Marcela Bilek facts for kids

Marcela Bilek is a brilliant scientist and professor at the University of Sydney in Australia. She was born Marcela Bílková on January 20, 1968. Professor Bilek studies how to use special methods involving plasma (a super-hot, electrically charged gas) to create new materials and change the surfaces of things.

Her amazing work has earned her many honors. She was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2012. In 2015, she became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). These honors recognize her important contributions to using plasma for making and changing materials. She also won the Malcolm-McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year in 2002. In 2004, she received the Pawsey Medal from the Australian Academy of Science.

Early Life and Family

Marcela Bilek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in January 1968. At that time, Prague was under a special type of government that controlled many parts of people's lives. Marcela's father was an engineer who spoke English and German. He often spoke out against the government's rules.

Because of this, Marcela's parents decided to move their family to a new country. They wanted her father to be safe and for their children to get a better education. In 1973, they moved to Australia. There, they were welcomed and given a special status as people seeking safety.

Learning and Outdoor Fun

Marcela's parents always encouraged her to learn. Her father often taught her how to do her own research and solve problems. They also encouraged her to enjoy outdoor activities. Marcela loved hiking, bushwalking (walking through the Australian wilderness), and abseiling (climbing down ropes).

Education Journey

Marcela Bilek started her university studies at the University of Sydney in 1986. She studied physics and computer science. After two years, she was the top student in computer science. This led to an exciting opportunity: a special internship at IBM's main office for Asia-Pacific in Tokyo, Japan. There, she worked on computer networks.

After a year in Japan, she returned to Australia. She finished her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in 1990. She earned top marks and a special university medal for her excellent work. Her honors project focused on electron microscopy and studying special material structures.

Advanced Studies

After her bachelor's degree, Marcela worked as a research scientist at the Comalco Research Centre in Melbourne. She helped improve the designs of aluminum smelting cells. Two and a half years later, she received a scholarship to study for her PhD in engineering at the University of Cambridge in England. She earned her doctorate degree in 1997.

Marcela continued her education by completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. She earned this degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2000.

Amazing Career

After getting her PhD, Marcela Bilek stayed at Cambridge as a research fellow until October 2000. During this time, she also worked with scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. She worked closely with Ian Brown, who led the Plasma Applications Group. She was also a visiting professor at a university in Hamburg, Germany.

In November 2000, Professor Bilek returned to Australia. She became a professor of applied physics at the University of Sydney. She was the first female professor in the School of Physics there, and she was only 32 years old! Today, Professor Bilek leads the Applied Plasma Physics and Surface Engineering Research Group at the University of Sydney.

Important Research

Professor Bilek leads a large team of researchers. They focus on technologies related to materials and energy. Some of her research areas include:

• Materials physics: Understanding how materials behave.
• Plasma deposition and processing: Using plasma to create and change thin layers of materials.
• Thin-film materials: Developing very thin layers of materials for different uses.
• Vacuum glazing: Creating special windows that are very good at insulating.
• Biointerfaces and medicine: Combining her knowledge of materials with biology and medicine.

Professor Bilek has written over 300 articles for international science journals. She has also written 1 book and 6 book chapters. She holds over 10 patents for her inventions. She has guided 35 PhD students through their studies and mentored 25 post-doctoral fellows and other new researchers.

Awards and Recognitions

Throughout her career, Professor Bilek has received many awards for her outstanding work. Some of these include:

• The Malcolm-McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year (2002)
• The Edgeworth David Medal (2002)
• The Pawsey Medal from the Australian Academy of Science (2004)
• An Australian Innovation Challenge Award (2011)
• The first-ever Plasma Surface Engineering Leading Scientist Award (2018)

In 2013, she was chosen as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). In 2015, she became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Professor Bilek has also received over $13 million in funding for her research projects. In 2019, she was awarded an Australian Laureate Fellowship. She was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales in the same year. In 2022, she was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

In 2023, Professor Bilek was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This honor recognized her important contributions to physics and biomedical engineering.