Our people
Professor Cather Simpson
Emeritus Investigator
- Phone:
- +64 9 373 7599, ext. 83525
Address:
University of Auckland
School of Chemical Sciences
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142
Biography
Professor Cather Simpson earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies - Echols at the University of Virginia, and a PhD in Medical Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine as a Howard Hughes Predoctoral Fellow.
During her PhD studies, she became increasingly interested in understanding and exploiting the fundamental interactions of light with molecules. After a Department of Energy Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, she joined Case Western Reserve University in 1997 to pursue this research.
In the Chemistry Department at CWRU, she earned tenure, was promoted to Associate Professor and started the Center for Chemical Dynamics. Along with her laser research, she fostered innovation in undergraduate teaching, women in science, and ethics in education and research.
In 2007, Professor Simpson joined The University of Auckland to take on a new challenge - to establish and direct the a new multi-user Photon Factory. Her appointment is held jointly in Chemistry and Physics.
The core mission of the Photon Factory is to bring the rich versatility of high-tech, short laser pulses to NZ academic and industry innovators. The facility has grown rapidly since it opened in 2010 - we now have over twenty students and employees who work on dozens of academic and commercial projects. These range from evaluating the photobehaviour of improved solar energy harvesting molecules to fabricating photomasks for microfluidic chip production. Our activities include a recent spin-off company to make a novel cell sorting chip.
Research interests
Professor Simpson's own research interests lie with the fundamental photodynamics of molecules in the condensed phase. She and her students use ultrafast laser spectroscopy to study rapidly evolving molecules as they convert light to more useful forms of energy.
We want to give our students a path into business – to enable them to create their own jobs.
Professor Cather Simpson
In the news
Annual Report
Sci Fi/Sci Fact podcast takes off - Annual Report 2023
April 14, 2024
A further six episodes of our Sci Fi/Sci Fact podcast with Bryan Crump have aired in collaboration with RNZ.
Read more about Sci Fi/Sci Fact podcast takes off - Annual Report 2023
Annual Report
2023 Funding successes - Annual Report 2023
April 13, 2024
Funding successes for our Investigators and their research programmes during 2023.
Annual Report
KiwiNet winners - Annual Report 2022
April 20, 2023
The MacDiarmid Institute’s research is now called ‘Deep Tech’ by the various investors who beat a path to our door.
News Article
Deep tech the winner on the night at the 2022 KiwiNet Commercialisation Awards
October 7, 2022
Deep tech shone at the 2022 KiwiNet Commercialisation Awards, with four of the winners directly connected with the Institute.
Read more about Deep tech the winner on the night at the 2022 KiwiNet Commercialisation Awards
News Article
MacDiarmid Institute researchers one third of KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards finalists
August 19, 2022
Six MacDiarmid Institute researchers are among 18 finalists selected for the annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Annual Report
Funding successes - Annual Report 2020
March 24, 2021
Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2020. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.
Annual Report
Awards - Annual Report 2019
May 26, 2020
This article from our 2019 Annual Report provides information about the range of awards received by MacDiarmid Institute Investigators over the past year.
News Article
MacDiarmid researchers successful in 2019 MBIE round
October 25, 2019
Seven MacDiarmid Institute Investigators have been awarded $20.29 million funding for their research through MBIE Endeavour fund.
Read more about MacDiarmid researchers successful in 2019 MBIE round
News Article
MacDiarmid Institute Research Honours winners
October 18, 2019
Five MacDiarmid Institute-related researchers were awarded medals at the Royal Society Te Apārangi 2019 Research Honours ceremony.
Read more about MacDiarmid Institute Research Honours winners
Annual Report
Case studies - Annual Report 2018
April 8, 2019
Engender Ltd was formed by Principal Investigator Professor Cather Simpson in 2011 to provide a solution to the problem dairy farmers have of selecting the sex of their calves.
News Article
MacDiarmid researchers successful in latest MBIE round
September 14, 2018
The MacDiarmid Institute is pleased to share the following successes from MacDiarmid researchers in this year’s MBIE Endeavour fund round.
Read more about MacDiarmid researchers successful in latest MBIE round
News Article
Women in Nanoscience
September 4, 2017
Following the MacDiarmid regional lecture series we have gathered some pieces where women in Nanoscience tell their stories.
News Article
Professor Cather Simpson
August 28, 2017
My entire scientific career is based on a bet over a pitcher of beer, when I bet that I would be able to measure the molecular scale heat in haemoglobin, and my advisor said it couldn’t be done. I did manage to, and this set me off in the direction my career has taken.
News Article
MacDiarmid scientists win at KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards
July 5, 2016
MacDiarmid scientists Cather Simpson and Carla Meledandri win at KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards
Read more about MacDiarmid scientists win at KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards
News Article
MacDiarmid and Dodd-Walls Investigator wins KiwiNet Supreme Award
July 5, 2016
We congratulate Associate Professor Cather Simpson on winning the Supreme Award at the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards last night.
Read more about MacDiarmid and Dodd-Walls Investigator wins KiwiNet Supreme Award
News Article
Engender Technology wins in AgTech, World Cup Tech Challenge
June 2, 2016
Congratulations to Associate Professor Cather Simpson on her company winning the AgTech section of the World Cup Tech Challenge in Silicon Valley.
Read more about Engender Technology wins in AgTech, World Cup Tech Challenge
In The Media
Cather Simpson’s start-up company Engender Technology shortlisted for the World Cup Tech Challenge
May 24, 2016
New Zealand tech start-up company named as finalist for World Cup Tech Challenge led by MacDiarmid Institute and Dodd-Walls Centre…
Learning Hub
Nature of Science – meet our scientists
October 23, 2013
Bill, Alex, Cather, Maan, Shaun and Sandy work at The MacDiarmid Institute - they all do science for a living, but have very different jobs and perspectives. One thing they all have in common is their passion for science.
Podcasts
MacDiarmid Investigators Cather Simpson and David Williams discuss how materials science is changing the way farmers analyse milk – Our Changing World
May 9, 2019
MacDiarmid Investigators Cather Simpson and David Williams discuss how materials science is changing the way farmers analyse milk – Our Changing World.
Sci Fi/Sci Fact - Zero Point Energy
July 21, 2022
Professor Cather Simpson investigates Zero Point Energy from The Incredibles.
Videos
2017 Lecture Series: Women in nanoscience
February 16, 2019
Three MacDiarmid Institute nanoscientists tell their personal stories of life in science, and what it is like being a woman in the physical sciences.
Lasers, milk and sperm
July 2, 2019
AMN9 - Professor Cather Simpson talks about her work in photonics and her curiosity about how materials behave at the nanoscale.
Lasers, Milk and Sperm - Cather Simpson
March 21, 2019
Professor, Associate Investigator, and Director of the Photon Factory, Cather Simpson talks about her work in photonics.
Nature of Science - Cather Simpson
March 21, 2019
The MacDiarmid Institute's Professor Cather Simpson talks about her amazing work, and why she loves being a scientist!
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