Academic Qualifications
- Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Medical Radiation Physics
- Solid State radiation detectors
- Radiation dosimetry
- Synchrotron X-ray Microbeam Radiation Therapy
- Targeted Nanotherapies
mlerch@uow.edu.au
Phone
+61 242214954
Biography
Associate Professor Michael Lerch graduated with a PhD in solid state physics in 1998. He was a Founding Member of the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics in 2000 and in 2004 he accepted a permanent academic position at UOW. He is currently an Associate Professor and Head of the School of Physics at UOW. Michael is also Leader of the Radiation Detection and Instrumentation Theme within the CMRP, a University research strength ranked as being “above world standard” (Australian Research Council 2010 and 2012 Excellence in Research (ERA) initiative).
Michael applies his expertise of electronic properties of semiconductors to the design and development of novel, solid state based instrumentation for application in radiation medicine. His contribution to the CMRP is through his significant experience and expertise in radiation interactions and semiconducting properties of matter. He has played a major role in the development of a real-time, solid state radiation dosimetry system with micron-scale spatial resolution for the Australian Synchrotron and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility).
Michael is particularly interested in the optimization of radiation medicine created by the physical and semiconducting properties of engineered nano-ceramics and semiconductor devices in different radiation field environments (e.g. photons or charged particles). In addition he is interested in the real-world implementation and application of real-time devices designed to operate in vivo from a targeted diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy point of view. He draws in his extensive experience in cutting-edge instrumentation for radiation medicine (imaging and therapy) gained through many years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research at the University of Wollongong. Since 2005 he has supervised 20 higher degree research student completions.
As a foundation member of the CMRP A/Prof. Lerch played a major role in bringing together multidisciplinary members and collaborators (researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students) who drive this exciting new and very successful medical physics field of research at UOW. He contributes to new ideas and critically analyses, interprets and evaluates experimental data and provides linkages between the radiation detector design and development (Directed by Prof. Rozenfeld), customised electronics development (headed by Dr Petasecca), Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations (headed by Dr Guatelli), and Targeted Nano-Theranostic Systems development (headed by Dr Tehei) carried out within the CMRP.
Key Links
Media