Rate My Professor Ban Lee

Associate Professor Joash Tan Ban Lee serves in the School of Science at Monash University Malaysia. He holds a BSc in Biotechnology with Honours obtained in 2008 and a PhD in phytochemistry from Monash University, awarded on 10 October 2013, with his thesis examining the bioactivity and chemical constituents of Rhoeo spathacea and Rhoeo discolor. Following his PhD, he joined Monash University as a lecturer in 2013 and has since progressed to the position of Associate Professor. His research focuses on biologically active natural product discovery, particularly phenolic compounds exhibiting antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antioxidant activities. Tan investigates practical applications of natural products, including anthocyanin-based food colorants and organic corrosion inhibitors, as well as the biological activity of organic compounds emphasizing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Recent endeavors include bioprospecting for novel bioactive compounds and nanocomposite technologies utilizing halloysite clay nanotubes for applications in biomedical dressings, sustainable coral reef restoration, and self-healing concrete.

Tan has secured several research grants, such as the Nanocomposite Hydrogel-based Dressing for Treating Atopic Dermatitis (2023–2026), Elucidating the mechanisms of dichamanetin's antibiofilm activity (2025–2028), and Novel nanocomposite hydrogel scaffold for haemostatic dressing (2023). His achievements include the successful licensing of nanocomposite technology for atopic dermatitis treatment—one of the School of Science's first commercialization agreements, extending through 2043. He has earned prestigious awards, including the Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award 2025 for his gamified approach to scientific communication, Faculty of Science Award for Research Commercialization 2025, PVC's Commendation for Excellence in Research 2025, Faculty of Science Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision 2023, and Bronze Medal for MTE 2023. Key publications comprise Halloysite clay nanotubes: Innovative applications by smart systems (Applied Clay Science, 2024), Halloysite nanotube-polymer nanocomposites: A review on fabrication and biomedical applications (Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 2024), Sustainable artificial coral reef restoration using nanoclays and composite hydrogel microcapsules (RSC Sustainability, 2024), and Sustainable biologically self-healing concrete by smart natural nanotube-hydrogel system (Developments in the Built Environment, 2024).