Role at ANSTO
Dr Negin Foroughimehr is a Beamline Scientist at the Medium Energy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (MEX) beamline, part of the spectroscopy group at the Australian Synchrotron.
In her role, Negin supports researchers from diverse fields using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and works on developing and enhancing the capabilities of the MEX2 beamline. Her expertise in radiofrequency equipment, X-ray techniques, and synchrotron spectroscopy has been a valuable asset to her career. For her master’s project, Negin collaborated with the Alfred Radiation Oncology Department in Melbourne, focusing on improving patient X-ray imaging techniques and optimising the radiation dose received by patients. Negin earned her PhD in physics, specialising in bioelectromagnetics, where she studied the interaction of non-ionising radiation with human health. Her research combined computational simulations with experiments using the attenuated total reflection (ATR) system at the THz beamline of the Australian Synchrotron.
After completing her PhD, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the 6G Research & Innovation Lab (https://www.swinburne.edu.au/research/facilities-equipment/6g-research-innovation-laboratory/) at Swinburne University, where she designed and developed a millimeter-wave system for biological studies. During this time, she also used the ATR-THz system to develop methods for characterising the dielectric properties of biological samples.
At the MEX2 beamline, Negin supports researchers conducting X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments in the tender X-ray range. She is passionate about exploring innovative ideas in synchrotron science and technology to expand the applications of synchrotron radiation. With the MEX beamlines being relatively new, she is actively involved in building partnerships and fostering collaborations.
Negin is a strong advocate for women in STEM and contributes to initiatives that promote the inclusion of women from underrepresented groups in both established and emerging fields.
Expertise
X-ray Imaging and Radiation Dosimetry, Clinical physics, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), Radiofrequency Equipment, Medical Radiation Physics, Radiation detection and protection, FDTD Simulations
Qualifications & Achievements
- Short-Term Mission of Early-Stage Researchers (STM) – High-Income Countries – French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Institut d'Électronique et des Technologies du Numérique (IETR), BioEM, 2024
- Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award (Early Career) – 2023
- Student Poster Presentation Award – ANSTO User Meeting, 2022
- Student Poster Presentation Award – ANSTO User Meeting, 2021
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow – 6G Research & Innovation Lab, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, Funded by ARPANSA (2023–2024)
- PhD in Physics (Bioelectromagnetics) – Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, Funded by an NHMRC Research Scholarship (2020–2023)
- Master of Medical Physics – RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (2017–2019)
Bachelor of Physics (2008-2013)
Committees, Affiliations & memberships
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology (2024-present)
- Member of The Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR)