Dr Laura McKemmish | UNSW Research

Keywords

atomic and molecular energy levels

electronic spectroscopy

ab initio calculations

astrochemistry

quantum chemistry

molecular physics

Fields of Research (FoR)

Quantum Chemistry, Atomic and Molecular Physics

SEO tags

Expanding Knowledge in the Chemical Sciences

Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences

Biography

I’m a computational chemist in the UNSW School of Chemistry, working at the intersection of quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and astrochemistry. My research focuses on making complex quantum chemical calculations more accessible, efficient, and impactful—particularly in areas like exoplanet atmosphere modelling and algorithm benchmarking.

Alongside my research, I lead the SciX Discovery program, which supports high school students to...view more

Alongside my research, I lead the SciX Discovery program, which supports high school students to undertake real scientific research and helps build STEM confidence in regional and underrepresented communities. I’m passionate about inclusive, evidence-based education and currently serve as Director of Research-Integrated and Work-Integrated Learning in UNSW Science.

I care deeply about creating supportive, equitable environments and am actively involved in promoting wellbeing and psychosocial safety in academia.

My Grants

CURIOUS (2025–2026)

$100,000 – Australian Government Maker Projects Grant

Regional STEM outreach program co-led with non-profit Passionately Curious, reaching over 2,000 students across NSW.
Google Educators Grant (2023)

$15,000 – Google Australia

Supporting teacher professional development in data science for the new NSW Science curriculum.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2016–2018)

(~$306,000 AUD) – European Commission

Prestigious international research fellowship supporting fundamental advances in computational chemistry.

My Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University, conferred May 2015

My Awards

2024 RACI Vicki Gardiner Advocacy Award

Awarded by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute for outstanding leadership in the promotion of chemistry, outreach, mentorship, and equity.
2024 RACI Chemical Education Citation

Recognised for significant contributions to chemical education in Australia, particularly in research-integrated and computer-based science teaching.
2022 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award

Awarded for excellence in research, science communication, and community engagement.
2022 and 2024 UNSW Arc Science Research Supervisor Awards

Student-nominated awards recognising exceptional research supervision and support of HDR student experience.

My Research Supervision

Supervision keywords

atomic and molecular energy levels

computational chemistry

nmr spectroscopy

ab initio calculations

quantum chemistry

molecular physics

astrochemistry

Areas of supervision

I welcome research students interested in:

Computational and Quantum Chemistry

Including algorithm development, benchmarking, and basis set design for molecular simulations.
Spectroscopy and Astrochemistry

Modelling molecular spectra for applications in exoplanet atmospheres and astrochemical environments.
Machine Learning for Molecular Science

High-throughput prediction of molecular properties, algorithm recommendation systems, and model interpretability.
Science Education and Outreach Research

Evaluation of research-integrated learning, data science education, and inclusive STEM engagement programs.

I’m especially interested in supporting students who are curious, collaborative, and motivated to make chemistry more accessible and impactful across disciplines.

My Engagement

Life on Venus? Traces of phosphine may be a sign of biological activity, Conversation Article 15 Sep 2020

My Teaching

I teach across undergraduate and Honours levels in chemistry, with a focus on inclusive, skills-based science education that builds confidence and practical capability.

First-Year Chemistry

I coordinate CHEM1832 Chemistry for Health Sciences, a tailored course for allied health students, and contribute to CHEM1011/31/51 Chemistry 1A, with a focus on assessment design, tutorial structure, and curriculum streamlining to support diverse student cohorts.
Computational and Data Science Education

I co-developed and teach the Python in Chemistry Honours course and co-led the Py4Sci project, which created accessible coding and data science resources across multiple UNSW Science disciplines. My teaching integrates Python, computational chemistry, and generative AI to build computational skills from first year through to Honours.
SCIF2001: Research-Integrated Learning

I lead the pedagogical design of SCIF2001, a core second-year course in the Bachelor of Advanced Science. The course supports students from across the Faculty to develop research skills through group projects aligned with discipline-specific contexts.
Faculty Role in WIL and RIL

As Director of Work-Integrated and Research-Integrated Learning in UNSW Science, I support course development and alignment across diverse disciplines, with a focus on scalable, sustainable models that embed authentic experiences into the curriculum.