Mohan Jacob

Ph.D. research positions are available in the following areas:

• Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition
• Graphene - Fabrication and Applications
• R.F. Plasma Polymerisation and thin films
• Organic Semiconductors and Applications
• Microwave Pyrolysis and waste treatment
• Biomaterials for biomedical applications

Professor Mohan Jacob is the Dean of Research Infrastructure at James Cook University and has been serving as the Associate Dean of Research Education for the College of Science and Engineering since 2014. Previously, he was the Head of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, where he initiated new accredited undergraduate and master's programs, along with multiple campus deliveries.

Currently, Mohan focuses on the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials for various applications. He is a pioneer in Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis for waste conversion, particularly in the areas of 'Waste to Resources' and 'Waste to Energy' and circular economy. He has developed various microwave-assisted waste processing systems and scaled up these systems for industrial applications.

Prof. Jacob has developed techniques and procedures for graphene synthesis from various carbon sources using RF Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition, Microwave Plasma, and Microwave Pyrolysis. The graphene produced is used in developing solar cells, supercapacitors, and various electrochemical sensors.

He also conceptualised the use of essential oils or their constituents as precursors for preparing polymer thin films for encapsulation and wound healing applications using low-temperature plasma polymerisation. He has successfully demonstrated the fabrication of optically transparent polymer thin films on various substrates, including silicon and plastics, and these approaches have been widely adopted.

Under his supervision, 25 PhD candidates have completed their degrees. Prof. Jacob has received several research and commercialisation awards, particularly for Graduate Research Leadership and Excellence in PhD Supervision. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers and has received over $10 million in competitive research funding.