Born 1976, Graduate of Cardiff University (B.Sc.(Hons I), University Medal, 1998, Ph.D., 2001). Royal Society Postdoctoral Fellow, Monash University (2002). ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Monash University, and Risdon Grimwade Lecturer, Trinity College, University of Melbourne (2003-2004). Lecturer, University of Adelaide (2004-2007). Appointed Senior Lecturer UNSW (2007), Associate Professor (2012).

Our research focuses on the study of rare or unknown metallohydride and organometallic species in terms of their fundamental properties and synthetic utility. We have several collaborations with researchers overseas and interstate. The following projects are representative of our studies: (i) Heavy group 13 hydrides (M = Al, Ga, In, Tl) and halohydrides (ii) N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) in catalysis (iii) The stabilisation of low oxidation state group 3 complexes

Tertiary Amine and N-Heterocyclic Carbene Coordinated Haloalanes - Synthesis, Structure and Application, Sean G. Alexander, Marcus L. Cole and Craig M. Forsyth, Chem. Eur. J., 2009, DOI: 10.1002/chem.200900365. Bulky Triazenide Complexes of Alumino- and Gallohydrides. Sean G. Alexander, Marcus L. Cole, Craig M. Forsyth, Samantha K. Furfari and Kristina Konstas, Dalton Trans., 2009, DOI: 10.1039/b817397d. Preparation of a Super Bulky Silver N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex, Sean G. Alexander, Marcus L. Cole and Jonathan C. Morris, New J. Chem., 2009, DOI: 10.1039/b821368b. Hydride-bromide exchange at an NHC - A new route to brominated alanes and gallanes, Sean G. Alexander, Marcus L. Cole, Samantha K. Furfari and Marc Kloth, Dalton Trans., 2009, DOI: 10.1039/b821367d. The reactivity of N-heterocyclic carbenes and their precursors with [Ru3(CO)12]. Michael I. Bruce, Marcus L. Cole, Ricky S. C. Fung, Craig M. Forsyth, Matthias Hilder, Peter C. Junk and Kristina Konstas, Dalton Trans., 2008, 4118. Lewis Base Adducts of Heavier Group 13 Halohydrides - Not Just Aspiring Trihydrides!, Sean G. Alexander and Marcus L. Cole, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2008, 4493. The synthesis of a dichloroalane complex and its reaction with an α-diimine, Sean G. Alexander, Marcus L. Cole, Matthias Hilder, Jonathan C. Morris and Joanna B. Patrick, Dalton Trans., 2008, 6361. Alkali metal bis(aryl)formamidinates: A study of coordinative versatility. M. L. Cole and P. C. Junk, Chem. Commun., Feature Article, 2007, 1579. Steric modulation of coordination number and reactivity in the synthesis of lanthanoid(III) formamidinates. M. L. Cole, G. B. Deacon, C. M. Forsyth, P. C. Junk and K. Konstas, Chem. Eur. J., 2007, 13, 8082. The synthesis of a sterically hindered samarium(II) bis(amidinate) and conversion to its homoleptic trivalent congener. M. L. Cole, P. C. Junk, Chem. Commun., 2005, 2695. Synthesis and Characterization of Thermally Robust Amidinato Group 13 Hydride Complexes. M. L. Cole, C. Jones, P. C. Junk, M. Kloth, A. Stasch, Chem. Eur. J., 2005, 11, 4482. Controlled Decomposition of an Indium Trihydride Adduct: Synthesis and characterisation of the First Mixed Oxidation State Indium Sub-Halide Complex Anion, [In5Br8(quinuclidine)4]-. M. L. Cole, C. Jones, M. Kloth, Inorg. Chem., 2005, 44, 4909.