Rate My Professor Leigh Schmidtke

Professor Leigh Schmidtke serves as Professor of Oenology in Charles Sturt University's Faculty of Science and Health, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences. He earned a PhD, Master of Applied Science (Aquaculture), Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Laboratory Science), and Graduate Diploma in University Teaching and Learning. Throughout his career at the university, he directed the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre from 2016 and the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation from 2019 to 2022, prior to the Gulbali Institute's launch. His expertise spans analytical chemistry in grape and wine analysis, wine production systems, wine microbiology, chemometrics, metabolomics, complex data analysis, and rapid methods using IR and mass spectrometry to assess impacts of abiotic and biotic factors on grapevines, plant performance, berry composition, and wine style.

Professor Schmidtke's research also covers grape and wine composition, flavor chemistry, matching composition to sensory domains, and mass spectrometry applications in food, beverage, and agricultural analysis. Notable publications include "Direct ambient mass spectrometry for food, beverage, and agricultural sample analysis and research" (Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 2026), "Discrimination of vineyard origin and grape cultivars using rapid mass spectrometry and machine learning" (Smart Agricultural Technology, 2026), "Photochemical glyoxylic acid production in white wine: Impact of light sources and ethanol concentrations" (Food Chemistry, 2026), "Photodegradation of riboflavin in white wine: Impact of contrasting light sources and ethanol contents" (OENO One, 2026), "Effect of leaf removal and ultraviolet radiation on the composition of Sauvignon Blanc grape skin" (2014), and "An investigation of the Pivot© Profile sensory analysis method using wine stimuli" (2020). He holds an external position with the Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research since March 2024. Awards include the ASVO Viticulture Paper of the Year Award (2014), Australian Awards for University Teaching - Microbiology (2013), Office of Learning & Teaching Citation for Team Teaching (2013), Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence - Microbiology (2012), and Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award for Team Teaching (2012). His contributions have advanced wine science and agricultural innovation through collaborative research.