FAIRLIE LAB
Dr Jeff Mak
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow
BACKGROUND
Jeffrey Mak (PhD) is a bioorganic chemist at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. His publications cover a range of disciplines such as biological and medicinal chemistry, total synthesis, and physical organic chemistry. He was awarded the Harriett Marks Bursary and a UQ University Medal before completing the total synthesis of two caged diterpenes in his doctorate studies with Prof. Craig Williams. He is currently active in the fields of chemical biology and drug development in Prof. David Fairlie's group. He is recognised for his development of ligands that modulate mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are immune cells important in antibacterial defence (Accounts of Chemical Research 2021; Nature 2014; Nature Communications 2017; Angew Chemie 2024). He is a former recipient of a UQ Early Career Researcher Grant and a CASS Travel Award, and has been recognised as a CAS SciFinder Future Leader (2017), and as a Rising Star of Chemistry by the Australian Journal of Chemistry (2022). Dr Mak has lectured in the undergraduate course Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM3001, 2017-2023), and he has also served as a member of the UQ Cultural Inclusion Council. Dr Mak has wide chemical interests, but is particularly focussed on developing bioactive small molecules, and using chemical principles to rationally explain biological phenomena.