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Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences

.....integrating chemical and biomolecular sciences to achieve a sustainable environment, understand health and disease, and advance new molecular technologies.

Welcome to the Department

Who we are and what we do

The Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences (CBMS) is part of the Faculty of Science and has around 20 academic staff and 60 higher degree research students making us one of the most research-intensive departments on campus. The Department is located in buildings F7B and E8C, adjacent to the University's Research Park........Read On

Welcome from our HOD

Welcome to the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences (CBMS). Our department is a merger of staff from the former Department of Chemistry and a group of staff from the biology discipline that study cells and biological processes from a molecular perspective. These two areas of the university have long traditions of teaching and research excellence. This realignment is an exciting one as it will ensure that the innovative university can maintain its high profile and success in these key disciplines of 21st century science. If you are a prospective undergraduate or postgraduate student and would like further personalised career or degree advice we would be happy for you to contact any member of academic staff listed in this site.

Studying with Us

Are you interested in studying with us? Why not check out our Open Day presentation on studying with CBMS, then try the "Courses" tool to find a course that suits you. Enter a few key words describing the area you wish to study. For example, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, microbiology or molecular biology.

Highlights

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News

HSC Chemistry Enrichment Day


CBMS will be holding a Higher School Certificate (HSC) Enrichment Program in Chemistry on July 10 to assist high school students in preparing for their HSC examinations.  This one-day program will be for Year 12 students sitting their HSC in NSW and the ACT in 2013.  The HSC Chemistry Enrichment Day will be presented by CBMS academics on core and elective subject areas of the HSC Chemistry syllabus. For further details and registration go to: accessmq.com.au/chemistry-hsc-enrichment-day
A similar Physics HSC Enrichment Day will be held on July 11.  For further information see accessmq.com.au/physics-hsc-enrichment-day

Posted by Joanne Jamie on 05 May 2013

Congratulations to Award Recipients


The Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences applauds the student and staff recipients of prizes, awards and scholarships.

Benjamin Hanssen: The PANalytical Prize in Analytical Chemistry, The Le Fevre Memorial Prize for 200-level Chemistry, The Le Fevre Scholarship for 3rd Year Chemistry 2013, The John Morris Scientific Prize (Faculty of Science Award), The Arthur Pryor Prize (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

Yvonne Yin: Royal Australian Chemical Institute NSW Analytical Chemistry Prize, The Jan Hext Prize (Department of Computing)

Ryan Kenny: Royal Australian Chemical Institute NSW Analytical Chemistry Prize, Beckman Coulter Prize in Biotechnology, The GT Micropro Prize (Faculty of Science Award)

Robert McGraw: Biomolecular Frontiers Research Undergraduate Prize

Hasinka Hewawasam Gamage: Biomolecular Frontiers Research Masters in Biotechnology Prize

Cristoph Krisp: Biomolecular Frontiers Research Postgraduate Prize

Dean Southwood: The Le Fevre Memorial Prize for Physical Chemistry, The Le Fevre Scholarship for 2nd Year Chemistry 2013

Imogen Wadlow: The Le Fevre Scholarship for 1st Year Chemistry 2013

Luke Ireland: Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Scholarship 1st Year 2013

Edward Chin: Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Scholarship 2nd Year 2013

Emily McCracken: Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Scholarship 3rd Year 2013

Mark Tran: Staff Award for Outstanding Professional Staff Performance

Michael Gottsbacher: Outstanding Service Award

Joanne Hare: Outstanding Service Award

Posted by on 25 Apr 2013

Medicine goes native


Fruit from the Blushwood tree.Joanne Jamie, a bio-organic and medicinal chemist at Macquarie University, says finding medicinal plants in such a diverse landscape would be like searching for a needle in a haystack without the help of indigenous communities.

Since partnering with the Yaegl community in northern NSW, the research team have begun to unearth some valuable medical uses for native plants.

Jamie says the first step in developing nativeflora for medical purposesis to document what indigenous communities know, before that knowledge disappears.

In the Yaegl community, elders have been using native plants to treat ailments for thousands of years. The narrow leaf sarsaparilla is one such plant. It can be used to help with arthritis, rheumatism, coughs, skin problems and even diabetes. Another, the Beach Morning Glory – found in tangles along sandy beach tracks – is a useful salve for jellyfish stings and boils, and can even be used to treat headaches and arthritis.

The Macquarie University researchers work with the elders to record their knowledge and test samples.
In the first published record of their collaboration, a 2011 study, the Macquarie University team identified 32 medicinal plants, with more than 50 applications. They continue to collaborate with Yaegl elders and Jamie says there's plenty more to discover.

Posted by on 26 Mar 2013

Four new leads identified for anti-cancer drugs


Jason Smith explores computational chemistry

Lead author Jason Smith undertook a comprehensive study that combined existing knowledge of an enzyme with a specifically tailored computational chemistry approach to identify novel inhibitors. The enzyme (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) has generated excitement amongst researchers over the last decade due to its increasingly recognised role as a drug target, particularly in cancer.

Posted by on 18 Dec 2012

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