Biography

Professor Frances Separovic AO FAA is a Biophysical Chemist based at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia. Her research is on the structure and dynamics of molecules in biological membranes, with a focus on peptide antibiotics and toxins. Frances joined the University of Melbourne in 1996, where she served as Assistant Dean (EO) and Associate Dean of the Science Faculty; became the first woman professor of chemistry (2005) and Head of School (2010-16); and Deputy Director of the Bio21 Institute (2017-23). She is currently Foreign Secretary of the Australian Academy of Science, and Science Board member of the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry, IUPAC. Frances has had several senior roles in professional societies, including Council member of IUPAB, President of the Biophysical Society (USA), BPS; President of Australian New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance, ANZMAG; General Treasurer of Royal Australian Chemical Institute, RACI; and President of Australian Society for Biophysics, ASB. She was awarded the ASB Robertson Medal (2009), ANZMAG Medal (2011), BPS Fellow and ISMAR Fellow (2012). Frances is the first female chemist elected to the Australian Academy of Science (2012); an IUPAC Distinguished Women of Chemistry; received an UNSW Alumni Award - Science & Technology (2017); was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women (2018); appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (2019); and received the BPS Rosalba Kampman Distinguished Service Award (2024).

Frances identifies as culturally and linguistically diverse.

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