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Principal Investigators

Our people

Professor Geoff Willmott

Principal Investigator

Towards Zero Waste - Reconfigurable Systems

Phone:: +64 9 373 7599, ext. 89992

Address:
The Departments of Physics and Chemistry
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland

g.willmott@auckland.ac.nz

Biography

Geoff grew up in Auckland and studied at the University of Cambridge, obtaining a PhD in shock physics in 2005. The following year he returned to New Zealand and Industrial Research Limited, where he worked in the Nano and Micro Fluidics team for 8 years. He joined the University of Auckland in 2013 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Physics and the School of Chemical Sciences.

Geoff has collaborated with industrial partners including Qinetiq, de Beers and Izon Science, and has previously worked in management consultancy. He currently leads the Institute’s “Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter” Theme and was awarded a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship in 2012.

Research interests

Nanofluidics is the study and application of fluid flow in and around nanoscale structures, inspired by microfluidics, nanoscience and biotechnology. The range of tools available to researchers who wish to manipulate fluids at the nanoscale is presently limited.

We use theory and experimentation to develop novel tools for harnessing nanofluidic transport. Key research topics include tunable nanopores, capillarity and motion of phase boundaries, and drop splashes on water-repellent surfaces.

It’s great to see this flow from fundamental research to applied technology.
Professor Geoff Willmott

In the news

News Article

Celebrating Matariki values in our research

June 27, 2024

Deputy Director Māori, Associate Professor Pauline Harris, explores some of our research that relates to the values of Matariki.

Annual Report

2023 Funding successes - Annual Report 2023

April 13, 2024

Funding successes for our Investigators and their research programmes during 2023.

Annual Report

Understanding the spread of plant diseases to tackle some of Aotearoa's major ecological threats - Annual Report 2023

April 13, 2024

The biology and mechanisms used by Phytophthora species to infect host plants and how they adapt to environmental stress.

Annual Report

Board Chair’s report - Annual Report 2023

April 12, 2024

I continue to be amazed and inspired as I look across the breadth of mahi undertaken by the Institute.

Annual Report

Co-Directors’ Report - Annual Report 2023

April 12, 2024

2023 was a year full of activity, and we are pleased to share this report on the Institute's progress.

News Article

We welcome two new Deputy Directors

July 3, 2023

We welcome Associate Professors Anna Garden and Natalie Plank as our new Deputy Directors, and bid farewell from our directorship team to Professor Paul Kruger and Associate Professor Geoff Willmott.

Annual Report

Funding successes - Annual Report 2022

April 19, 2023

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2022. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Annual Report

Journal Covers - Annual Report 2021

June 2, 2022

This page lists the various scientific journal covers that featured MacDiarmid Institute Investigators work in 2021.

Annual Report

Funding successes - Annual Report 2021

May 9, 2022

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2021. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

News Article

Developing highly functional and tailorable surface coatings

February 22, 2022

New Associate Investigator Dr Taniela Lolohea is using some of his MacDiarmid funding for Pasifika science projects.

Annual Report

Alumni engagement

April 1, 2021

We continue to celebrate the achievements of our alumni – in academia, government and industry.

The emerging field of mechanobiology

March 31, 2021

Physics biology collaborations are forging mechanobiology – a research area key to understanding health and disease.

Annual Report

Materials science in the new energy sector

June 11, 2020

In May, the Government hosted the Just Transition summit in Taranaki on preparing for a low emissions economy,

In The Media

Deep tech and the Māori economy can be the backbone of NZ’s recovery

June 4, 2020

Geoff Willmott discusses how the tech sector and the Māori economy is well-placed to lead New Zealand's recovery from Covid-19.

Annual Report

How can materials science offer a greener future for our planet? - Annual Report 2019

May 28, 2020

In 2019, we focused our annual regional showcase on 'NZ Innovation for Sustainability.'

In The Media

The cure for climate change could be in our own backyard

May 4, 2019

The answers to sustainability goals and energy commitments must involve materials research happening in New Zealand, writes Dr Geoff Willmott.

News Article

MacDiarmid researchers successful in latest MBIE round

September 14, 2018

The MacDiarmid Institute is pleased to share the following successes from MacDiarmid researchers in this year’s MBIE Endeavour fund round.

Annual Report

1.6 Using physics to boost New Zealand’s milk powder export industry - Annual Report 2017

May 18, 2018

Unlike most of us, when physicist Dr Geoff Willmott thinks about milk, he thinks about droplets, surfaces and heat - and he’s eager to use surface interactions to solve problems in the dairy industry.