Dr John Kavanagh

Associate Lecturer and Director of Undegraduate Laboratories
Department of Chemical Engineering,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Tel: +61 2 9036 9642
Fax: +61 2 9351 2854
Email:

Education:

• PhD (Chemical Engineering) University of Sydney 2003.
• BE (Chemical Engineering, with 1st Class Honours and University Medal) University of Sydney 1999

Previous Appointments:

• Research Scientist Kodak Australasia 2003-2004
• PhD Student, University of Sydney 1999-2003
• Associate member of The Institution of Chemical Engineers

Teaching and Learning

2007-present
Director of Undergraduate Laboratories
School of Chemical Engineering
University of Sydney

2005-present
Senior Lecturer
School of Chemical Engineering
University of Sydney

Research Interests:

• Fermentation for biofuels, nitrogen fixation and vitamins
• Wastewater treatment particularly via electrocoagulation
• Reverse Osmosis
• Practical Engineering Education

Facilities

• 50 L fermenter and Bioseparations Plant
• Incubated Shakers

Consulting Interest

• Fermentation
• Wastewater Treatment
• General Chemical Engineering

Academic Profile

John Kavanagh received both his BE and PhD from the University of Sydney. He then spent two years working with Kodak Australasia primarily on product development and process improvement. John returned to the University of Sydney in 2005 as an Associate Lecturer and since then has taught a wide range of courses across the Chemical Engineering Program. John’s research interests include fermentation and the treatment of wastewater from biorefineries.

Publications:

• J.M. Kavanagh, S. Hussein, T.C. Chilcott and H.G.L. Coster
  Monitoring Fouling of Reverse Osmosis Membranes using Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Desalination 236 (2009) 187–193
• Daniel Ryan; Andrew Gadd; John Kavanagh; Minghua Zhou; Geoff Barton
  A comparison of coagulant dosing options for the remediation of molasses process water. Separation and Purification Technology 58 (2008) 347-352
• J.M. Kavanagh and G.W. Barton
  Robust Optimisation of Recombinant E.coli Fermentation.
  Bioprocessing Biosystems Engineering (2008) 31: 137-143
• Daniel Ryan; Andrew Gadd; John Kavanagh; and Geoff Barton
  Design development of an electrocoagulation reactor for organic wastewater treatment. Aquatech Amsterdam September 30th – October 2nd 2008
• J.M. Kavanagh, S.Hussain, T, Handelsman T.C. Chilcott and H.G.L. Coster
  Measuring Fouling and Cleaning of Industrial Reverse Osmosis Membranes by Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Chemeca 2008 Newcastle September 28th - October.1st 2008.
• D. Zamri, P. Koutouridis, P. Johnson, A. Abbas and J. Kavanagh Supporting Experiential Learning: An Integrated Website for Chemical Engineering Laboratories. Chemeca 2008 Newcastle September 28th - October.1st 2008.
• J. Kavanagh and J. Shi. Excessive Lanfill Leachate Scale Formation
  Chemeca Auckland New Zealand, September 2006.