Max Lu was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in June 2009. Previously, he was Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) from April 2009 and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Linkages) from October 2008 in a 50 percent capacity while retaining his role as Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials ? a role he has held since 2003.

After completing his PhD, Professor Lu spent 3 years in Singapore as Lecturer at Nanyang Technological University. Upon his return to UQ in 1994, he has held the positions of Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor and Chair of Nanotechnology in Chemical Engineering. In 2003, he was awarded his first ARC Federation Fellowship and his second ARC Federation Fellowship in 2008.

Professor Lu?s research expertise is in nanoparticles and nanoporous materials for clean energy and environmental technologies. With over 320 journal publications in high impact journals including Nature, JACS, Angew Chem., Adv Materials, he is also co-inventor of 14 international patents. Professor Lu is a highly cited researcher in chemical engineering and materials science with over 5100 citations (with h-index of 38). He has received numerous prestigious awards nationally and internationally including the Orica Award, RK Murphy Medal, Le Fevre Prize, ExxonMobil Award, IUMRS Young Scientist Award, Top 100 Most Influential Engineers in Australia (2004) and Top 50 Most Inspiring Chinese in the World (2006). He is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Fellow of IChemE.

Professor Lu formerly served as the DEST Research Quality Framework Chair of Engineering and Technology Panel 2007, on Expert Advisory Groups of the Prime Minister?s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (2004, 2005), and as ARC College of Experts Panel member (2002-2004). He has recently been appointed as Chair of the PMSEIC Thematic Cluster on Science as Engine for Innovation. He also serves as the current Chairman of IChemE Australia Board, and Director of the Board of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. His other committee memberships include the Research and Investment Committee, Centre for Low Emission Technology, Advisory Board of CSIRO Flagship for Future Manufacturing, Uniseed Management Board of Directors, Management Board of the ARC Nanotechnology Network and the Queensland China Council.