Dr Elliot Gilbert is an instrument scientist for the QUOKKA small-angle neutron scattering instrument and led the project for its design, construction and commissioning. He is also leader of the Food Science project that seeks to apply a materials science approach to the study of structure and dynamics in food-based systems. Gilbert received his PhD in chemistry from the Australian National University in 1998. Following an ARC/SPIRT Industrial Postdoctoral Fellowship, he joined the Small-Angle Scattering Group at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source at Argonne National Laboratory in 1999 where he provided scientific and technical assistance to users of the small-angle scattering instruments. His interests lie in soft condensed matter science and he has investigated such diverse areas as emulsion stabilisation, polymers in confined geometry and phase separation in paraffins but now has an increasing focus on naturally occurring materials.