Surrounded by specialised equipment and cutting-edge experiments in the lab, Dr Darryl Jones explains that he thinks about more than just molecular physics – such as keen interests in Japan, veggie gardening and running.

What is your role and what does your work focus on?

I’m Manager of the Photoemission Electron Microscope (PEEM) Facility at Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis (FMMA). My role involves assembling, testing and training users of the new ScientaOmicron NanoESCA III instrument that has been co-funded by Flinders University, the South Australian Government and the Federal Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). We use this instrument to provide information about the physical properties and chemical structure of materials at nanometer scales.

I’ve just been awarded a Future Fellowship to research the motion of electrons in molecules and materials during physical and chemical processes, and a key part of the research will involve using this new photoemission electron microscope .

What journey brought you to this point in your career?

I did my PhD at Flinders in atomic and molecular physics before heading to Japan for two years as a Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Post-doctoral Fellow. Returning to Flinders, I received an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). I’ve held numerous teaching and research roles at Flinders before taking up my current position as PEEM facility manager. Across all these roles, I’ve been able to broaden my research interests and skill base, enabling me to embrace new challenges and identify opportunities going forward.

Can you describe a challenge in your life and how you dealt with it?

Moving to Japan for a post-doc was a huge challenge, especially as I had limited Japanese language skills. It made a lot of day-to-day tasks quite challenging and I learned a lot about myself while I was there – developing patience and new ways to communicate. By persevering, I got by and now Japan is like a second home to me.

What is something you are most proud of?

I was identified as Australia’s Research Field Leader in Spectroscopy and Molecular Physics in The Australian – Research Special Report, The Stars of 2018, which was a big deal for me. It helped to show that the research I’d been doing over many years was being recognised.

What does a normal day look like for you?

In the lab, I’m testing equipment, running experiments and training people how to use the instrumentation, then analyse the data they have collected.

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?

I love getting out into my veggie patch and then cooking freshly picked fruit and vegetables. I also enjoy running, because it’s a great way to clear my mind.