Dr Rumana Hossain
Lecturer
Doctor of Philosophy in Material Science and Engineering, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney.Ìý
Science
Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology (SMaRT)
Dr Rumana Hossain completed her Ph.D. at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney in 2020 and joined Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology, SMaRT@ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç as a Research Associate. She is currently a Lecturer at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney (2024 onwards). Rumana has over 70 publications, 2 patents and has been invited to present her work at over 30 conferences. Her research interests are based on a range of waste recycling and transformation fields including recycling of waste plastic, packaging waste, e-waste and waste batteries, automotive waste, etc., synthesising new materials from waste and investigating their structure-property relationships. She loves to implement various innovative analytical instruments and methods, mechanical and electrochemical characterisation instruments, and processing instruments (such as high temperature furnaces) to utilise waste as a resource in the production of a new generation of green materials/products. Rumana’s research experience working with industries and in research commercialisation includes leading industrial projects and collaborating with colleagues from all over the world with a range of skillsets.
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E-mail
Location
School of Materials Science & Engineering (BuildingE10)
ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç SYDNEY NSW 2052 | AUSTRALIA
- Publications
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- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
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Transforming complex waste of automotive shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles into green materials. Department of Education / Trailblazer Universities Program (TRaCE) Co-Lead CI (2024-2027)
TRaCE Industry Mobility Fellowship for Recycling E-waste. Department of Education / Trailblazer Universities Program (TRaCE) Lead CI (2024-2025).
Upscaling a Novel Technology for Recycling Lithium-Ion Batterie. (CRC-P's) Shared Grant (2024-2026)
Recognised forÌý
Recipient of an Australian Post Graduate Award (2016-2020)
ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Science PhD writing Scholarship (2019).
Early Career Researcher prize by The Royal Society in London, UK (2024).
Women in Science (ECR) award in AMSCA-2024 at Brisbane, Australia (2024)
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At various stages of her research career, Dr. Rumana Hossain has cultivated a diverse, interdisciplinary portfolio focused on sustainable materials, circular resource recovery, waste-to-value innovations, and environmental protection. Her work integrates scientific excellence with real-world applicability and aligns closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
- SDG 14 – Life Below Water
- SDG 15 – Life on Land
Her evolving research encompasses the transformation of waste into high-performance materials, clean energy applications, surface and structural enhancements, and critical investigations into plastic pollution and microplastics, offering innovative solutions for industrial and environmental challenges.
Research Focus AreasÌý
1. Circular Resource Recovery and Advanced Recycling
Dr. Hossain is a leader in waste valorization and circular materials development. Her work focuses on recovering valuable materials from complex waste streams and converting them into high-performance products for industrial use and environmental benefit.
- Recovery of critical and valuable metals (e.g., copper, zinc, rare earth elements) from e-waste and batteries
- Recycling of automotive shredder residue and waste tyres from end-of-life vehicles
- Repurposing of spent lithium-ion batteries and their electrode materials for second-life energy storage
- Transformation of packaging waste, coffee capsules, and laminated plastics into functional materials
- Bio-waste valorisation: converting coffee grounds, macadamia shells, wood, and textiles into porous carbon
- Conversion of plastic packaging waste into carbon sources and ceramic coatings
2. Microplastics and Plastic Waste Pollution Research
Dr. Hossain addresses the global challenge of microplastic pollution with a focus on both scientific understanding and practical mitigation strategies. Her work spans the detection, impact assessment, and upcycling of plastic waste into valuable materials.
Microplastics Characterisation and Environmental Impact:
- Advanced analytical techniques for microplastics detection:
- Identification of microplastics sources across terrestrial, aquatic, and urban systems
- Study of microplastics interactions with other environmental contaminants
Mitigation Strategies and Plastic Waste Recycling:
- Development of low-cost, fit-for-purpose technologies for microplastic mitigation in remote and regional communities
- Exploration of decentralized filtration and capture systems
- Recycling plastic waste into:
- High-value nano-ceramics
- Porous carbon for energy applications
- Advanced coatings and composites
- Support for policy frameworks and community-driven solutions to reduce plastic waste and improve recycling practices
3. Sustainable Energy MaterialsÌý
- Development of energy storage materials using recycled carbon and metal compounds
- Fabrication of waste-derived porous carbon for clean energy storage
- Utilization of bio-based and solid-state materials in supercapacitors and batteries
- Integration of low-cost, scalable technologies for sustainable energy systems
4. Surface Engineering and Metallurgical Innovations from Waste
Dr. Hossain combines surface engineering and advanced metallurgy to improve material performance through waste-derived inputs and microstructural optimization.
Waste-Based Surface Modification and Coatings:
- Surface engineering of metals using ceramic elements derived from:
- Automotive waste
- Electronic waste
- Metallised plastic packaging
- Development of copper-reinforced nano-ceramic coatings from recycled materials
- Microstructural design for enhanced durability and wear resistance
- Surface treatments for the production of porous carbon materials
Metallurgical Processes and Mechanisms:
- Study of solid-state phase transformations under mechanical stress (tensile, compressive, impact)
- Investigation of deformation mechanismsÌýin metal alloys (i.e., steel, aluminium, etc.)
- Effects of microalloying elements on phase transformation behaviour
- Stability of retained austenite in advanced high-strength steels
My Research Supervision
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| Currently supervising | Ìý | Ìý | ||
| Program type | Supervision type | Student ID | Student name | Research Area |
| PhD | Secondary Supervisor | 5380609 | Sarkar,Montajar | Microrecycling of Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) by selective thermal transformation |
| PhD | Secondary Supervisor | 5397565 | Shrestha Ghinangju,Bikesh | Investigating the microrecycling technologies for waste plastic hybrid products and revealing the influence of materials properties on product performance |
| PhD | Secondary Supervisor | 5439710 | Hasan,Md Anik | Recovering carbonaceous material from plastic waste and recycling the spent batteries: Waste management and waste to wealth approach |
| Masters (Research) | Joint Supervisor | 5516304 | Yang,KyungahÌýÌý | Manufacturing alloys from waste bulb-type LED lightings discharged from households as bulb-type waste LED lighting is now considered as one of the most problematic products to recycle because of recycling inefficiency and low content of valuable metals |
| PhD | Joint Supervisor | 5517315 | Ali,AyubÌýÌý | Utilization of recycled glass from E-waste including solar panelsas a potential replacement for mineral source |
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| HDR Completion | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |
| Type | Supervision type | Student ID | Student Name | Thesis |
| PhD | Secondary Supervisor | 5168746 | Hassan, KamrulÌýÌý | Microrecycling of spent Zn-C batteries: selective synthesis of nanostructures and hybrid materials for real-field application\xad\xad\xad\xad\xad\xad\xad |
| PhD | Secondary Supervisor | 5178741 | Al Mahmood, Md. AbdullahÌýÌý | Microrecycling of multi-layered waste packaging to produce value-added Aluminium |