Dr Gretel Png

• Biography/ Background

  ** This page is still work in progress **

  Since March 2012, I have been an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Postdoctoral Research Fellow. I am interested in peptides (short chains of amino acid) that are associated with amyloidosis (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Type II diabetes). I study these peptides with terahertz/far infrared radiation. I would like to know if these peptides can be used as an early detection marker for some of the diseases in the class of amyloidosis.

  I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (and soon also on Fridays). On Thursdays, I research playgrounds with my boisterous little one. You can usually find us at one of the many awesome playgrounds in Adelaide.

  I received my PhD degree in 2010 in Adelaide, Australia; my MSc degree in 2003 in California, USA; my BEng degree in 1997 in Edinburgh, Scotland. In between my degrees, I worked in industry as an electrical engineer in Asia, Scandinavia, and the Middle East. I have been very lucky to have seen and experienced first hand so many countries, diverse cultures, and languages in my life.

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• Qualifications

  PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Adelaide

  Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (by coursework), University of California at Irvine, USA

  Graduate Certificate in University Studies, University of California at Irvine, USA

  Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Electrical Engineering (with first class honours), The University of Edinburgh, UK

  ...and I am (slowly) working towards my

  Graduate Certificate in Education, The University of Adelaide

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• Awards & Achievements

  2012   Letter of commendation from the Chief Scientist for South Australia for quality of PhD research

  2011   ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

  2010   Letter of commendation from the Dean of Graduate Studies (The University of Adelaide) for quality of Thesis

  2010   Faculty and School winner of the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, The University of Adelaide

  2009   ICAVS/ACOVS Conference Student Bursary

  2008   Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) South Australia Travel Award

  2008   Jack Loader Research Scholarship (for research into Alzheimer's disease)

  2008   Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW) Fellowship

  2008   Australian Federation of University Women-South Australia (AFUW-SA) Barbara Crase Bursary

  2008   Finalist of the Google Australia and New Zealand Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship

  2008   Walter and Dorothy Duncan Trust, The University of Adelaide

  2007   Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) J R Beard Travel Award

  2007   AFUW-SA Daphne Elliott Bursary

  2007   International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) Educational Scholarship

  2006   AUGU/RC Heddle Award, The University of Adelaide

  2006   International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) Educational Scholarship

  2005   Research Abroad Scholarship, The University of Adelaide

  2005   Mutual Community Postgraduate Travel Grant, The University of Adelaide

  2004   Cooperative Research Centre for Sensor Signal and Information Processing Scholarship, Australia

  2004   Excellence in Teaching and Teaching Assistant Mentoring Award, University of California at Irvine, USA

  2003   Australian Postgraduate Award (for commencement of studies in 2004)

  2003   National Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure Research Assistantship Grant, USA

  1997   Harold Dickinson Memorial Prize for Outstanding Dissertation Studies, The University of Edinburgh, UK

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• Teaching Interests

  Signal and Systems, Digital Signal Processing, first year Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics, Electronics

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• Research Interests

  Terahertz/Far infrared protein spectroscopy, Alzheimer's disease, medical imaging, computational electromagnetics, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, edutainment in engineering education, educating e-learners

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• Publications

  Selected Refereed Journal Publications

  1) G. M. Png, C. Fumeaux, M. R. Stringer, R.E. Miles and D. Abbott. "Terahertz scattering by subwavelength cylindrical arrays," Optics Express, 19(10), pp. 10138-10152, 2011. Selected for publishing in the Virtual Journal of Biomedical Optics, 6(6), 2011.

  2) G. M. Png, R. J. Falconer, B. M. Fischer, H. A. Zakaria, S. P. Mickan, A. P. J. Middelberg and D. Abbott. "Terahertz spectroscopic differentiation of microstructures in protein gels," Optics Express, 17(15), pp. 13102-13115, 2009. Selected for publishing in the Virtual Journal of Biomedical Optics, 4(9), 2009.

  3) G. M. Png, R. Flook, B. W.-H. Ng, and D. Abbott. "Terahertz spectroscopy of snap-frozen human brain tissue: an initial study," Electronics Letters, 45(7), pp. 343-345, 2009.

