His research is in the development of novel and versatile photonic sources, instrumentation and applications. His PhD and early postdoctoral research was in the plasma kinetics of high power metal vapour lasers. He has studied ultrafast lasers at the National Research Council in Pisa, Italy. For 3 years (2005-2008) he led R&D for a University spin-off company in wavelength-switchable medical lasers, during which time he brought several medical laser products through to the stage of medical device regulatory approval. His most recent focus, conducted in the MQ Photonics Research Centre, is in the nonlinear optical properties of Group IV materials, particularly diamond (for more detail see his Diamond Laser Group webpage). He has 5 awarded patents and published 90 peer-reviewed journal articles. As a result of this pioneering research in diamond lasers, he was recipient of the Australian Museum Eureka Award for Outstanding Science for Safeguarding Australia in 2017 and elected an OSA Fellow in 2018.