Principal Investigators

Our people

Associate Professor Franck Natali

Associate Professor Franck Natali

Principal Investigator

Towards Low Energy Tech - Hardware for Future Computing

Phone:
+64 4 463 5809

Address:
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P O Box 600
Wellington 6140

Biography

Franck Natali received his MSc degree (2000) in Electronic Engineering from the University of Bordeaux, France, and his PhD degree in physics from the University of Nice, France (2003). He is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington.

Before Franck joined Victoria University of Wellington, he spent 2 years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch and 2 years as a research operator on MBE systems inside Riber, a world leading supplier of molecular beam epitaxy products and services to the compound semiconductor community. He has been a Principal Investigator with the MacDiarmid Institute since 2010.

Research interests

Most of Franck's scientific research spans from semiconductor material science, including ultra-high vacuum technology, epitaxial growth, structural, electrical and optical characterizations, to the fabrication of devices such as light emitting diodes and transistors.

His work on the description-comprehension of the epitaxial growth processes as well as the understanding-control of materials properties is driven with the aim of technological progresses in the electronic (powerful transistors for broadcast communications, etc) and optoelectronics (energy savings) sectors.

There is a need to research how we deal with the increase of data, and we need more and more advanced devices to address this problem.

Associate Professor Franck Natali
Associate Professor Franck Natali

In the news

News Article

Celebrating Matariki values in our research

July 13, 2023

Deputy Director Māori, Dr Pauline Harris, sets out below some of the research of the MacDiarmid Institute that relates to the values of Matariki.

Read more about Celebrating Matariki values in our research

News Article

Three Independent Postdoctoral Fellowships awarded

May 24, 2023

The MacDiarmid Institute has three new Independent Postdoctoral Fellows.

Read more about Three Independent Postdoctoral Fellowships awarded

Annual Report

MESA is born

April 21, 2023

Principal Investigator Associate Professor Natalie Plank recalls walking into the offices of the Deputy Director and Centre Manager back in 2010 and pitching the idea for a MacDiarmid Institute student-led organisation

Read more about MESA is born

Annual Report

Patent applications - Annual Report 2022

April 20, 2023

One of the early considerations on the path to market for materials science is what should be patented and why.

Read more about Patent applications - Annual Report 2022

Annual Report

Spin-outs formed in 2022

April 20, 2023

Matthew Cowan – University of Canterbury
Permeance Limited

Laura Domigan – University of Auckland
Opo Bio Limited

Franck Natali - Victoria University of Wellington
Liquium

Shane...

Read more about Spin-outs formed in 2022

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.

Read more about Funding successes - Annual Report 2022

News Article

Hon. Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Research, Science, and Innovation visits VUW labs

November 4, 2022

We hosted a visit by Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Research, Science, and Innovation at our MacDiarmid Institute labs.

Read more about Hon. Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Research, Science, and Innovation visits VUW labs

News Article

MacDiarmid Institute researchers one third of KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards finalists

August 19, 2022

Six MacDiarmid Institute researchers are among 18 finalists selected for the annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.

Read more about MacDiarmid Institute researchers one third of KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards finalists

Annual Report

Science for a sustainable future

May 27, 2022

The 2021 Regional Lecture Series was able to go ahead in-person this year, with the theme of Science for a Sustainable Future.

Read more about Science for a sustainable future

Annual Report

Sponsoring our first House of Science branch

May 27, 2022

We continue our long-time sponsorship of the House of Science. This time we have sponsored the House of Science Horowhenua Branch.

Read more about Sponsoring our first House of Science branch

Annual Report

World Geothermal Congress in collaboration with Whakarewarewa Living Village

May 4, 2022

Our Investigators Associate Professor Franck Natali and Dr Pauline Harris gave online oral presentations at the World Geothermal Congress (WGC).

Read more about World Geothermal Congress in collaboration with Whakarewarewa Living Village

In The Media

RNZ’s Our Changing World: Revolutionising Ammonia Production

April 5, 2022

Associate Investigator, Associate Professor Franck Natali on the Breakthrough Energy Fellowship enabling his team to research reducing the energy cost of ammonia production.

Read more about RNZ’s Our Changing World: Revolutionising Ammonia Production

News Article

Associate Professor Franck Natali joins inaugural Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program

October 19, 2021

Associate Professor Franck Natali, has been accepted to the Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program.

