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Principal Investigators

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Associate Professor Natalie Plank

Principal Investigator

Towards Low Energy Tech - Hardware for Future Computing

Phone:: +64 4 463 5031

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

natalie.plank@vuw.ac.nz

Biography

Dr Natalie Plank is Deputy Director for Commercialisation and Industry Engagement and an Associate Professor in Physics in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. Natalie completed a BSc (Hons) in Astrophysics at The University of Edinburgh before doing an MSc in Microelectronics. She then completed her PhD on the functionalisation of carbon nanotubes for molecular electronics with Rebecca Cheung also at The University of Edinburgh.

After arriving in New Zealand she has been a Foundation for Science Research and Technology (FRST) postdoctoral fellow and has established the cleanroom fabrication facility at Victoria. Since becoming a MacDiarmid Institute Investigator she has been actively involved in the role of emerging scientists in New Zealand and was the founder and inaugural chair of MESA.

Research interests

Natalie’s research interests are in the area of nanomaterial device fabrication and the characterisation of novel materials. Her current work focuses on nanomaterial device platforms for sensing technology. She is interested in carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanowires for nanowire transistor applications and in particular the ability to functionalise the nanomaterial channels with specific biomarkers.

Natalie’s core interests are in low cost fabrication techniques which allow for high throughput of devices whilst maintaining the particular material properties of the unique nanowire system. This has been particularly important for device fabrication for both carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanowire transistors, where flexible electronics have huge potential.

First we have to tackle the science. And I find that really motivating.
Associate Professor Natalie Plank

In the news

News Article

Potential of Cleantech sector highlighted in report released today

May 22, 2024

A new report launched today has found that this country’s fast-growing Cleantech sector could become a high-value export earner.

Annual Report

New Deputy Directors - Annual Report 2023

April 13, 2024

We have appointed two new Deputy Directors - for Outreach and Education, and for Commercialisation and Industry Engagement.

Annual Report

Board Chair’s report - Annual Report 2023

April 12, 2024

I continue to be amazed and inspired as I look across the breadth of mahi undertaken by the Institute.

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

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

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

Taking nano and quantum science education into Rotorua schools

February 24, 2023

FLEET and MacDiarmid Institute teamed up for AMN10 in Rotorua to conduct science outreach workshops for 320 school students.

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

Rethinking computing and communication, by combining cell biology with nanotechnology

May 6, 2022

Systems that blend biology with electronics could answer some big questions.

News Article

Bridging the divide between theoretical and experimental physics

February 22, 2022

Dr Kannan Ridings from Rongowhakaata is one of the MacDiarmid Institute’s newest Associate Investigators.

News Article

How does the nose know what it knows?

December 6, 2021

Dr Natalie Plank is leading a team using nanoelectric devices to investigate how olfactory receptors transmit signals to insects about their surroundings.

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.

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

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.