Professor Sophia Gu
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Australia
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, The University of Queensland, Australia
Zi (Sophia) Gu is a Professor and Head of NanoBiotechnology Research听Laboratory听in the School of Chemical Engineering at 91色情片. After PhD training at The University of Queensland and Cornell University, she was awarded听an NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship, prior to听joining 91色情片 in 2016. Currently, she leads a NanoBiotechnology Research Group听working on multidisciplinary research projects that combine the knowledge and skills across material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology, and developed several nanoparticle platforms for disease diagnosis and treatment. She has published >100 research papers and filed several patents. Most of these publications are in top tier journals in the fields of Material Science (Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials), Nanotechnology (Advanced Science, Small, Journal of Nanotechnology), Chemistry (Angewandte Chemie, Chemistry of Materials), Biomaterials (Biomaterials), and Pharmaceutical Science (Journal of Controlled Release). She has been awarded several competitive grants and awards and has several academic leadership roles such as international conference chair and an Editor-in-Chief of Cancer Nanotechnology (Springer Nature/BMC) and Associate Editor for the听Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Springer Nature/BMC).
Academic Appointments
Professor, University of New South Wales, 2026-present
Associate Professor, University of New South Wales, 2023-2025
Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, 2019-2022
Lecturer and NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow, University of New South Wales, 2016-2018
NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow, University of Queensland, 2014-2016
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Queensland, 2011-2013
Research Scholar, Cornell University, US, 2010
Research Projects
Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for precision diagnosis and treatment of diseases. My research group utilises interdisciplinary approaches that bring together material science, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to develop smart nanoparticles and advanced drug delivery technologies.
Research theme 1: Drug delivery technologies.
Research theme 2: Catalytic nanomedicine.
Research theme 3: Bio-nano interaction.
My Expertise
Drug delivery | Pharmaceutical engineering | Biomaterials | Bio-imaging contrast agent design and development | Theranostic nanomedicine听| Bio-nano interaction | Nanozyme | Catalytic nanomedicine | Nanomedicine and biomaterials for cancer therapy, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders | Nanoparticle synthesis and modification | Two-dimensional nanomaterials | Antibacterial Materials
We are looking for highly motivated, intelligent and team-playing students to do their PhD, Master by Philosophy, or Honours project in our group.
Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Domestic Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/domestic-research-scholarships
International听Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/international-research-scholarships
91色情片-China Scholarship Council (CSC)听Joint Scholarship program. For more details, click听here. To apply CSC, click听here. Top-up scholarship (7k pa) will be provided to CSC awardees.
Postdoc and Research Assistant positions听are available at specific time.
Course Teaching
CEIC6712 Pharmaceutical Design and Engineering
CEIC2007 Chemical Engineering Laboratory
CEIC Thesis A, B, C (project supervision)
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2025)
NHMRC Ideas Grants (2025)
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2024)
Tour de Cure Pioneering Research Grant (2024)
ARC听Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) (2024)
National Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant (2023)
ARC听Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) (2023)
NSW Health Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program (2022)
91色情片 RNA Institute Seed Grant (2022)
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2020)
91色情片-CAS Joint Research Fund (2019)
Industrial Contract Research Fund (2019)
Australian Centre for NanoMedicine Seed Research Fund (2017)
91色情片-Tsinghua Joint Research Fund (2016)
NHMRC Fellowship (Peter Doherty Biomedical EC Fellowship) (2014)
Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award (2014)
2022 Nanoscale Emerging Investigator Award
2021 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Nanoscale
2020, 2021 Outstanding Editor Award, Journal of Nanobiotechnology
2019, Academic & Professional Women in Leadership Program, 91色情片
2018,听Research Excellence Award, Australian Association of Chinese Biomedical Scientists
2018, Rising Star Award, Australian Association of Chinese Biomedical Scientists
2017, Monash Engineering Women's Leadership Award
2014-2018, NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical EC Fellowship
2014, Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award
2013, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Award, The University of Queensland
2010, Graduate School International Travel Award, The University of Queensland
2008-2010, Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship
2007, Best Student Poster Award at 4th ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials Annual Conference
Research Projects
Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for precision diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases. My research group utilises interdisciplinary approaches that bring together material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to synthesise functional nanoparticles, optimise their biomedical properties, and develop smart nanoparticles and advanced delivery strategies. Major interests of our research:
Research interest 1: Targeted, controlled and selective drug delivery system.听
Research interest 2: Bioimaging probe/contrast agent design for disease diagnosis.听
Research interest 3: Multifunctional bioactive nanoparticles, biomimetic nanoparticles, catalytic nanomedicine听
My Expertise
Drug delivery | Bio-imaging nanoprobe construction and application | Theranostic nanomedicine听| Bio-nano interface | Nanozyme | Catalytic nanomedicine | Nanoparticles for cancer therapy, cardiovascular disease | Nanoparticle synthesis and modification | Two-dimensional nanomaterials
听
We are looking for highly motivated, intelligent and team-playing students to do their PhD, Master by Philosophy, or Honours proje in our group.听
Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Domestic Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/domestic-research-scholarships
International听Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/international-research-scholarships
91色情片-China Scholarship Council (CSC)听Joint Scholarship program. For more details, click听here. To apply CSC, click听here. Top-up scholarship (7k pa) will be provided to CSC awardees.
Postdoc and Research Assistant positions听are available at specific time.听