Our people
Professor Nicola Gaston
Principal Investigator
- Phone:
- +64 9 923 4427
Address:
Department of Physics
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142
Biography
Professor Nicola Gaston is Director of the MacDiarmid Institute and a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland. Nicola Gaston was a Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at VUW.
She was previously a Principal Research Scientist at IRL, where she was based since returning to New Zealand in 2007 from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden. She has previously been the leader of Theme 2: Electronic and Optical Materials and a member of the Science Executive.
Research interests
Nicola is interested in understanding the development and variation of physical properties in materials as a function of size, from few atom clusters to large nanoparticles and the bulk.
Her current research is focused on understanding the relationship between electronic structure and properties such as catalytic activity, chemical reactivity, conductivity and thermodynamic stability, and how this relates to the underlying structure (size, shape, composition) of the material. She uses a range of ab initio quantum mechanical techniques to describe electronic structure and the way it depends on the chemical and physical environment.
We often work at the nanoscale – which means that the science solutions can be based on tiny, almost infinitesimal amounts of the world’s natural resources.
Professor Nicola Gaston
In the news
Annual Report
2023 Awards - Annual Report 2023
April 13, 2024
MacDiarmid Institute Principal and Associate Investigators and managers who have received awards this year.
Annual Report
Catalysts for positive change - Annual Report 2023
April 12, 2024
Our researchers are on the hunt to find new materials and technologies that can help reduce greenhouse gases.
Read more about Catalysts for positive change - Annual Report 2023
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
Co-Directors appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi
April 4, 2024
MacDiarmid Institute Co-Directors Professor Nicola Gaston and Professor Justin Hodgkiss have both been elected to the New Zealand Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Academy.
Read more about Co-Directors appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi
News Article
MacDiarmid Institute Co-Director Prof Nicola Gaston awarded Royal Society Thomson Medal
November 9, 2023
Our Co-Director Prof Nicola Gaston has been awarded the Thomson Medal by Royal Society Te Apārangi for transformative leadership for the research, science and innovation sector and as a ‘driver of change’ towards equity for women in science.
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
Our research programmes over the years
April 18, 2023
There has been an evolution to move the focus of applications more towards global challenges of climate change and sustainability.
Annual Report
Rhodes Trust trip to Oxford
April 14, 2023
Our Deputy Director Māori Associate Professor Pauline Harris travelled to Oxford in October with Juliet Nelson.
Annual Report
Co-Directors’ Report - Annual Report 2022
April 13, 2023
When the MacDiarmid Institute turned 20 years old in 2022, we took the opportunity to celebrate what the Institute has achieved so far, and to look forward to the next 20 years.
Annual Report
Spinning out a podcast
May 27, 2022
Our fortnightly popular science ‘Materials: Fact or Fiction' segment continued for its second year. A spinoff of the series was released as a podcast titled Sci Fi/Sci Fact.
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.
Annual Report
Co-Directors’ Report - Annual Report 2021
May 4, 2022
Despite the ongoing challenges from the Covid pandemic, 2021 was a year of new directions and growth for the MacDiarmid Institute.
In The Media
Whakarewarewa Living Village and the MacDiarmid Institute to restore the health of culturally significant stream
April 5, 2022
Whakarewarewa Living Village is looking to restore the health of the stream which flows through the Village, with help from some of our researchers. Combining Mātauranga Māori, putaiao Māori and science.
News Article
Dr Pauline Harris appointed as MacDiarmid Institute Deputy Director Māori
March 16, 2022
Dr Pauline Harris has been appointed to the new position of MacDiarmid Institute Deputy Director Māori.
Read more about Dr Pauline Harris appointed as MacDiarmid Institute Deputy Director Māori
News Article
Liquid Metals, Surface Patterns, and the possibility of accessing a wider range of nanomaterials
February 8, 2022
Australian, New Zealand, and American scientists reported a new type of solidification patterns appearing on the surface of solidifying liquid metals.
News Article
New Kyoto University on-site lab opens at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
November 26, 2021
Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) today opened an on-site lab in Wellington, operated jointly with the MacDiarmid Institute.
News Article
The life of a logo
November 16, 2021
Ahead of launching our new logo, we looked at the whakapapa of our original one.
News Article
2021 MacDiarmid Institute Marsden grant successes
November 3, 2021
MacDiarmid Institute led research received $6.2 million funding in 2021 Te Pūtea Rangahau a Marsden, the Marsden Fund.
Read more about 2021 MacDiarmid Institute Marsden grant successes
News Article
MOU celebrates ongoing partnership with Whakarewarewa Living Village
August 2, 2021
We celebrated the collaboration and partnership with Whakarewarewa Village by signing a second MOU and a Statement of Intent.
Read more about MOU celebrates ongoing partnership with Whakarewarewa Living Village
Annual Report
Supporting the teachers
March 31, 2021
We continued our NanoGirl Labs partnership last year to deliver science videos for children learning at home during lockdown.
