Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Soo Jean Park is an applied chemical scientist whose research addresses key challenges in sustainable agriculture, biosecurity, and circular resource systems. Her work integrates chemical ecology, analytical chemistry, advanced materials, and thermochemical conversion technologies to develop practical, environmentally responsible solutions for primary industries.
Her research focuses on the discovery and optimisation of semiochemicals (pheromones and host plant volatiles) for pest monitoring and management. This includes linking insect behaviour with chemical signal identification and translating these into field-deployable tools, including integration with automated and AI-based monitoring systems.
Dr Park also develops advanced functional materials, including graphene-based systems, mesoporous materials, and composites, for controlled release of semiochemicals. These systems improve release kinetics, stability, and field performance, enabling more effective and pollinator-safe pest management.
In parallel, Dr Park’s work in waste valorisation and thermochemical conversion focuses on transforming agricultural and mixed waste streams into value-added products such as hydrogen-rich syngas and functional carbon materials, supporting circular economy and low-emission agricultural systems.
Research interests
- Chemical ecology and semiochemicals for pest management
- Insect–plant interactions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Controlled release systems using functional materials
- Waste valorisation and thermochemical conversion (e.g. gasification, syngas production)
- Sustainable and low-emission agricultural technologies
HDR Opportunities
Dr Park welcomes expressions of interest from highly motivated students with backgrounds in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering.
Current HDR projects include:
- Advanced slow-release systems for semiochemicals.
- Non-invasive detection of Varroa mite infestation using chemical sensing
- Waste-to-value systems for sustainable agriculture
Dr Park’s research group offers a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment with strong industry engagement, providing opportunities to contribute to impactful solutions in agriculture, biosecurity, and sustainability.
Education/Academic qualification
Organic Chemistry, PhD, Oxidative C-C, C-O, C-N bond formation at the benzylic position of cyclic ethers, University of Sydney
9 Feb 2009 → 31 Dec 2012
Award Date: 9 May 2014
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Enhanced Cross-Commodity Surveillance of Pests and Pathogens in Central NSW and Sunraysia/Riverland
Trebicki, P. (Primary Chief Investigator), Whitehouse, M. (Chief Investigator), Park, S. J. (Chief Investigator), Druciarek, T. (Primary Chief Investigator) & Taylor, P. (Chief Investigator)
31/01/26 → 31/01/30
Project: Research
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HIA (Frontiers): Using artificial intelligence to develop automated monitoring systems for the banana and fruit spotting bugs
Park, S. J. (Primary Chief Investigator), Mainali, B. (Chief Investigator), Jiang, Y. (Chief Investigator), Jamie, J. (Chief Investigator), Trebicki, P. (Chief Investigator), Piggott, A. (Chief Investigator), Liu, F. (Chief Investigator) & Taylor, P. (Chief Investigator)
27/06/24 → 28/05/29
Project: Research
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MC21000: An integrated systems-based approach for pest management in Australian macadamia
Mainali, B. (Primary Chief Investigator), Mendez Alvarez, V. (Chief Investigator), Park, S. J. (Chief Investigator), Taylor, P. (Chief Investigator), Whitehouse, M. (Chief Investigator), Yonow, T. (Partner Investigator), Revell, G. (Partner Investigator) & Smit, T. (Partner Investigator)
24/06/22 → 1/06/27
Project: Research
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D41029: Enhancing fruit fly sterile insect technique through improved and cost-effective gel larval diet, pre-release handling, and monitoring
Mainali, B. (Primary Chief Investigator), Taylor, P. (Chief Investigator), Mendez Alvarez, V. (Chief Investigator), Park, S. J. (Chief Investigator) & Marais, T. (Partner Investigator)
29/10/21 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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Biosecurity Futures Research Centre
Taylor, P. (Primary Chief Investigator), Gillings, M. (Chief Investigator), Raftos, D. (Chief Investigator), Leishman, M. (Chief Investigator), Sunna, A. (Chief Investigator), Bishop, M. (Chief Investigator), Barron, A. (Chief Investigator), Beattie, A. (Chief Investigator), Beaumont, L. (Chief Investigator), Connally, R. (Chief Investigator), Grech, A. (Chief Investigator), Griffith, S. (Chief Investigator), Guillemin, G. (Chief Investigator), Hughes, L. (Chief Investigator), Inglis, D. (Chief Investigator), Jamie, I. (Chief Investigator), Jamie, J. (Chief Investigator), Lu, Y. (Chief Investigator), Morelli De andrade, R. (Chief Investigator), Nevalainen, H. (Chief Investigator), Park, S. J. (Chief Investigator), Perez, J. (Chief Investigator), Power, M. (Chief Investigator), Ranjan, R. (Chief Investigator) & Vickery, K. (Chief Investigator)
1/07/15 → …
Project: Research
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Performance of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda reared on various horticultural crops
Regmi, R., Park, S. J., Ali, R., Akter, S., Yousuf, F. & Mainali, B., Apr 2026, In: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 174, 4, p. 309-320 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Piezo-photocatalytic reforming of end-of-life plastic waste into syngas over defective BaxSr1-xTiO3-y solid solutions
Jiang, Y., Wu, Y., Li, Y., Zheng, X., Ma, H., Stampfl, C., Wang, L., Su, C., Park, S. J., Strezov, V., Sorrell, C. C., Koshy, P. & Jiang, Y., 15 Aug 2026, In: Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy. 391, p. 1-15 15 p., 126662.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)48 Downloads (Pure) -
Antifungal and antimycotoxigenic activities of a synthetic zingerone-derivative 4-(4‑hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)-2-butanone against Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum
Jung, K. S., Lee, Y., Ganbat, D., Park, S. J. & Lee, S. E., Jun 2025, In: Applied Food Research. 5, 1, p. 1-12 12 p., 100664.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)38 Downloads (Pure) -
A self-cleaning strategy for electrochemical oxidation of a-pinene with minimal electrode fouling
Wong, D. K. Y., Lin, Z., Abbott, J., Karuso, P. & Park, S. J., 2025, p. 1239. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
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Associations between diurnally varying male volatile emissions and allochrony in 2 sibling fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Castro-Vargas, C., Oakeshott, J. G., Yeap, H. L., Lacey, M. J., Lee, S. F., Park, S. J., Taylor, P. W. & Pandey, G., Jul 2025, In: Journal of Insect Science. 25, 4, p. 1-14 14 p., 2.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)30 Downloads (Pure)