STEM for high school students (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxFpA13yEws&feature=youtu.be, August 2019)
Video4: Teaching undergraduate chemistry units in digital age. (https://commons.swinburne.edu.au/items/f47ba67d-b3e4-465b-ba4d-46102c2f88ea/1/, Dec. 2018)
Audio1: Audio recording of Professor Feng Wang's Digital Chemistry Research Laboratory (https://acaudio.com/profile/1485, Feng Wang)

Useful links about Professor Feng Wang's output
Web of Science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/A-3770-2008
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6584-0516
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Feng-Wang-105
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fengwangswinburneunivaustralia/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=e1pIT7oAAAAJ&hl=en

Research interests

Scientific Computing and Visualisation; Molecular Modelling; Theoretical and Computational Chemistry; Molecular Spectroscopy; Computer Guided Materials Design

PhD candidate and honours supervision

Higher degrees by research

Accredited to supervise Masters & Doctoral students as Principal Supervisor.

PhD topics and outlines

Catalyst matterials Directions: Metal Oxides catalysts synthesis, characterization and modelling, in collaboration with CSIRO Manufacturer

Energy materials directions: Energy materials, such as H2, CO2, liquid organic H2 carrier design, green energy materials etc. using combined experimental and computational methods includingTechno-economic assessment (TEA) and Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) in collaboration with CSIRO Energy

In Silico durg design Directions: This project aims to measure and understand/modelling the basis of drug color and drug interactions through their UV-vis and/or fluorescence spectroscopy. (In collaboration with A/Prof. A. Clayton (CMP)).

Honours

Available to supervise honours students.

Honours topics and outlines

Computer aided metal complex catalysis and small drug molecule study: Molecular spectroscopic studies of molecules and materials (In collaboration  the Univ. of Melb. and Elettra Synchrotron, Italy)

Does the colour of anticancer drugs help us to understand how they work?: Quinazoline based pharmacophores are a class of organic compounds used in the clinic to help stop the growth of tumours. This project aims to measure and understand the basis of drug color and drug interactions through their UV-vis and/or fluorescence spectroscopy. (In collaboration with A/Prof. A. Clayton (CMP)).

Electronic structure and fragmentation patterns of fatty acids: Supercomputers and synchrotron sourced spectroscopic methods are employed to study fatty acids. Fatty acids provide an avenue of ion dynamics and photoionization mass spectroscopy of biomolecules. At low photon energies, we wish to know if soft ionization can reduce fragmentation.(In collaboration with Prof. Kevin Prince (Elettra, Italy))

Probe small chiral drugs using vibrational spectroscopic methods: Chirality of drug can affect the potency of the drugs. The project aiming at study drug chirality using vibrational spectroscopy supported by computational chemistry.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Sustainable Aviation Fuel studies (In collaboration with  CSIRO Energy)

Fields of Research

  • Theoretical And Computational Chemistry - 340700
  • Medicinal And Biomolecular Chemistry - 340400
  • Macromolecular And Materials Chemistry - 340300
  • Physical Chemistry - 340600

Teaching areas

Molecular Modelling;Physiccal Chemistry;Organic Chemistry;Molecular Spectroscopy;Computational and Advanced Organic Chemsitry

Awards

  • 2006, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Research Award, Swinburne University of Technology
  • 1994, International, NSERC International Postdoctoral Fellowship , Canada
  • 1990, National, The University of Newcastle Postgraduate Research Scholarship, The University of Newcastle (NSW)
  • 1990, National, Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship, DEETA (Australia)

Publications

Also published as: Wang, Feng; Wang, F.
This publication listing is provided by Swinburne Research Bank. If you are the owner of this profile, you can update your publications using our online form.

Recent research grants awarded

  • 2024: Study of Sustainable and High-Energy Density Aviation Fuels *; Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
  • 2024: Techno-economic assessment (TEA) of plasma enhanced biogas methanation process *; Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
  • 2023: Unlock the deadlock in steel corrosion research for preventing catastrophes *; ARC Discovery Projects Scheme
  • 2023: Unlocking the optimal hydrogen management issues: techno-economic analysis of cyclic and circular liquid hydrogen carriers (CCLHC) *; Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
  • 2022: Unlocking the optimal hydrogen management issues: techno-economic analysis of cyclic and circular liquid hydrogen carriers (CCLHC), CSIRO and SUT/VH2, PhD scholarship *; CSIRO Post-Grad Scholarships
  • 2021: Optical reporting of anticancer drugs and EGFR protein binding dynamics *; Defence Science Institute
  • 2019: Two dimensional (2D) nanomaterials for gas sensing applications *; Swinburne and FAPESP Priority Partnership Fund
  • 2019: Visiting Fellowships Scheme 2019 - Dr Lorenzo Avaldi *; Swinburne Research, DVCR&D - Internal contributions
  • 2018: Spectroscopy and Theoretical Study of a Potent Anticancer Drug (Student Award) *; Excellerate Australia

* Chief Investigator


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