Prof Lewis is a Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor since 2022.  He joined Flinders University in 2009 in a joint appointment with the CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship, as Flagship Fellow. Over his career, David has delivered over 20 Plenary and Invited Lectures at International meetings, editied two conference proceedings, authored over 60 papers and is an inventor on over 50 granted patent families.

Daivd received his PhD from the University of Queensland in 1986 and did a postdoc at Virginia Tech in the USA and subsequently joined the IBM T.J.Watson Research Centre in NY in 1988. In 1998, David returned to Australia in a research management role with SOLA Optical (now Carl Zeiss Vision), based in Adelaide, which led to senior R&D Management roles, including managing the Discovery and Innovation function.

Prof. Lewis's research career has centered on understanding and leveraging the relationship between the behavior of molecules and structures at the molecular and nano scales with the macroscopic properties they display.  This has led to a number of innovative solutions being successfully licensed, developed and implemented into new products and technologies.

Current interests and project areas

• Nanotechnology and Polymer Science

• applications of nano-cylinders (and their modification), which would lead to novel approaches to desalination, through high flux, selective transport of molecules and ions
• organic electronics through design of devices, and control of interfaces to produce low-cost printable solar cells and transistors
  
• learning lessons from nature and applying them through physical solutions.

• Innovation systems, approaches and tools that research organizations and companies can use to be more effective at converting research and ideas into new products and technologies.

Previous areas of interest and areas of expertise

• Microwave processing of materials
• Radiation degradation of polymers
• Materials and processes for microelectronic applications
• Ophthalmic lens materials and performance enhancing coatings
• Photochromic systems