Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Organic/polymer syntheses and characterisation
  • Combustion chemistry & toxicity
  • Recycling of plastics and cellulosic materials; energy from waste; greener technologies
  • Hydrogen economy and reversible electrolytic cells; safer electrolyte systems for Li-ion batteries
  • Novel safer & environmentally-friendly materials for transport & construction sectors

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Paul Joseph

Paul is a chemist specialising in polymer science and combustion chemistry, with more than 25 years of research experience. He has an international reputation in the field of polymer/material science, with a track record of publishing research and securing external and internal research funding.

After obtaining his PhD in Polymer Science from Lancaster University, UK, Paul has worked at Lancaster and Sheffield Universities as a Research Associate in area of polymer science before taking up a research fellowship at University of Ulster, UK. Subsequently, he was promoted to Lecturer, and then Senior Lecturer, before securing the current position of Associate Professor in Material Science at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.

So far, Paul has attracted research funds totalling to the tune of AUD $8 Million- some of his recent research grants at Victoria University include:

  • research income through the NATA accredited Fire Testing Facility at Werribee campus, 2022 to date, to the tune of $1,500,000
  • Victoria University Industrial PDRF project with CSIRO Clayton, 2023-2025, $457,363
  • Sustainability Victoria project with Assembled threads and Laing O'Rourke, 2023-2024, $250,335
  • Victoria University Industrial PDRF project with DSTG/BAE Systems, 2023-2024, $428,035.

To date, Paul has also co-authored about 175 research outputs, including 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and nine invited book chapters. He has been also actively involved in research students’ supervision at four different universities dotted across the world. Currently, he supervises four PhD programs at Victoria University.

Paul also holds membership of several professional bodies in his sphere of activity:

  • Member, Royal Society of Chemistry and Chartered Chemist, UK (MRSC, CChem)
  • Chartered Scientist, The Science Council, UK (CSci)
  • Fellow, Higher Education, UK (FHEA)

Paul is a member of the editorial team of several reputed journals from Springer-Nature, Elsevier, Wiley, Royal Society Chemistry and American Chemical Society. He has also served on the organising committees of various international conferences in area of polymer science.

 

 

Qualifications

  • PhD (Polymer Science), Lancaster University, UK
  • MSc (Hydrogen Safety Engineering), Ulster University, UK
  • PgCHEP, Ulster University, UK
  • MSc (Applied Chemistry), Cochin University, India
  • BSc (Chemistry), Kerala University India

Key publications

Year Citation
2024 Joseph, P., & Tretsiakova-McNally, S. (240729). Phosphorus-Containing Flame Retardants In Morgan, A. ;. (Ed.) (pp. 81-96). New York: CRC Press.

Year Citation
2024 Joseph, P., Arun, M., Bigger, S., Smallridge, A., Guerrieri, M., & Tretsiakova-McNally, S. (240512). Chemical modification of some acrylic polymers with phosphorus-containing groups: Effects on their flame retardance American Chemical Society.
2024 Joseph, P., Tretsiakova-McNally, S., Baby, A., Pospiech, D., Schierz, E., Lederer, A., & Arun, M. (240512). Enhancing fire retardance of styrenic polymers through a ter-polymerization route American Chemical Society.

Year Citation
2024 Li, L., Joseph, P., Zhang, X., & Zhang, L. (240615). A study of some relevant properties of concrete incorporating waste ceramic powder as a cement replacement agent. Journal of Building Engineering, 87

doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109106

2024 Baby, A., Tretsiakova-McNally, S., Joseph, P., Zhang, J., & Arun, M. (240601). The Effects of Nitrogen-Containing Monomers on the Thermal Degradation and Combustion Attributes of Polystyrenes Chemically Modified With Phosphonate Groups. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 309(6),

doi: 10.1002/mame.202300432

2024 Haigh, R., Sandanayake, M., Sasi, S., Yaghoubi, E., Joseph, P., & Vrcelj, Z. (240601). Microstructural attributes and physiochemical behaviours of concrete incorporating various synthetic textile and cardboard fibres: A comparative review. Journal of Building Engineering, 86

doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108690

2024 Sasi, S., Joseph, P., Haigh, R., Sandanayake, M., Vrcelj, Z., & Yaghoubi, E. (240501). A Review on the Effects of Waste Textile Polymer Fiber on Concrete Strength: Exploring the Key Parameters. Buildings, 14(5),

doi: 10.3390/buildings14051486

2024 Haigh, R., Sandanayake, M., Joseph, P., Arun, M., Yaghoubi, E., Vrcelj, Z., & Sasi, S. (240401). The Thermo-Phase Change Reactivity of Textile and Cardboard Fibres in Varied Concrete Composites. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(8),

doi: 10.3390/su16083221

2024 Zamani, P., Zabihi, O., Ahmadi, M., Zamani, M. R., Zohuriaan-Mehr, M. J., Kannangara, T., Joseph, P., & Naebe, M. (240401). Assessing sustainability and green chemistry in synthesis of a Vanillin-based vitrimer at scale: Enabling sustainable manufacturing of recyclable carbon fiber composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 179

doi: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2024.108016

2024 Moinuddin, K., Mahmud, H. MI., Joseph, P., Gamble, G., Suendermann, B., Wilkinson, C., & Bossard, J. (240301). Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Efficacy of Water Mist to Suppress Hydrocarbon Fires in Enclosures. Fire, 7(3),

doi: 10.3390/fire7030083

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

CSIRO - Syntheses and characterization of novel polymer electrolyte membranes for reversible electrolyte cells with enhanced safety and performance
From: CSIRO
For period: 2023-2025
Not disclosed
Fire Testing Concrete Research  Trials for Holcim Round 2 (NEL Project) Pty Ltd
From: Holcim Pty Ltd
Other investigators: Prof Maurice Guerrieri
For period: 2023-2023
Not disclosed
SCI Fire Testing Concrete Research Trials Variation
From: Structural Concrete Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd
Other investigators: Prof Maurice Guerrieri
For period: 2023-2023
Not disclosed
Gamuda - Fire Testing Research Trials for Sydney Metro
From: Gamuda Australia
Other investigators: Prof Maurice Guerrieri
For period: 2023-2023
Not disclosed

Experimental and numerical investigations of fire suppression by water mist systems for maritime vessels
From: Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Defence Science and Technology Group, Australia, BAE Systems Maritime Australia Ltd
Other investigators: Prof Khalid Moinuddin
For period: 2022-2024
Not disclosed
AFJV - Sydney Metro West CTP
From: CTP AFJV (Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture)
Other investigators: Prof Maurice Guerrieri
For period: 2022-2023
Not disclosed
Used textile and cardboard fibres as reinforcing-agents in structural concrete
From: Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund
Other investigators: Prof Zora Vrcelj, Prof Maurice Guerrieri, Dr Ehsan Yaghoubi, Dr Malindu Sandanayake, Prof Salvatore Fragomeni
For period: 2022-2025
$250,355

Investigation of a Prototype Firefighting System Based on Compressed Nitrogen Gas
From: Defence Science Institute
Other investigators: Prof Khalid Moinuddin
For period: 2020-2021
$48,610

Development of sustainable bio-materials for mitigating climate change.
From: PVC (Research and Research Training), College of Engineering and Science
Other investigators: Mr Nitin Muttil, Prof Khalid Moinuddin, Prof Vassili Novozhilov, Prof Stephen Bigger
For period: 2017-2020
$90,000
Experimental and numerical investigations on the efficacy of water mist systems for active suppression of fires involving lithium-ion batteries in enclosures.
From: Centre for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering, Defence Science and Technology Group, Australia
Other investigators: Prof Vassili Novozhilov, Prof Khalid Moinuddin
For period: 2017-2020
$392,106

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
3 PhD Principal supervisor
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (3) Principal supervisor
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Principal supervisor
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (2) Principal supervisor
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Careers

Details of this Researcher's career are currently unavailable.