Decades of Discovery: The Enduring Legacy of Professor Graham Schaffer

Professor Graham Schaffer from The University of Melbourne recently retired after a decorated career in materials science and engineering, and academic leadership. Graham has made a significant contribution to the field of materials science and engineering for over three decades, particularly in the fields of powder metallurgy, rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing, material design and processing, engineering design, composites and nanomaterials.

Graham’s academic career began at the University of Cape Town, where he completed a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science supervised by Tony Ball. He then completed a PhD with Ray Smallman and Mike Loretto at the University of Birmingham. He relocated to Perth in 1988 and worked with Paul McCormick at the University of Western Australia.

In 1991, Graham moved to Brisbane, and worked at The University of Queensland from 1991 to 2014. During this time, Graham held numerous academic and executive leadership positions. Following his time at UQ, Graham was appointed as the Pro Vice-Chancellor for College of Science, Health and Engineering at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Graham then moved to The University of Melbourne in 2016 and served as the Melbourne School of Engineering Dean in 2018, before completing his career in a professorial role from mid-2018 to August 2023.

Graham reshaped the field of aluminium powder metallurgy and pioneered titanium powder metallurgy and metal injection moulding research in Australia. In particular, Graham and his students and postdoctoral fellows identified the critical role of magnesium, micro-alloying and nitrogen in the sintering of aluminium. Graham was an early adopter of additive manufacturing research in Australia and published his findings on “Rapid manufacturing of aluminium components” in Science in 2003.

During his time at The University of Melbourne, Graham researched multi-objective genetic algorithm in alloy design, as well as knowledge management in social networks and communities of practice. During his career, Graham published 143 journal papers, 3 scholarly book chapters and holds five patents.

Graham holds numerous fellowships, including with Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), Engineers Australia, and the American Powder Metallurgy Institute (APMI) International, as well as four honorary university appointments. He supervised 16 PhD students and 19 postdoctoral fellows, and raised over $14 million in materials-related research income. Many of his former group members have become high-flying academics or successful entrepreneurs in Australia and China.

Graham will have lasting impact on us all; professionally and personally. He will be known for his scientific rigour (including asking difficult and needed questions), encouragement, thoughtful guidance and friendship.

In the future, Graham will be establishing a foundation for retired academics to volunteer travel to tertiary institutions in the South Pacific to share their experience and enable academic excellence.

Friends, family and former colleagues celebrated Graham’s career at a surprise retirement farewell on Friday 11 August 2023, hosted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Melbourne. Three colleagues travelled from as far as China to pay tribute to Graham for his achievements and friendship, while colleagues from other parts of the world sent recorded videos honouring Graham.