Dr Paul Gaynor
Positions
- Senior Lecturer
- Mechatronics ECE Coordinator
Qualifications
BE(Hons), PhD, MIEEE
Room
Electrical A506
Contact Details
Phone: +64 3 364 2269 ext 6269
paul.gaynor@canterbury.ac.nz
Postal Address
Electrical and Computer Engineering Building
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Background
Research Experience
Research Assistant (1992-1995): Induction-based hot water heating
system (transflux), Electro-dynamic high voltage sculpture design,
High voltage water disinfections system (watcon).
Research Fellow (1995-2004), Bioelectrostatics Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK: Electrostatic control of airborne allergens.
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (1998-2004), Department of Physics & Electronic Engineering, University of Waikato, NZ: Numerical modelling of electroporation (high voltage zapping of cells), Improvement of modern cloning process (Electric Field effects). Low environmental impact electric power generation.
Undergraduate Courses 2012
- ENEL200 - Electrical and Computer Engineering Design
- ENMT201 - Mechatronics Design
- ENEL300 - Electrical and Computer Engineering Design 2
- ENEL370 - Electronics 1
- ENEL436 - Power Electronics 2
Current Postgraduate Students
- Thomas Cronje, PhD
- Rory Shillington, PhD
- Parash Acharya, ME
- William Haoning Chen, ME
- Jonathan Tse, ME (Submitted)
Research Interests
Electric Field Biomedical Treatments: Really, electric field biomedical treatments could be included under the umbrella of electro-biotechnology. The defining notion of the research is that electromagnetic fields can be used to directly affect some defined biological system. In other words, electromagnetic fields can be used as the basis of some biomedical treatments. This is fundamentally different to areas of research that use electromagnetics to measure biological parameters (e.g. MRI, EEG, EKG, etc.).
Most of the current research by Dr. Gaynor focuses on applications of electroporation and dielectrophoresis. Electroporation is defined as high magnitude electric field breakdown of biological membranes. The breakdown process allows the transport of material across the membrane that would otherwise be blocked. This effect has significant applications in research including genetic engineering, gene therapy, cancer chemotherapy and cloning. Dielectrophoresis is defined as medium magnitude AC electric field induced movement of cells. The movement can be used to separate mixed cell types, transport cells from place to place, and arrange cells into structures. This effect has applications in disease diagnosis, immunology, cell characterisation, and cloning.
Other specific research interests covered by the title of Electro-biotechnology are electrostatic allergen control, electro-surgery, and neural stimulation.
Power Electronics Applications: The research is primarily involved with the design and construction of high voltage power electronics. Of particular interest are high voltage electronics associated with electroporation research, and small-scale electrical power generation using low temperature differential Stirling engines.