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Dr Adam Best

Senior Principal Research Scientist

https://people.csiro.au/b/a/adam-best

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Biography

Dr Adam Best is a Senior Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader in CSIRO Manufacturing, based in Clayton, Victoria. Adam received his PhD from Monash University in 2002 (Materials Engineering) focussing on solid-state batteries. He is an internationally recognised expert in advanced materials for energy storage, with a particular focus on lithium-ion and next-generation battery technologies.

Dr Best leads multidisciplinary research programs spanning battery materials, cell design, and safety, supporting the development and commercialisation of energy storage technologies for industrial, government, and international partners. His work integrates fundamental science with applied engineering to accelerate translation from laboratory innovation to real-world deployment, particularly across Australia’s emerging battery manufacturing and critical minerals sectors.

He has held a range of senior leadership roles within CSIRO, including team, research group and program leadership positions, contributing to national initiatives in energy storage, manufacturing innovation, and decarbonisation. Dr Best has played a key role in shaping Australia’s battery ecosystem through strategic engagement with industry, government, and global collaborators, and has contributed to major national strategies in battery technologies and critical minerals.

Dr Best is also active in international battery communities, regularly contributing to major conferences, industry delegations, and collaborative research programs. He is a co-founder and co-director of the Australian Battery Society, supporting the growth of a connected and globally engaged battery sector.

His research spans lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and emerging battery chemistries, with a strong focus on safety, performance, and scalable manufacturing. He has authored numerous scientific publications, reports for government and patents and is widely recognised for his leadership in translating battery research into industrial impact.

Other Interests

Adam is the co-founder and co-Director of the Australian Battery Society (www.australianbatterysociety.org), currently the Secretary for the Churchill Fellows Association of Victoria (https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/vic/) and a pretty average tennis player.

Achievements and Awards

  • 2001-2002

    Senior Post-Doctoral Fellowship
    Delft University of Technology

  • 2008-2011

    Julius Award
    CSIRO

  • 2017-2017

    Churchill Fellow
    Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

Current Roles

  • Project Leader
    Battery Related Activities

Academic Qualifications

  • 1998

    BSc (Hons)
    Monash University

  • 2002

    PhD
    Monash University

  • 2009

    Program for Leadership Development (PLD-7)
    Harvard Business School

  • 2009

    Changing the Game
    Harvard Business School

Professional Experiences

  • 2001-2002

    Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow
    Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

  • 2002-2004

    Post-Doctoral Fellow
    Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

  • 2009-2010

    Research Fellow
    State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA

  • 2017-2017

    Visiting Researcher
    MEET, Muenster, Germany

We have publications by Dr Adam Best