Professor Kostya Ostrikov is an international pioneer in the field of plasma nanoscience.
Background
Professor Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov is the youngest ever recipient in Ukraine of the highest academic degree of Doctor of Sciences (DSc).
He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Science, achieved at the Kharkov National University, Ukraine.
Professor Ostrikov's awards, fellowships and achievements are extensive. Among them are:
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CSIRO, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Science Leader, Australia since 2008
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Director, Plasma Nanoscience Centre since 2008
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Director, Centre for Waves and Complex Systems, The University of Sydney, Australia
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winner of six fellowships in United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Australia
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recipient of the Pawsey Medal of the Australian Academy of Sciences, 2008
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recipient of the ‘Best Young Scientist of Ukraine’ award of the Academy of Sciences, Ukraine, 1997
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author of over 500 publications, including monographs and refereed journal articles
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plenary or keynote speaker at more than 11 conferences, plus 50 invited talks in the last five years
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earned international repute through leadership in diverse multidisciplinary research programs, particularly in plasma nanoscience, where he is widely recognised as a pioneer and world-leading authority
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published 49 scientific papers and one sole-authored book in his first year with CSIRO.
Pioneering work
It is the area of plasma nanoscience that has Professor Ostikov so captivated; discovering the unique properties of ionized gases (plasmas and ion beams) to create ultra-tiny pieces of matter including nanostructures and intricate nanoscale assemblies.
What is plasmas nanoscience?
Research in this field looks at the effect ionised gases – plasmas – have on the properties, assembly and self-organisation of micro and nanoscale objects.
It is a new and rapidly expanding research area at the cutting edge of many scientific disciplines, including physics, nanoscience and nanotechnology, surface science, materials science, structural chemistry, astrophysics, life sciences, and more.
The current manufacture of nanoscale devices – such as computer microchips, biosensors, and communication devices – are mostly process-specific and suffer from cost-inefficient ‘trial and error’ practices with very limited controls. Plasma nanoscience on the other hand provides greater control and is significantly faster.
“Plasma nanoscience looks at the effect ionised gases – plasmas – have on the properties, assembly and self-organisation of micro and nanoscale objects.”
Professor Kostya Ostrikov
Internationally, Professor Ostrikov is regarded as a pioneer in this field, having determined how to control various plasma characteristics in order to precisely position their building blocks, and in turn create self-organising nanostructures – something that has eluded researchers for some time.
This, and his exceptional career to date, saw him appointed as a Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) Science Leader at CSIRO in 2008.
CEO Science Leader project
Professor Ostikov’s CEO Science Leader project aims at solving a scientific challenge around deterministic synthesis of hierarchically arranged, self-organised nanoarchitectures and the control of their shapes and positioning.
Such control is vitally needed for next-generation materials and nanoelectronic, photovoltaic, sensing, biomedical, and quantum information devices.
His groundbreaking multidisciplinary approaches rely on complex plasma-solid systems and will enable guided hierarchical self-organisation of custom-made nanoarchitectures under far-from-equilibrium conditions.
Outcomes
Professor Ostrikov's research aims to further explore plasma nanoscience and develop a radically new deterministic approach and specific techniques to create self-organising, intricate nanostructures that will lead to the development of next-generation materials, nanodevices and sensors.
The outcomes of this research are expected to revolutionise CSIRO’s, and the world’s, capabilities for nanoscale synthesis and will have broad scientific, technological, and commercial benefits.
Find out more about CSIRO's Advanced and composite materials overview.
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