Simon Strachan deserves a warm welcome into the Shiddiky Laboratory at the School of Environment and Science (ESC) and Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, fully supported by a highly prestigious Griffith University Ph.D. scholarship.

Simon was born and raised in Durban, South Africa where he lived out his younger years before moving over to Sydney, Australia where he received his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in 2021 – majoring in Mechatronic Engineering from Macquarie University, Sydney. Simon’s honours thesis garnered his interest in microfluidics and device development. The undergraduate research project worked in collaboration with BTF a subsidiary of bioMérieux to investigate the feasibility and possible methods of a microfluidic approach for droplet manipulation to aid in automatic transportation. A study into the use of novel lubricating surface, SLIPS, along with PCB design and programming to employ EWOD for discrete droplet manipulation was undertaken.

Simon then went on to spend some time in the engineering field to acquire more experience and skills. He found himself working in a small start-up for electronic device consultancy, where he increased his skills in device development and design. He then decided it was time to use his experience to aid in the research and development of diagnostic devices and found his way up to Brisbane, to work with Shiddiky.

Due to his multi-disciplinary and wide range of experience and education, Simon can give the team a different viewpoint regarding the design and physical constraints for devices. His expertise is a breath of fresh air for those working on his project in developing a novel diagnostic device to detect and quantify major sugarcane diseases at the ‘point-of-contact’ on-farm to develop effective management strategies at the early stage of disease infection.

We welcome Simon to our Laboratories and wish him the best of luck. Let's hope Simon can help keep the spirits high and the work enjoyable for the team.