Dr. Steve Colbran

Biography

Steve Colbran is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He specializes in transition metal chemistry and has expertise in designing and using multifunctional ligands in electrochemistry and transition metal compounds. His research encompasses several critical areas within catalysis, including biological catalysis, where he uses computational synthetic models to uncover insights into multi-electron redox processes in biology, exemplified by respiratory proton pumps and nitrogen reductases. Colbran's work in biomimetic catalysis focuses on utilizing biomimicry to discover new catalysts for multi-electron reduction processes. Additionally, he explores catalysis for a sustainable future, specifically targeting multi-electron reductions of carbon dioxide to methanol as a clean and alternative fuel. His research significantly emphasizes the design and synthesis of transition metal systems that employ redox-active, multifunctional ligands, particularly in connection with copper chemistry and its relevance to biology and medicine.

Research Interests