Dr Ashraf Ghanem

----------------------------------A/Professor Dr Ashraf Ghanem studied Chemistry at the University of Stuttgart, Germany where he conducted his master degree (MSc) with Prof. Franz Effenberger. In 1999, he joined the group of Prof. Rolf D. Schmid and Uwe Bornscheuer at the Institute for Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Germany. In 2000, he was awarded a Scholarship from the German Research Council (DFG) to conduct his PhD with Prof. Volker Schurig at the University of Tuebingen, Germany. In 2002, he received his PhD and joined the group of Prof. Paul Muller at the University of Geneva, Switzerland as post doctoral fellow. In 2004, he was appointed Scientist and Head of the Biomedicinal Chemistry Unit, KFSHRC, Saudi Arabia. In 2008, he was appointed Pfizer research fellow/Lecturer at ACROSS with Prof. Paul Haddad, School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania. In 2010, he was awarded the Australian Endeavor and the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Awards at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan. In 2011 he returned to Australia and was appointed at the University of Canberra. In 2012, he received the Discovery translation award from ANU connect and the ACT gov. for developing high potential commercial projects in Australia. In 2013, he received the Australia Endeavor Research Award. He is the president of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) ACT branch and the Head of the Chirality group in Canberra (www.chiralitygroup.com). Ashraf’s research interests lie in the area of asymmetric and enantioselective catalysis and analysis. His work on lipase and dirhodium catalysis and chiral analysis has been well cited worldwide. He has more than 70 international publications and H index 24. He teaches into Organic Chemistry (>400 students) and Medicinal Chemistry at UC. He is currently Editorial board of “Chirality” journal published by Wiley and the Editor of “Chirality in Australia” first special issue which will be published in June. Ashraf also has passion for the promotion of Science in ACT. The crystal growing competition with more than 4000 kids involved and his promotion of science in schools are all testimonies for his community engagements.