Dr Elizabeth Krenske

Dr Elizabeth Krenske

Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar

Media Profile

"Wherever scientific research involves the study of molecules – whether it be unraveling the causes of disease, or making hi-tech materials, or developing cleaner fuel technologies – computer modeling is an increasingly valuable route to new discoveries.”

 

Elizabeth Krenske, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Australian National University (ANU), will have the opportunity to carry out research in the computational laboratories of Professor Kendall Houk at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), thanks to winning a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship.

 

Elizabeth’s research focuses on a new technique for analyzing how molecules react. Through collaborative research at UCLA she will work with a theory known as Atoms In Molecules Theory, which promises to be a faster and cheaper alternative to existing methods for calculating molecular energies.

 

"Once a molecule's energy distribution is known, one has access to a range of other information that enables the behavior of a chemical system – either known or hypothetical – to be mapped out.”

 

“Sophisticated theoretical techniques are now becoming available that can do this even for molecules that cannot be studied in an ordinary laboratory. My goal is to determine whether such information can be accurately obtained using Atoms In Molecules Theory.”

Elizabeth will first apply the theory to answer questions arising from her recent research on reactive molecules at ANU.

 

"Professor Houk at UCLA is a world leader in the dual fields of Computational Methodology and Organic Reactivity. By drawing on his expertise, I hope to derive a more refined understanding of chemical reactivity. Such knowledge is essential for accelerating the drive towards cleaner fuels, functional materials and better medicines. Becoming proficient in the techniques that Professor Houk has pioneered will enable me to contribute quality computational information towards these initiatives when I return to Australia."

 

Elizabeth holds a First Class Honours degree in Chemistry from the University of Queensland, where she graduated as the highest-ranked undergraduate and a University Medalist. She completed her PhD as a Vice-Chancellor's Scholar at the Research School of Chemistry at ANU.