Annual Report
Internationally connected
March 31, 2021
Nicola Gaston and Sally Brooker were invited to join a German Academic Exchange Service-funded delegation to Germany..
Annual Report
Summer studentships for our DiscoveryCamp and Discovery Scholarship Alumni
March 30, 2021
Summer studentship descriptions for our DiscoveryCamp and Discovery Scholarship Alumni.
Read more about Summer studentships for our DiscoveryCamp and Discovery Scholarship Alumni
Annual Report
Co-Directors' Report - Annual Report 2020
March 29, 2021
2020 was an extraordinarily challenging year worldwide, the MacDiarmid Institute community is an amazing resource and support network.
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
In The Media
Postdocs: the key to NZ's post-Covid recovery
October 14, 2020
Co-Directors Nicola Gaston and Justin Hodgkiss write about funding postdocs to keep talent in New Zealand and elevate the economy.
Read more about Postdocs: the key to NZ's post-Covid recovery
In The Media
Five alternatives to aluminium at Tiwai
August 11, 2020
The market failure imposed by the use of Tiwai Point as an aluminium smelter does not mean that there are no other good options. Nicola Gaston explores five of them.
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.'
Annual Report
Co-Directors' Report - Annual Report 2019
April 17, 2020
A major focus for the MacDiarmid Institute in 2019 was building the proposal for our next eight years of CoRE funding.
In The Media
Not-so-modest proposals for Tiwai
December 10, 2019
An ambitious solution would keep jobs in Southland and deliver on the promise of the Zero Carbon Act.
Annual Report
Virtual materials - Annual Report 2018
April 8, 2019
Our researchers use computers to reproduce conditions unachievable in a lab, such as the magnetic forces inside a white dwarf star.
In The Media
The Spinoff profiles MacDiarmid Principal Investigator Associate Professor Nicola Gaston in her new role as Co-Director
June 28, 2018
Recently appointed Co-Director of the MacDiarmid Institute Dr Nicola Gaston’s new role allows her to guide one of New Zealand’s top science institutes to potentially world-leading research.
News Article
MacDiarmid Researcher and University of Auckland Professor David Williams shortlisted for 2018 KiwiNet Award
May 30, 2018
This award recognises an entrepreneurial researcher who has made outstanding contributions to business innovation.
Annual Report
1.3 Painting semiconductors - Annual Report 2017
May 18, 2018
Imagine a point-of-care electronic blood test that can provide an immediate result in a doctor’s surgery, instead of the current tests that have to be sent away to a lab. The blood test device would plug into a mobile phone to provide a reading, and would be cheap and biofriendly.
Read more about 1.3 Painting semiconductors - Annual Report 2017
News Article
Change in leadership sees MacDiarmid Institute head in new direction
May 8, 2018
Announcing the appointment of Associate Professor Nicola Gaston and Associate Professor Justin Hodgkiss as Co-Directors of the Institute.
Read more about Change in leadership sees MacDiarmid Institute head in new direction
Annual Report
Extending our engagement - taking Kōrero to the next level - Annual Report 2016
August 11, 2017
Sometimes an idea comes along that is so successful that you want to take it to the next level, and this is what happened with the MacDiarmid Institute’s Kōrero with Scientists workshops, where teachers and MacDiarmid scientists spend two hours exploring basic physical science concepts like magnets, light, and acids and bases.
Read more about Extending our engagement - taking Kōrero to the next level - Annual Report 2016
Podcasts
Element of the Week - Gallium (Ga)
August 12, 2019
Associate Professor Nicola Gaston introduces the element Gallium on RNZ's Night Element of the Week.
Element of the Week - Lithium (Li)
December 2, 2019
Associate Professor Nicola Gaston introduces the element Lithium on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.
Element of the Week - Mercury (Hg)
December 2, 2019
Associate Professor Nicola Gaston introduces the element Mercury on RNZ Nights' Element of the Week.
Nicola Gaston on the gender pay gap in academia
January 28, 2020
MacDiarmid Institute Co-Director Associate Professor Nicola Gaston talks to Lynn Freeman at RNZ about the gender pay gap in academia.
Read more about Nicola Gaston on the gender pay gap in academia
Materials: Fact or Fiction - Feminum
May 29, 2020
Associate Professor Nicola Gaston discusses the science behind feminum from Wonder Woman on RNZs' Nights.
Videos
Professor Nicola Gaston discusses science funding on TV Three's AM show
February 28, 2024
Professor Nicola Gaston discusses science funding on TV Three’s AM show, Tuesday 20 February.
Read more about Professor Nicola Gaston discusses science funding on TV Three's AM show
Interface Industry Challenge
February 12, 2019
MacDiarmid Institute investigators discuss how commercialisation of scientific breakthroughs can help New Zealand’s industry and knowledge economy.
What is materials science
February 12, 2019
MacDiarmid Institute investigators discuss how materials science and nanotechnology can solve the big problems of our time.
What is materials science (2023)
October 16, 2023
MacDiarmid Institute investigators discuss how materials science and nanotechnology can solve the big problems of our time.
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