Read more about Associate Professor Franck Natali joins inaugural Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program

News Article

Liquid metals that create nanostructure - it’s the little details that count

March 8, 2021

PhD candidate and MacDiarmid Institute researcher Stephanie Lambie from successfully kick-started a new collaboration with FLEET.

Read more about Liquid metals that create nanostructure - it’s the little details that count

Annual Report

Patents and Spinouts 2019 - Annual Report 2019

May 27, 2020

This article from our 2019 Annual Report provides information about the MacDiarmid Institute's latest inventions, patents and spinouts.

Read more about Patents and Spinouts 2019 - Annual Report 2019

Annual Report

Funding successes - Annual Report 2019

May 26, 2020

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2019. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Read more about Funding successes - Annual Report 2019

Annual Report

Awards - Annual Report 2019

May 26, 2020

This article from our 2019 Annual Report provides information about the range of awards received by MacDiarmid Institute Investigators over the past year.

Read more about Awards - Annual Report 2019

Annual Report

Disruptive science for sustainable fertiliser

April 21, 2020

Globally, ammonia-based fertilisers are responsible for supporting 50 percent of the world’s food production and is one of the single largest chemical industrial processes on Earth.

Read more about Disruptive science for sustainable fertiliser

In The Media

Dr Franck Natali in a good position to create impact

August 26, 2019

A new Viclink position is helping Dr Franck Natali commercialise his many ideas to begin solving real-world problems sooner.

Read more about Dr Franck Natali in a good position to create impact

Annual Report

2018 funding successes - Annual Report 2018

April 8, 2019

Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2018. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Read more about 2018 funding successes - Annual Report 2018

Annual Report

Patents and spinouts 2018 - Annual Report 2018

April 8, 2019

This article from our 2018 Annual Report provides information about the MacDiarmid Institute's latest inventions, patents and spinouts.

Read more about Patents and spinouts 2018 - Annual Report 2018

Annual Report

Industry pathways for science graduates - Annual Report 2018

April 8, 2019

How do you go from a physics lab to Rocket Lab? Or from a chemistry lab to a new start-up company?

Read more about Industry pathways for science graduates - Annual Report 2018

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.

Read more about MacDiarmid researchers successful in latest MBIE round

In The Media

How to cool down your data

July 19, 2018

Whether you’re mining bitcoin or Googling yourself, you’re creating a lot of heat somewhere.

Read more about How to cool down your data

In The Media

Building electronics atom by atom

February 24, 2016

Victoria University of Wellington has unveiled a unique piece of equipment used to make everyday electronics by layering atoms on top of each other very precisely.

Read more about Building electronics atom by atom

Events

Science for a Sustainable Future - Tauranga (22 November)

November 4, 2021

Assoc Prof Franck Natali and Dr Emilia Nowak talk about the new research programmes, our Institute, and what the start of the new contract means for us.

Read more Science for a Sustainable Future - Tauranga (22 November)

To Industry and Beyond - Nelson (3 November)

September 28, 2022

Associate Professor Franck Natali and Dr Maryam Shojaei focus on pathways from science to industry as part of "To Industry and Beyond".

Read more To Industry and Beyond - Nelson (3 November)

Podcasts

Element of the Week - Aluminium (Al)

Element of the Week - Aluminium (Al)

December 2, 2019

Dr Franck Natali introduces the element Aluminium on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.

Read more about Element of the Week - Aluminium (Al)

Element of the Week - Indium (In)

Element of the Week - Indium (In)

September 9, 2019

Principal Investigator Dr Franck Natali introduces the element Indium on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.

Read more about Element of the Week - Indium (In)

Element of the Week - Nitrogen (N)

Element of the Week - Nitrogen (N)

August 19, 2019

Principal Investigator Dr Franck Natali introduces the element Nitrogen on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.

Read more about Element of the Week - Nitrogen (N)

Element of the Week - Thallium (Tl)

Element of the Week - Thallium (Tl)

October 21, 2019

Principal Investigator Dr Franck Natali introduces the element Thallium on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.

Read more about Element of the Week - Thallium (Tl)

Videos

2016 Lecture Series: A Materials History of the World

February 16, 2019

Dr Franck Natali and 'Nanogirl' Dr Michelle Dickinson present A Materials History of the World.

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