About the faculty

Senior Professor Michael Lerch is the Interim Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong. A UOW graduate, he completed his PhD in Solid State Physics in 1998 and has spent his career at the university in a range of academic and leadership roles. Prior to his appointment as Interim Executive Dean, he served as Deputy Dean (Research) and as a Senior Professor in the School of Mathematics and Physics. He also led the Physics discipline as Head of School for a decade (2014-2024) and has undertaken periods as Acting Executive Dean.

Senior Professor Lerch is Deputy Director of the Centre of Medical Radiation Physics and a longstanding leader in radiation detection and instrumentation research. He has held prominent leadership positions within the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society Instrumentation Steering Committee and the Australian Institute of Physics (NSW Branch). With extensive experience in governance, industry engagement, research leadership and academic management, he brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to advancing education, research and innovation across the Faculty.