Lerch, Michael L. F. Professor

Professor Michael Lerch graduated with a PhD in solid state physics in 1998. He was a founding member of the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP) at the University of Wollongong (UOW). He is currently Head of the School of Physics at UOW. Michael is also Deputy Director of the CMRP and Leader of the Radiation Detection and Instrumentation Theme within the CMRP. The CMRP is a UOW Research Strength working within a field of research at UOW ranked as being “well above world standard” (Australian Research Council Excellence in Research (ERA) initiative in 2015). 

Michael applies his expertise of electronic properties of semiconductors to the design and development of novel, solid state based sensors and instrumentation for application in radiation medicine. He has played a major role in the development of real-time, solid state radiation dosimetry systems with millimetre and sub-millimetre spatial resolution.

Michael is also interested in the optimization of radiation medicine created by the physical and semiconducting properties of engineered nano-ceramics and semiconductor devices in different radiation field environments (e.g. photons or charged particles). He is interested in the real-world implementation and application of real-time devices designed to operate in vivo from a targeted diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy point of view.

Michael's extensive experience in cutting-edge instrumentation for radiation medicine (imaging and therapy) is demonstrated by several years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research at UOW. He has published over 150 journal articles and has supervised more than 20 higher degree research students to completion since 2005. His research and development projects have been realised through national and international competitive research funding agencies.