Dr Graeme Moad AC FRS

Graeme Moad obtained his PhD from Adelaide University in the field of organic radical chemistry. He joined the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 1979 where he currently holds a position of CSIRO Fellow, is project leader of Strategic Polymer Synthesis and is part of CSIRO's Ending Plastic Waste Mission.


Dr Moad's primary research interests are in polymerization mechanisms, polymer design and synthesis, and sustainable polymers, with a focus on the synthesis of precision, fit-for-purpose, polymers with well-defined molar mass, functionality and architecture.  In this context, he is a co-inventor of RAFT polymerization, an innovative technique for preparing bespoke polymers that has led to wide-ranging applications most notably in the fields of biomedicine, electronics and nanotechnology, and which continues to evolve under his direction.  Dr Moad is (co)author of >250 publications in peer reviewed journals and the highly regarded book 'The Chemistry of Radical Polymerization' (3rd edition in preparation).


Dr Moad has received many awards and accolades, and in 2022 was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Professional position

  • CSIRO Fellow, CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science

Subject groups

  • Chemistry

    Chemistry, applied, Chemistry, materials, Chemistry, organic, Chemistry, theoretical

  • Engineering and Materials Science

    Materials science (incl materials engineering)