Person

Bilek, Marcela (1968 - )

FAA

Born
20 January 1968
Prague, Czech Republic
Occupation
Educator and Physicist

Summary

Marcela Bilek is a physicist who is a leading specialist in engineering new high performance materials. In 2000 she became University of Sydney's first female Professor of Applied Physics. She was also the University's youngest Professor to date.

Details

Bilek's research has applications in many different sectors.

Her work micro-engineering surface properties has been applied in the area of solar energy production. She has also pioneered the use of biologically active plasmas on the surfaces of bio-medical devices and implants to make them less prone to cause infection. This is known as 'Biological cloaking'.

"Marcela Bilek is internationally known for contributions to the science and technology of plasma processes for surface engineering of materials, particularly utilizing energetic ions to control intrinsic stress and microstructure and to create a versatile new technology platform for the fabrication of advanced biointerfaces. Her work has enabled new capabilities in a range of settings including: magnetic storage devices; solid fuel plasma thrusters; implantable biomedical devices; in-vitro cell culture systems; diagnostics; stem cell and gene therapy; and nanomedicine." [from https://www.science.org.au/profile/marcela-bilek 28/6/2022]

Chronology

1974
Life event - Settled in Australia
1986
Award - Science Foundation for Physics Scholarship
1987
Award - G.S. Caird Scholarship in Computer Science
1987
Award - Cadbury-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship in Physics
1988 - 1989
Award - IBM Prize for Computer Science, Japan
1989
Award - Cadbury-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship in Physics
1989
Award - Walter Burfitt Scholarship for Physics
1989
Award - W.I.B. Smith Prize in Physics (shared)
1989
Award - Ian Jackson Memorial Prize for Computer Science
1990
Award - Australian Institute of Physics NSW Branch Prize for Physics Honours
1990
Education - Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)), University of Sydney
1991 - 1993
Career position - Industrial Research Scientist at Comalco Research Centre, Melbourne
1993
Award - Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Reduction Technology Award
1993 - 1996
Award - Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Honorary Packer Scholarship
1993 - 1996
Award - Peterhouse Research Studentship
1996
Education - Completed Ph.D. At University of Cambridge, England
1996 - 2000
Award - Emmanuel Research Fellowship -grant for independent research
1996 - 2000
Career position - Research Fellow, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, England
1997
Award - Best paper at ICMCTF (the International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings & Thin Films), San Diego
1997 - 2000
Career position - Visiting Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California USA
2000 -
Career position - Appointed Professor of Applied Physics, University of Sydney
2000
Education - Completed MBA at Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
2001
Award - Young Tall Poppy Award for achievement in Science, Australian Institute for Policy and Science
2002
Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Edgeworth David Medal
2002
Award - Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
2003 -
Career position - Member, National Fusion Facility Advisory Board
2003 - 2008
Award - Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship
2003 - 2009
Career position - Member, Nuclear Safety Committee, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (APRANSA)
2004
Award - Pawsey Medal, Australian Academy of Science
2004 - 2006
Career position - Member, National Committee for Physics, Australian Academy of Science
2007 -
Award - Fellow, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research
2010 -
Career position - Member, European Materials Research Society
2010
Career position - Member, Program Committee, International Conference on Ion Beam Modification of Materials
2013 -
Award - Fellow, American Physical Society
2015 -
Award - Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
2018
Award - Plasma Surface Engineering Leading Scientist Award
2019 -
Award - Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales
2022 -
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

  • McCarthy, Gavan; Morgan, Helen; Smith, Ailie; van den Bosch, Alan, Where are the Women in Australian Science?, Exhibition of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, First published 2003 with lists updated regulary edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, 2003, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/wisa/wisa.html. Details

Articles

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

  • Hooker, Claire, Irresistible Forces: Australian Women in Science (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 2004), 215 pp. Details
  • Robson, Alexandra K.; Production Manager and Editor eds, Who's who in Australia 2019 (Southbank, Vic.: AAP Directories, 2018), 1788 pp. Details

Rebecca Rigby

EOAS ID: biogs/P004910b.htm

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