Luiza is researcher in electrochemistry – a field which focuses on the relationship between electricity and chemical change, and which has revolutionized our day-to-day lives in many ways, including through the invention and use of batteries.
Electrochemistry is also used in health settings, and for their PhD, Luiza is helping to develop new materials which in the future could be used to create devices called “sensors”, which have a wide range of medical uses.
“In our group, we are working to create devices that give real-time information about disease, and how treatments are being received by a patient, as well as devices which could in the future help doctors develop tailored treatments according to the needs of individual patients,” they said.
When Luiza started tertiary study in Brazil, they already had an interest in chemistry. But it was a teacher in their first year of university who ignited their passion for the field of electrochemistry.
“My chemistry teacher in my first semester was amazing. So, the next semester I started a project with him, creating materials to hydrolyse water and produce energy – basically, we were creating batteries,” Luiza said.
“That was my first contact with electrochemistry, and I liked it from the beginning.”
Luiza went on to study Chemical Engineering and a Master in Chemistry, and it was during this time they started applying their electrochemistry expertise to help develop materials for use in health settings – in this case, for COVID-19.
“I worked with conducting polymers, which are repeated chains of molecules that can conduct electricity. I was able to develop and test a polymer called poly-2-anisidine, which I then used in a COVID sensor to detect the disease,” they said.
Now a member of Dr Wren Greene’s lab at La Trobe University, Luiza has continued to focus on creating materials for sensors which could in the future help improve health outcomes.
Currently, they are working on creating and testing new, two-dimensional conducting polymers – which is the same as a non 2D polymer, but synthesized in such a controlled way that they achieve a thickness of a couple layers of molecules. This type of polymer is highly versatile, and can be used as synthetic membranes, surface coatings, biosensors and more, as well as in nanotechnology.
“I’ve been interested in this area since the beginning of my Master’s, where I really enjoyed using electrochemistry to synthesize and characterise a new polymer that was not already in the literature. I’m really happy to be able to keep researching in this field for my PhD,” they said.
“Once this is developed, we can use the polymer to create biomimetic materials, interfaces for bionic and neural implants, drug delivery systems and electrochemical and optical sensors.”
They love research – it’s their way of giving back to society.
“Research in general to me is one of the ways that makes society grow better every day. New education methods, new devices, new technologies … they all have something to add,” they said.
When not conducting research, Luiza works at La Trobe University as a lab demonstrator.
“One of my favourite memories of my time at La Trobe so far was the first time a student told me that they were glad I was their demonstrator, because I was patient and a good teacher, and I believe that reflects on my own ability to learn and pass along the new discoveries I can make in science” they said.
“It makes me happy to know that I am having a positive impact on students’ lives.”
Luiza is a member of Dr Wren Greene’s lab at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science and in the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment.
