Associate ProfessorMaryam Naebe

Associate Professor Maryam Naebe is Associate Director (Education and Training) and a leading researcher in Fibre Science and Technology at the Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), Deakin University. With a strong background in fibre science and materials engineering, her research focuses on developing sustainable and bio-based materials to provide alternatives to fossil-derived products and reduce microplastic pollution. Her work spans natural (wool, cotton, hemp, ...) and regenerated fibres, textile waste valorisation, microplastic mitigation, advanced fibre modification, biodegradable composites and bioplastics for applications in healthcare, textiles, packaging, and automotive industries.

Dr Naebe’s expertise spans several key areas:

• Sustainable and Bio-based Materials – Designing eco-friendly materials and novel fibres from bio-derived resources (including protein fibres, cellulose, lignocellulose, lignin, and bacterial cellulose), biomass, and textile waste, with a focus on circularity and reduced environmental impact.
• Microplastics Research – Investigating sources, mechanisms, environmental impacts, and mitigation strategies for fibrous microplastics, particularly from textiles, including industry-driven solutions to reduce fibre fragmentation and environmental release.

Associate Professor Naebe has initiated and secured major funding, including the ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres, where she serves as Deputy Director. She has led and developed global industry partnerships with organisations such as Ford Motor Company (USA), Cotton Incorporated (USA), Simba Global, Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), and the Sheep CRC, delivering research with strong industrial and environmental impact.

A defining contribution of her research is the development and commercialisation of fibre/fabric measurement technologies—Wool ComfortMeter (WCM) and Wool HandleMeter (WHM)—through her work with the Sheep CRC. These technologies are now used internationally in the textile industry to objectively evaluate comfort and handle properties, demonstrating her ability to translate fundamental research into industry-adopted solutions.

She is recognised among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists (2023–2024, Stanford University–Elsevier ranking), reflecting her global research influence in materials science and sustainable technologies. She is also a recipient of the Discover Natural Fibre Initiative (DNFI 2021) Innovation Award.

Dr Naebe has supervised numerous PhD candidates whose graduates now hold prominent research and industry positions. She also contributes to research-led education as a co-chair and lecturer in the University-wide PhD unit Academic Writing and Communication (SSC900).

She leads a multidisciplinary research team and has secured major funding through national and international partnerships. She has published over 110 research outputs and maintains strong collaborations across academia and industry, leading research that bridges scientific innovation with real-world application and advances sustainable material solutions.