  4) G. M. Png, J.-W. Choi, B. W.-H. Ng, S. P. Mickan, D. Abbott, and X.-C. Zhang. "The impact of hydration changes in fresh bio-tissue on THz spectroscopic measurements," Physics in Medicine and Biology, 53(13), pp. 3501-3517, 2008.

  5) W. Withayachumnankul, G. M. Png, X. Yin, S. Atakaramians, I. Jones, H. Lin, B. S. Y. Ung, J. Balakrishnan, B. W.-H. Ng, B. Ferguson, S. P. Mickan, B. M. Fischer, and D. Abbott, "T-ray sensing and imaging," Proceedings of the IEEE, 95(8), pp. 1528-1558, 2007. (Invited).

  Selected Conference Publications

  1) G. M. Png, R. Flook, B. W.-H. Ng, and D. Abbott. "Terahertz spectroscopy of misfolded proteins in biotissue," Proceedings 34th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Busan, South Korea, article number 0506, 2009. (Invited keynote)

  2) G. M. Png, M. Stringer, B. W.-H. Ng, D. Abbott, and R. Miles. "Orientation dependence of THz scattering from cylindrical strands," Proceedings 33rd International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Pasadena, USA, article number 1380, 2008.

  3) G. M. Png, B. W.-H. Ng, J.-W. Choi, X.-C. Zhang, and D. Abbott. "Influence of surface clutter on THz spectroscopy of skin," Proceedings Joint 32nd International Conference on Infrared and Millimetre Waves, and 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics (IRMMW-THz), Cardiff, UK, pp. 565-566, 2007.

  4) G. M. Png, B. W.-H. Ng, S. P. Mickan, D. Abbott, J.-W. Choi, S. Sengupta, and I. Wilke. "Creams and oils: Possible THz coupling media for rough surfaces?," Proceedings Joint 31st International Conference on Infrared and MillimetreWaves, and 14th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics (IRMMW-THz), Shanghai, China, pp. 445, 2006.

  5) G. M. Png, S. P. Mickan, and D. Abbott. "The potential use of T-rays in diagnosing the head and brain," Proceedings International Workshop on Terahertz Technology, Osaka, Japan, pp. 99-100, 2005.

  6) G. M. Png, S. P. Mickan, and D. Abbott. "Simulation of terahertz radiation in stratified media," Proceedings SPIE Photonics: Design Technology, and Packaging II, Brisbane, Australia, 6038, article number 60380M, 2005.

  7) T. Rainsford, G. M. Png, W. Withayachumnankul, B. Ferguson, S. P. Mickan, and D. Abbott, "T-rays in biomedicine and security," Proceedings IEEE Lasers & Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) Annual Meeting, Sydney, Australia, pp.116-117, 2005. (Invited)

  Invited Talks and Non-Refereed Conferences

  1) G. M. Png, "From Celestial Bodies to Human Bodies: Unlocking their Secrets with Terahertz," IEEE-SA Women in Engineering Affinity Group Seminar, Adelaide, Australia, 12 May 2010.

  2) G. M. Png, R. Flook, B. W.-H. Ng, and D. Abbott. "Terahertz spectroscopy of protein deposits in human brain tissue: an initial study," 5th International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy/8th Australian Conference on Vibrational Spectroscopy, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 104, 2009.

  3) G. M. Png, R. Flook, B. W.-H. Ng, and D. Abbott. "An initial study of terahertz spectroscopy of human brain tissue," Alzheimer's Australia National Conference, Adelaide, Australia, pp. 51, 2009.

  4) G. M. Png, "T-rays for life," Electrical Joint Technical Program, IEEE-IET-TSA-Engineers Australia, Adelaide, Australia, 19 May 2009.

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• Professional Associations

  IEEE (1998-present), IET (1998-2009), Women In Engineering (WIE) member (2010-present), International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) member (2005-2008), member of the Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network (ARCNN)

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• Professional Interests

  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) teaching in primary and high schools; programs to encourage girls to consider studying engineering and/or science at University; sustainability; histories of mathematics and science

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Entry last updated: Tuesday, 2 Oct 2012