Peter Junk is an inorganic chemist internationally recognised for his research in organometallic chemistry of the main group and rare earth elements. His interests extend to organoamido and aryloxo chemistry, X-ray imaging, and corrosion inhibition. Between 2001 and 2012 he was Professor at Monash University, before joining the James Cook University as Nevitt Professor of Chemistry. Junk has received a number of awards for his research, including the Burrows Award from the Inorganic Chemistry Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and the Terrae Rarae Award. He was President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute from 2016 to 2018.
"Peter Junk completed his PhD in 1988 under the supervision of Colin Raston at The University of Western Australia. He obtained a DSc from James Cook University for his international reputation in organometallic chemistry of the main group and rare earth elements. After a short stint in the petroleum industry, Peter held several postdoctoral positions, with Jerry Atwood at the University of Alabama, Allan White at UWA and Glen Deacon at Monash University. In 1997, Peter joined James Cook University as a Lecturer. He moved to Monash University in 2001 where he was promoted to Professor. In 2012, he moved back to James Cook University as the Nevitt Professor of Chemistry. His main research interests are in rare earth and main group organometallic, organoamido and aryloxo chemistry, but has applied interests in corrosion inhibition. He has published in excess of 450 publications and reviews. He has been a recipient of the Burrows Award, and the Terrae Rarae award for recognition of his contributions to Rare Earth Chemistry. He is currently on the College of Experts at the ARC." [from Australian journal of chemistry 75(8/9):494 (2002)]
1988
1988
Education - PhD, University of Western Australia
1989
1992
Career position - Researcher, Ampol
1992
1994
Career position - Postdoctoral fellow, University of Alabama
1995
1995
Career position - 1995 Postdoctoral fellow, University of Western Australia
1997
2001
Career position - Lecturer, James Cook University
2001
2001
Award - Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award, Australian Institute of Political Science
2001
2012
Career position - Professor, Monash University
2002
Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
2007
2007
Award - DSc, James Cook University
2010
Award - Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom
2012
Career position - Nevitt Professor of Chemistry, James Cook University
2014
2018
Career position - Member of the Editorial Board, Nanochemistry research
2014
2020
Career position - Member of the Editorial Board, Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie
2016
2016
Award - Terrae Rarae Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the coordination chemistry of the rare earth elements(shared with Peter W. Roesk), Terrae Rarae (Rare Earth Chemistry Conference)
2016
2016
Award - Burrows Award, Inorganic Chemistry Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
2016
2016
Career position - Chair, International Conference of Organometallic Chemistry (ICOMC2016), Melbourne
2016
2016
Career position - Chair, Terrae Rarae (Rare Earth Chemistry Conference), Magnetic Island, Queensland
2016
2018
Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
2021
Career position - Distinguished Professor, James Cook University
2022
2024
Career position - Member, College of Experts, Australian Research Council