Nicholas Westra van Holthe
Qualifications
About Nicholas
I was one of those kids who always wanted to be a scientist. Whilst heavily involved with sports and growing up in the country, I had the heart of a nerd, thus I am here pursuing my passion for understanding. When not in the chemistry lab I keep an active life style, including cycling, hiking and resistance training. My ideal recreation involves jumping out of a perfectly good boat and swimming after big fish with the intention of shooting them with a spear gun (free dive spearfishing). I am a currently serving member of the Australian Army Reserve completing the Australian Army Officer Commissioning Course through the Royal Military College, Duntroon. I enjoy the physical chemistry more so than the synthetic chemistry but I find polymer chemistry as a whole very interesting. The diverse nature of the research is fascinating and I am excited to be in this field. The diversity and social environment of the group makes for a great work place.
Nick completed a BSc Hons with first class Honours at The University of Queensland in 2015. Nick's Honours work focused on studying the physicochemical properties of novel polymeric MRI imaging agents. Nick commenced his Ph.D. at The University of Queensland in 2016 focusing towards understanding the fundamental mechanisms of contrast enhancement within photoacoustic molecular imaging, thus refining the design of novel polymeric imaging and therapeutic agents (nanomedicines) for tumour diagnostics and therapy. His work is also aimed at gaining insight into the nanoparticle-tumour interaction by means of photoacoustic molecular imaging, addressing the current unknowns surrounding how nanomedicines interact with the heterogeneous tumour microenvironment and how certain particles permeate through the tumour mass.
Nick has a history of working in the tertiary education industry with several years experience working as a undergraduate chemistry laboratory demonstrator teaching a variety of chemistry subjects including, first year general chemistry, physical chemistry and thermodynamics, nanoscience; advanced materials chemistry and nanotechnology, and advanced experimental chemistry.
Nick is also heavily involved with the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology (CBNS) as a member of the Science Outreach Committee organizing events for science outreach and communication.