Rate My Professor Keal Byrne

Dr Keal Byrne is a Lecturer and Associate Dean for External Engagement in the School of Engineering and Energy at Murdoch University. He obtained his PhD from the University of Western Australia in 2013 with a thesis entitled 'Pink colouration in natural diamond: optical protocols for the characterisation of crystalline colour centres.' Previously, he served as Student Experience Adviser in the Faculty of Science at the University of Western Australia. His research specializations include optical spectroscopy, fluorescence, materials characterisation, and STEM engagement. Byrne's work focuses on the optical properties of natural diamonds, including pink and brown varieties, employing techniques such as positron annihilation spectroscopy and infrared-stimulated fluorescence analysis.

Key publications by Dr Byrne include 'Study of the Blue Moon Diamond' in Gems & Gemology (2014), co-authored with Eloise Gaillou, Jeffrey E. Post, and James E. Butler; 'Positron annihilation spectroscopy of diamond implanted with lithium' in Diamond and Related Materials (2013, vol. 37, pp. 37-40), with John Chapman, Kathi Sudarshan, Sergey Samarin, and James Williams; and 'IR-stimulated visible fluorescence in pink and brown diamond' in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (2013), with J. Chapman and A. Luiten. He also contributed to the 2013 China Jewelry and Accessories Academic Exchange Conference. At Murdoch University, Byrne coordinates the ENG606 Thesis Project unit and teaches engineering courses, including at the new Boola Katitjin campus. He plays a significant role in STEM outreach, supporting robotics events, National Science Week activities featuring university robot dogs, school science programs at institutions like Ross Moyne Senior High School and Kalamunda Senior High School, judging extension science projects, renewable energy excursions, and promoting the Murdoch University Access Engineering Scholarship. His diamond research has been covered in media such as Phys.org and Australian Geographic.