Rate My Professor Michael Bowyer

Professor Michael Bowyer is the Executive Dean of the Central Coast Campus at the University of Newcastle, operating within the Academic Division with a focus on chemistry and affiliated with the School of Environmental and Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science. He holds a PhD, a Diploma in Education, and a Bachelor of Science with Honours, all from the University of New South Wales. Prior to his extensive tenure at Newcastle, Bowyer served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemistry at Boston College in the United States from January 1993 to June 1994 and as an Academic at the University of New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. Since joining the University of Newcastle as a Lecturer in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences in 1998, he advanced to Senior Lecturer from 2005 to 2013. He has undertaken key leadership appointments, including Head of the Discipline of Applied Sciences from January 2006 to November 2014, Acting Head of the School of Environmental and Life Sciences from January 2019 to December 2019 and in 2023, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Science from December 2014 to December 2018 and in 2020, Assistant Dean - Education (CESE) in 2021, and Executive Dean since 2022.

Professor Bowyer's research specializations encompass organic synthesis, with particular emphasis on interactions between organic molecules functioning as signaling agents in natural and synthetic systems. His academic interests include postharvest science, employing nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide to delay senescence in fresh produce, development of zwitterionic nitric oxide donor compounds for controlled delivery, solid-phase nitric oxide delivery technology, and the interrelationship between hydrogen sulfide and the plant hormone ethylene. Further areas involve molecular imprinted polymers for sequestering contaminants and high-value compounds, alongside screening of indigenous and exotic plant extracts for biological activity against cancer cell lines, general chemistry, heterocyclic chemistry, and natural product chemistry. He was awarded the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence by the School of Science and Technology in 1999. Key publications feature the book chapter 'Pancreatic Cancer drugs: Case Studies in Synthesis and Production' (2015, co-authored with McCluskey, Scarlett, Vuong), 'Ionic liquids as porogens in the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers' (2011, co-authored with Booker, Holdsworth, McCluskey), 'Fortification with amino acids: a method to capture the benefits of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulphide in extending fresh produce’s postharvest life' (2024, co-authored with Wills, Sohail, Pristijono), 'Postharvest UV-C lights treatment to delay senescence of green leafy vegetable, gai lan' (2025, co-authored with Pristijono, Golding), and 'Use of Nitric Oxide to Extend the Postharvest Life of Horticultural Produce' (2003, co-authored with Wills).