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Professor Peter Schubel

Professor Peter Schubel
Name Peter Schubel
Position Executive Director (Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences)
Section Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences (Operations)
Office Q307
Location Toowoomba Campus
Phone +61 7 4631 1337
Extension 1337
Email
Qualifications BEng USQ , PhD Nottingham

Prof Peter Schubel is the Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences (IAESS) and Director of the Centre for Future Materials (CFM) at USQ. IAESS provides a dedicated facility for Space and Defence research with a focus on hypersonic propulsion systems, rockets, advanced materials and astrophysics. With world-class infrastructure and equipment, USQ is home to the Mt Kent Observatory which provides the only ground-based support in the southern hemisphere for NASA’s TESS mission, a long duration hypersonic wind tunnel, rocket manufacturing lab, Australia’s only commercial static rocket test facility, as well as Australia’s number one ranked composite materials, manufacturing and testing facilities. Prof Schubel’s particular area of expertise is in the design and processing of high-value composite components and structures, focusing in particular on automated manufacturing, process development, advanced infusion processing, repair, CMC’s and surface metrology. Prof Schubel has been awarded over $113million in competitive research grants and 363million in total research project activity. Prof Schubel returned to Australia in 2016 after spending 16 years in the UK at the University of Nottingham, working with companies such as Aston Martin, Boeing, AIRBUS, BAE Systems, GE Aviation, Safran and Rolls Royce PLC. Prof Schubel is a board member for a number of Space and Defence committees including ‘Queensland Space Industry Reference Group’, ‘Ipswich Defence Industry Attraction Committee’, ‘Australian Plastics Industry Training Committee’ and ‘ARM Hub Advisory Committee’. Peter completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia in 1999. After working as a Production Engineer at Orford for two years, he moved to the University of Nottingham, UK and in 2004 completed his PhD with industrial sponsor Aston Martin Lagonda in the area of Polymer Composites Engineering. Peter remained at the University of Nottingham, achieving Principal Research Fellow in the period of 2004 to 2015 where he worked on composite materials and manufacturing projects ranging from automotive, aerospace and wind energy sectors. In 2011, he took on a joint role as the National Centre Manager for the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites, coordinating fundamental composites research activity in the UK. In 2014, he was also appointed as the Deputy Director of the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture at the University of Bristol, where he supported the development and delivery of the EngD program. Peter was appointed A/Prof in Composites Manufacturing at the University of Nottingham in 2015, supporting the delivery of Design and Manufacture (MM1DM1). Peter was awarded a Professorship in 2016 at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, making him one of the youngest Engineering Professors in Australia.


  • Composite and Hybrid Materials ( 091202 )
  • Textile Technology ( 091012 )
  • Aerospace Materials ( 090102 )
  • Aerospace Materials ( 400101 )
  • Textile Technology ( 401413 )
  • Composite And Hybrid Materials ( 401602 )
  • Aerospace Engineering ( 400100 )
  • Materials Engineering ( 401600 )
  • Manufacturing Engineering ( 401400 )

Prof Schubel’s particular area of expertise is in the design and processing of high-value composite components and structures, focusing in particular on automated manufacturing, process development, advanced infusion processing, repair, CMC’s and surface metrology. Prof Schubel has been awarded over $113million in competitive research grants and 363million in total research project activity. Prof Schubel returned to Australia in 2016 after spending 16 years in the UK at the University of Nottingham, working with companies such as Aston Martin, Boeing, AIRBUS, BAE Systems, GE Aviation, Safran and Rolls Royce PLC.


  • Centre for Future Materials (CFM)
  • Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences (IAESS)

  • Composite and Hybrid Materials ( 091202 )
  • Textile Technology ( 091012 )
  • Aerospace Materials ( 090102 )
  • Aerospace Materials ( 400101 )
  • Textile Technology ( 401413 )
  • Composite And Hybrid Materials ( 401602 )
  • Aerospace Engineering ( 400100 )
  • Materials Engineering ( 401600 )
  • Manufacturing Engineering ( 401400 )