The University of Western Australia

Professor Garry Lee

Professor (Food Science)
Forensic and Analytical Chemistry Group

Contact details

Address

Forensic and Analytical Chemistry Group
The University of Western Australia (M420)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 2561

Fax

6488 7285

Email

garry.lee@uwa.edu.au

Biography

I completed my PhD with Professor Ian Dance synthesising and investigating the properties (semi-conducting) of cadmium-sulfide materials at the University of NSW in 1992. These materials were also used as models for metallothioneins. After my PhD, I joined the National Research Council, Canada as a chemist in the molecular engineering research group. I worked with Professor John Ripmeester on encapsulation chemistry, developing cyclodextrin based systems for slow release of nutrients and studying their structures by solid state NMR spectroscopy.
In 1994, Professor Lee moved to the University of Technology, Sydney where he helped develop the chemistry component of the Forensic Science course. His research interest were three-fold: (1) Food Science – the utilisation of NMR relaxation technology to study oil in seeds, salmon and eucalyptus leaves; (2) Geochemistry – Analysis of carbon content in river systems and (3) Forensic Science – Determination of the origin of illicit drugs.
In 2000, Professor Lee was appointed Reader and Manager of the Centre for Solid State NMR at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Here Professor Lee, conducted research into food structures and materials and food safety. He was involved in the 2000-2001 UK Foot and Mouth Disease investigation.
He returned to Australia in 2002 to work in mine remediation and lead the Analytical Chemistry Research Project at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). During his time at ANSTO, Professor Lee became interested in water chemistry, stable isotope analysis and food safety and security. It was here that Professor Lee first started to work on food fraud and traceability. Professor Lee was also an inaugural member of the National Security Safeguards Project. During his time at ANSTO, Professor Lee served on a number of panels and was an advisor to the “Replacement Reactor” Project.
In 2006, Professor Lee joined CSIRO, Food Science Australia to head up the Food Safety and Quality Research Analytical Team. He worked on a number of projects at CSIRO including food traceability, characterisation of phytochemicals and developing new functional foods, developing new methodologies for contaminants in food and volatile chemistry of foods.
In 2009, Professor Lee was appointed the Professor of Food Science at the University of Western Australia (UWA). At UWA, Professor Lee is developing a Master of Food Science Degree in conjunction with the Australian Food Regulators and Industry Bodies. His research interests are in Food Safety and Security, food aromas, nanotechnology and phytochemistry in foods.

Key research

•Food Traceability and Origin determination

•Food Forensics – Adulteration and contamination

•Functional Food Chemistry

•Australian native plants

•Volatile aroma profiling

Memberships

•Coordinator, Australian and New Zealand consortium PROOF 2007-08.
•National Measurement Institute Food Sector Advisory Committee, 2007-present.
•Panel Member, Food Labelling Standards Committee, 2007-present.
•Science Advisor, Outback Spirit Foundation, 2009 - present.
•Committee for Indigenous Engagement Impact, 2009 – present
•Expert Panel, FIA Westpac WA food and beverage industry awards, 2009-2010
•Organising Committee, 11th Government Food Analysts Conference, Feb 22-24, 2009, Melbourne.
•Organising Committee, 12th Government Food Analysts Conference, Feb 22-24, 2011, Brisbane.
•NSW RACI Analytical Chemistry Committee.
•Review Panel, WA Catholic Schools Food Science & Technology Curriculum, 2011

Honours and awards

Pork traceability research – Winner, “Best Service to Industry” award at the 2nd Annual Westpac Food and Beverage Industry Awards, 2009.
Highly Cited Researcher (ISI)

Teaching

Coordinator, Master of Food Science (53540) (http://www.science.uwa.edu.au/courses/postgrad/coursework/mfoodsc)
I also lecture in the Mysteries of Forensic Science Unit (FNSC2200)

Current projects

•2010 – Australian Pork Limited Funded Project, Project No.: 2010/001 “Investigation into the potential use of Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes in the Traceability of Pork Offal and its relationship to the Pork Meat Physi-Trace Database”.
•2010 – Australian Pork Limited Funded Project, Project No.: 2010/0003, “Physi-TRACE Stage III”.
•2010 – Rural Industries Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) Grant, Project No,: PRJ5070. “Determination of key volatiles in Australian Black Truffles (T. Melanosprum) aroma by combined Gas Chromatography mass spectrometric and organoleptic techniques”
•2010 – Australian Egg Corporation Limited Funded Project, Project No.: 1TSC101 “Development of a tool to differentiate egg types”
•2011 – Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Education (AINSE) grant, Grant No: ALNGRA11096. “Development of chemical provenance establishment protocols in selected Australia native plants – Macadamia nuts”
•2011 - Australian Pork Limited Funded Project, Project No.: 2011/001 “Physi-Trace III Supplementary: Development of Business Rules for Physi-Trace”
•2011 – CRC for Pork. “Information Management and Date Analysis Tool for Physi-Trace”

Research profile

Research profile and publications