Person
Bilek, Marcela (1968 - )
FAA
- Born
- 20 January 1968
Prague, Czech Republic - Occupation
- Educator and Physicist
Summary
Marcela Bilek is a physicist who is a leading specialist in engineering new high performance materials. In 2000 she became University of Sydney's first female Professor of Applied Physics. She was also the University's youngest Professor to date.
Details
Bilek's research has applications in many different sectors.
Her work micro-engineering surface properties has been applied in the area of solar energy production. She has also pioneered the use of biologically active plasmas on the surfaces of bio-medical devices and implants to make them less prone to cause infection. This is known as 'Biological cloaking'.
"Marcela Bilek is internationally known for contributions to the science and technology of plasma processes for surface engineering of materials, particularly utilizing energetic ions to control intrinsic stress and microstructure and to create a versatile new technology platform for the fabrication of advanced biointerfaces. Her work has enabled new capabilities in a range of settings including: magnetic storage devices; solid fuel plasma thrusters; implantable biomedical devices; in-vitro cell culture systems; diagnostics; stem cell and gene therapy; and nanomedicine." [from https://www.science.org.au/profile/marcela-bilek 28/6/2022]
Chronology
- 1974
- Life event - Settled in Australia
- 1986
- Award - Science Foundation for Physics Scholarship
- 1987
- Award - G.S. Caird Scholarship in Computer Science
- 1987
- Award - Cadbury-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship in Physics
- 1988 - 1989
- Award - IBM Prize for Computer Science. Location: Japan
- 1989
- Award - Cadbury-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship in Physics
- 1989
- Award - Walter Burfitt Scholarship for Physics
- 1989
- Award - W.I.B. Smith Prize in Physics (shared)
- 1989
- Award - Ian Jackson Memorial Prize for Computer Science
- 1990
- Award - Australian Institute of Physics NSW Branch Prize for Physics Honours
- 1990
- Education - Completed Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Sydney
- 1991 - 1993
- Career position - Industrial Research Scientist at Comalco Research Centre, Melbourne
- 1993
- Award - Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Reduction Technology Award
- 1993 - 1996
- Award - Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Honorary Packer Scholarship
- 1993 - 1996
- Award - Peterhouse Research Studentship
- 1996
- Education - Completed Ph.D. At University of Cambridge, England
- 1996 - 2000
- Award - Emmanuel Research Fellowship -grant for independent research
- 1996 - 2000
- Career position - Research Fellow, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, England
- 1997
- Award - Best paper at ICMCTF (the International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings & Thin Films), San Diego
- 1997 - 2000
- Career position - Visiting Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California USA
- 2000 -
- Career position - Appointed Professor of Applied Physics, University of Sydney
- 2000
- Education - Completed MBA at Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
- 2001
- Award - Young Tall Poppy Award for achievement in Science, Australian Institute for Policy and Science
- 2002
- Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Edgeworth David Medal
- 2002
- Award - Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
- 2003 -
- Career position - Member, National Fusion Facility Advisory Board
- 2003 - 2008
- Award - Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship
- 2003 - 2009
- Career position - Member, Nuclear Safety Committee, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (APRANSA)
- 2004
- Award - Pawsey Medal, Australian Academy of Science
- 2004 - 2006
- Career position - Member, National Committee for Physics, Australian Academy of Science
- 2007 -
- Award - Fellow, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research
- 2010 -
- Career position - Member, European Materials Research Society
- 2010
- Career position - Member, Program Committee, International Conference on Ion Beam Modification of Materials
- 2013 -
- Award - Fellow, American Physical Society
- 2015 -
- Award - Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
- 2018
- Award - Plasma Surface Engineering Leading Scientist Award
- 2019 -
- Award - Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales
- 2022 -
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science
Related entries
Published resources
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions
- McCarthy, Gavan; Morgan, Helen; Smith, Ailie; van den Bosch, Alan, Where are the Women in Australian Science?, Exhibition of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, First published 2003 with lists updated regulary edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, 2003, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/wisa/wisa.html. Details
Articles
- 'Marcela Bilek: Biological Cloaking', The Australian Innovation Challenge (2011), http://www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge/marcela-bilek-biological-cloaking/story-fn9dkrp5-1226212480165. Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q29326289. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/166881570. Details
- 'Bilek, Marcela (1968 - )', Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017], Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, 2017, https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20171113014523/http://www.science.gov.au/community/PrimeMinistersPrizesforScience/Recipients/2002/Pages/Professor-Marcela-Bilek.aspx. Details
- 'Bilek, Marcela (19680120-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1491919. Details
Resource Sections
- Heard, Marian, 'Interview with Professor Marcela Bilek', in Interviews with Australian scientists, Australian Academy of Science, 2001, http://science.org.au/scientists/interviews/b/mb.html. Details
- Heard, Marion, 'Professor Marcela Bilek, physicist', in Interviews with Australian scientists, 2001. https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/professor-marcela-bilek-physicist. Details
See also
Rebecca Rigby
Created: 5 January 2012, Last modified: 28 June 2022