Associate Professor Carla Meledandri

Governance Representative Ex-officio Board Member

The MacDiarmid Institute Science Executive PI Representative

Biography

Carla Meledandri is a physical chemist and nanoscientist with a particular passion for research that connects fundamental science with real-world applications. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Penn State (PA, USA), followed by early-career research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (MD, USA) and completed her PhD from Dublin City University (Dublin, Ireland). In 2009, Carla moved to New Zealand to join the academic staff in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Otago, where she progressed to Associate Professor. Her research focused on the development of nanoscale and nanocomposite materials using colloidal chemistry techniques, with applications spanning a variety of sectors.

A strong advocate of translational research, Carla has contributed to patented technologies, commercial licensing deals and co-founded a spin-out company, where she served as Chief Scientific Officer. Recognition for her work includes the 2017 Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize. She was a MacDiarmid Institute Investigator from 2010 – 2021 and became an Emeritus Investigator in 2025.