I am an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (EL1), UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellow (CRF), and Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), as well as a core member of the Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD). My research spans multiple scientific disciplines, including materials science, optical physics, and nanotechnology, with a focus on developing advanced nanophotonic, imaging, and detection technologies.

I investigate fundamental photophysical phenomena and their underlying mechanisms to create next-generation bioanalytical tools. These tools are designed to diagnose diseases at the molecular level by using nanoscopic probes to detect biomarkers at early stages, thereby addressing critical health challenges through enhanced accuracy and accessibility in diagnostics. I have led pioneering work in materials science and nanophotonics, thoroughly characterizing their properties and applying these innovations in imaging and analytical immunoassays for diverse biomedical applications.

A. Selected Research Topics

1) Advanced Nanophotonics and Imaging Technologies
My research delves into fundamental photophysical phenomena to advance nanophotonic and imaging technologies. A key focus is on exploring and applying the properties of photonic materials for bioimaging and detection.
I developed a method for nanoscale tuning of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), establishing a comprehensive library of luminescent nanoprobes. This enables super-capacity multiplexed detection of single molecules beyond the diffraction limit, revolutionizing high-throughput digital assays.
In parallel, I designed imaging instruments and AI algorithms for multiplexed detection of pathogenic molecule. This work integrates deep learning to classify the optical fingerprints of nanoparticles, advancing the field of optical multiplexing.
I also developed fully photostimulated reversible photochromic materials with tunable dual-mode luminescence and high repeatability. My studies identified ionic valence transformation, metal nanoclusters, and defect states as key mechanisms, supporting applications in multidimensional optical data storage, information encryption, and NIR imaging. I further integrated X-ray-induced photochromism with photoluminescence for multimodal anti-counterfeiting and 3D X-ray imaging. This work was featured by the American Chemical Society press.
My research also revealed tunable energy transfer pathways and nonlinear spectral responses in UCNPs under varying excitation power, enabling super-resolution imaging and long-term tracking.
I established protocols for polymer-coated nanoprobes to enhance biocompatibility and surface functionality, facilitating high-precision single-molecule assays and multiplexed biomarker detection.
These innovations have been recognized by the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence and the NSW Premier’s Prize for Science & Engineering (Physical Sciences).
2) UCNP Strip Test for COVID-19
I led the development of a UCNP-based rapid antigen test in collaboration with Alcolizer Technology, described as a “game-changer” by the media (9News, 16.12.2021). Supported by the Innovative Manufacturing CRC (2020–2022, co-CI) and the UTS Chancellor’s Fellowship (2022–2026, Lead CI), the test detects SARS-CoV-2 within five minutes with over 1,000× greater sensitivity than commercial antigen kits.
The work has been featured by SBS (07.11.2024), the NSW Government (31.03.2025), NHMRC (16.03.2024), and 7News, among others. It won the 2022 KCA Best Research Commercialisation Award. I also received the 2025 Discovery Award (Highly Commended, Australian Health and Medical Research Awards), 2023 NHMRC Research Excellence Award, 2023 Dean’s Award for Science & Collaboration, and the 2021 ARC Research Hub Commercialisation Award.
3) Placental Insufficiency Biomarker Strip Test (SPINT1)
As lead investigator, I supervised a postdoctoral researcher and led the clinical translation of a nanoparticle-based SPINT1 strip test for detecting placental insufficiency. In collaboration with Mercy Hospital for Women and the University of Melbourne, the test achieved a tenfold improvement in sensitivity compared to existing methods.
4) Cancer Diagnostics
I am leveraging nanotechnology to develop next-generation diagnostic tools. My nanoprobe technologies are central to the ARC IDEAL Research Hub. Between 2020–2022, I led translational projects on single-molecule assays and collaborated with three Australian SMEs.
In partnership with Minomic International Ltd, I developed single-molecule antigen biomarker assays and a low-cost diagnostic device. I also collaborated with SpeeDX, supported by DISER, to create single-molecule oligo assays. In 2021, through the Australia–China Joint Research Centre for Point-of-Care Testing, I led a project funded by the Australian Government to develop an ultrasensitive multiplexed assay for five single-stranded DNAs (US patent/18040513), in collaboration with SpeeDX.

B. Prizes, Honours and Awards

2025    RSNSW Bicentennial Early Career Research and Service Citations, The Royal Society of New South Wales

2025    Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence (Early Career Research Excellence Award)

2024    NSW Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering (Early Career Researcher of the Year-Physical Sciences)
2024    Australian Health and Medical Research Awards - Discovery Award Highly Recommended
2024    Finalist of UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Awards - 2023 Early Career Research Excellence Award, UTS

2024    Shortlisted for L'Oréal-UNESCO Australia & New Zealand for Women in Science Fellowship

2024    Selected for the 2024 Franklin Women Inclusive Leadership Mentoring Program

2023    NHMRC 2023 Research Excellence Awards - NHMRC Bernie Banton Investigator Grant Award (recognising the highest-ranked applicant in 2023 Investigator Grants Emerging Leadership Scheme)
2023    Dean's Award for Science & Collaboration, UTS
2023    MAPS Awards for Research Excellence - Early Career Researchers of the Year, UTS
2023    Commercialisation Award, UTS
2021    Dean's Awards 2021, Highly Commended 'External Impact', UTS
2019    UTS Vice Chancellor’s Research Student Conference Fund
2016    UTS Top-Up Scholarship
2015    Outstanding Master’s Thesis
2014    The Graduate National Scholarship (highest-ranked applicant)

2014    Special Recognition Award (highest-ranked applicant)

2014    Scholarship of Wu Da Guan (highest-ranked applicant)
2013    The Excellent Graduate Student
2012    The Excellent Bachelor’s Thesis / Municipal Merit Student
C. Selected Grants Support  

2026 WUN Research Development Fund (CI)

2025 Industry collaboration project (Lead CI)

2025 CRC SAAFE Kickstart Project (CI)

2025 MCR Research Capabilities Development Initiative (Lead CI)

2025 Faculty of Science Seed Funding (Lead CI)

2024 Collaboration Project with University of Melbourne (UoM) (Lead CI)
2023 Collaboration Project with UoM (Lead CI)
2023 NHMRC Emerging Leadership Level 1 Fellowship (Highest ranking) (Lead CI)
2023 Faculty of Science Seed Funding (Lead CI)
2023 The iCare Grant, Dust Diseases Board (co CI)
2022 Chancellor's Research Fellowship (Lead CI) 
2021 CRB Development Funds (Lead CI)
2020 Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre Fund (co CI)
2019 Vice Chancellor’s Research Student Conference Fund (Lead CI)
D. Selected Professional Activities and Services 
(1) Journal Editorial Services
  - Member of the Youth Editorial Board of Exploration
  - Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports
  - Guest editor of Nanomaterials
  - Member of Editorial Board of Journal of Biomaterials
  - Youth Editorial Board of View
  - Editorial Board Member of Journal of Optics and Photonics Research 
  - Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Chemistry
  - Guest Editor of JoVE
(2) Journal Review (>2 per month): 
Chemical Society Reviews, Matter, Science Advances, Advanced Materials, JACS, ACS Nano, Nano Energy, Nano Letters, Advanced Functional Materials, Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Nanobiotechnology, Chemical Engineering Journal, Biointerfaces, Bioconjugate Chemistry, Environmental Pollution, Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Oncology, Journal of Luminescence, Bioactive Materials, Ceramics International, et al.
(3) UTS Services
  - Member of the Research Professional Development Advisory Committee 
  - Member of the Faculty Research Degrees Committee
  - HDR Panel