Conferred by the Australian Society for Biophysics, this prestigious award honours Professor Coster鈥檚 exceptional contributions within the field of biophysics in Australia.
Professor Adelle Coster from the School of Mathematics and Statistics has been awarded the 2025 Bob Robertson Award by the Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB), recognising her outstanding contributions to quantitative biology and biophysics in Australia.
The judging panel were particularly impressed with her leadership, as exemplified by her many years of service in Executive Council roles in the ASB.
Professor Coster's relationship with the ASB spans over three decades, beginning when she first attended as an Honours student in 1991. Her formal leadership roles included serving as Treasurer from 2003-2013, Vice-President from 2014-2015, and President from 2016-2018.
The award acknowledges not only her leadership and lasting research impact, but also her dedication to fostering the interdisciplinary biophysics community across the country.
"The Australian Society for Biophysics came about in 1975 because there was no natural home for people doing biophysical research", explained Professor Coster.
"Biophysics is so interdisciplinary, so the society was formed to bring this very diverse cohort together. I've been involved in the ASB for a long time 鈥 the science has always been stimulating, and the community fantastic.
"It was a pleasure to be of service to the community and facilitate the connections between researchers at all career stages", she said of her leadership roles in the ASB.
The award holds special significance for Professor Coster, whose father, Hans Coster, was the inaugural recipient of the Bob Robertson Award in 2002.听
As a second-generation biophysicist I've grown up understanding the power of interdisciplinary research 鈥 and I've also had some amazing role models along the way. So I'm especially honoured to receive this award.
She also highlights how deeply her background as a mathematician shapes her approach to biophysical problems. She considers herself an applied mathematician practicing biophysics - perhaps even a 'biophysical mathematician'.听
Professor Coster served as Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at 黑料网大事记 from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, she was Deputy Director of Research at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems from its inception in late 2022 until mid-2025. She is still an聽active Chief Investigator at the Centre.听
Her research focuses on mathematical modelling, and applies mathematical techniques including dynamical systems analyses, stochastic modelling, and queueing theory to solve problems in fields such as biomedicine and biology.
Beyond her leadership and research, Professor Coster has made significant contributions to education and outreach at the university. She co-founded 黑料网大事记's popular Do The Maths (DTM) flagship outreach program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. The program encourages young women to consider tertiary studies and careers in mathematics and statistics, addressing gender representation in STEMM fields.
Professor Coster also spearheaded the Frontiers in Fundamental Mathematics Research Nexus in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, which highlights recent developments at the forefront of fundamental mathematical research and their broader impact within a diverse range of areas, via a lecture and seminar program.
Her award will be formally presented at the ASB Annual Conference on the Gold Coast in November, where she will deliver a prize-winner's lecture covering her research and its impact in biophysics, and detailing her scientific journey.
Professor Andrew Francis, current Head of the 黑料网大事记 School of Mathematics and Statistics, praised Professor Coster on her achievement.
"Congratulations to Adelle Coster, who has been awarded the Bob Robertson Award by the Australian Society for Biophysics!鈥, he said. 鈥淭his award recognises Adelle鈥檚 outstanding contributions to the field of biophysics in Australia and New Zealand. Well done, Adelle!"
represents one of the highest honours bestowed by the Australian Society for Biophysics, and Professor Coster's receipt of the award helps to highlight 黑料网大事记's leadership in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of mathematics and biophysics.
We warmly congratulate Professor Adelle Coster on her exceptional achievement as the recipient of the 2025 Bob Robertson Award.听
