Primary research interest

Bio-interface Science

About me

During my postgraduate studies at The University of Copenhagen I spent two years at the Research School of Chemistry, the Australian National University (Canberra). After completing my PhD degree I was an assistant lecturer at the University of Roskilde, Denmark, from 1995 to 1997 after which I held various positions as Postdoctoral Fellows at The University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology. I was appointed to a lectureship at The University of Queensland in 2002, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2006, to Associate Professor in 2012, and Professor in 2020.

Research focus and collaborations

My research group investigates methods of improving the interface between biomolecules, cells, and biological tissues considered living with biomaterials that are manufactured. Our focus areas are surface modification of polymeric materials, chemical modification of polysaccharides, fabrication of stimuli responsive hydrogels, and assembly of nanomaterials. We target applications in gene and protein delivery, tissue repair, and cancer therapy. Through collaborations I apply my interest in surface science to improve coating performance of house-hold appliances, enhance machining of silicon carbide materials, and develop additives to chicken feed. I am furthermore part of a large collaborative project on developing better clinical solutions to rotator cuff repair. 

Group members

Dr Anitha Sudheesh Kumar, UQ Amplify Fellow

Funded projects

  • ARC Discovery Project 2021-2024
    A new lapping process for difficult-to-machine brittle materials (Han Huang, Mingyuan Lu, Lisbeth Grøndahl, Chi Fai Cheung)
    Total value of grant: $390,000
  • ARC Linkage Project 2021 - 2023
    Developing high performance nanocomposite coatings for domestic appliances (Han Huang, Darren Martin, Lisbeth Grøndahl, Mingyuan Lu, Michael Heitzmann,  Byron V Hernandez,  Ashok K Nanjundan
    Total value of grant: $521,00
  • ARC ITTC 2020-2024
    ARC industrial transformation training centre for Joint Bio-mechanics (Gu, Pivonka, Cooper-White, Bilston, Kerr, Herbert, Wang, Milford, Klein, Hodges, Brown, Bupta, Esari, Brauer, Xiao, Sauret, Ferreira, McPhail, Grøndahl, Gandhi, Jellicoe, Grant, Muir, Kerr, Rohrle, Schmitt, Vargas, Cutbush, McIntyre)
    Total value of grant: $4,000,000
  • Q-CAS 2021-2023
    Antimicrobial nanoadditive for poultry feed (Li Li, Lisbeth Grøndahl, Pengyuan Wang)
    Total value of grant: $161,000
  • ADRF 2023
    Dental pulp tissue regeneration using protein delivery from injectable antimicrobial sub-micron gel particles (Jiankun Yang, Anitha A, Lisbeth Grøndahl)
    Total value of grant: $9,950

Teaching interests

Chemical kinetics, analytical chemistry, nano-science and materials chemistry

Student supervision

  • Current PhD advisor: Principal Advisor 3, Associate Advisor 2
  • Previous PhD advisor: Asim Mushtaq (2022) ‘Development and in vitro evaluation of a targeted nanotherapeutic system for bone metastasised breast cancer’. Alexandra Munch (2022) ‘Surface modification of polycaprolactone for biomedical applications’. Bruna Cambraia Garms (2022) ‘Hydrogels for delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs’. Imanda Jayawardena (2020) ‘Optimisation of Immunodiffusion Assays’. Nendar Herdianto (2020) ‘Zinc- and strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite: synthesis and effect on osteoclastic activity’. Robyn Aston (2016) ‘Composite alginate hydrogels for biomedical applications’. Jorja Cork (2015) ‘Degradable Polyester Carbonate Biomaterials for Vascular Regeneration’. Chandhi Goonasekera (2014) ‘An investigation into the surface modification of nanohydroxyapatite for the development of composite scaffolds’. Norsyahidah Mohd Hidzir (2014) ‘Radiation Induced Grafting of Expanded Fluoropolymer Materials’. Jing Zhong Luk (2013) ‘Optimizing the Surface Properties of Biodegradable Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering’. Robert Coleman (2012) ‘Biomineralisation and the Role of Polyelectrolytes: An Investigation into the Crystal Growth of Hydroxyapatite in the Presence of Polyelectrolyte Additives’Aparna Jejurikar (2011) 'Development of Hydrogel Biomaterials for Articular Cartilage Replacement'.  Emma Lung-Van (2009) ‘ Heparan sulphate releasing biomaterials for tissue engineering’.  Shuko Suzuki (2008) ‘In Vitro Mineralisation of Well-Defined Polymers and Surfaces’.  Adrienne Chandler Temple (2007) ‘Surface Modification of an Expanded Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Implant’

Achievements and awards 

  • Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) awarded in 2016
  • Australasian Society for Biomaterials (ASBTE) Award of Excellence (2019)
  • SCMB HDR Supervision Excellence Award (2019)
  • Straumann Group Research Award (2019)
  • GC Australasia Dental PTY LTD Minimum Intervention Dentistry Research Award (2020)
  • Past President and Vice President of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials (ASBTE) (2011-2015)
  • Past Australasian delegate on the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUS-BSE) (2016-2020)

Featured publications

Researcher biography

Dr Lisbeth Grondahl's research interests are in the areas of Biomaterials Science and Tissue Engineering. In particular, she works on the development of novel materials and on surface modification of materials for improved bioactivity.

Current projects include:

  • Surface modification of biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering
  • Production of drug delivery devices for accelerated bone regeneration
  • Development of composite materials for use as bone biomaterials