He was the Director of the Research Centre for Theoretical Astrophysics (1991-1999) and Head of the School of Physics (2001-2002) at the University of Sydney.
Melrose has made pioneering contributions in pulsar and solar astrophysics, as well as in the quantum theory of plasmas.
[1][2] He is widely regarded as a world leading expert on coherent emission processes in plasma astrophysics.
Melrose is considered by many as one of the greatest living plasma physicists due to the breadth and depth of his work.
Melrose has received several prizes and awards including the 2016 Chandrasekhar prize "For his sustained original contributions to the theory of coherent emission processes in astrophysical and space plasmas, and for his seminal contributions to the theory of quantum plasmas",[3] the Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal of the Australian Academy of Science, the Harrie Massey Medal and Prize[4] jointly awarded by the Institute of Physics and the Australian Institute of Physics, and the Ellery Medal[5] of the Astronomical Society of Australia.
In 1962, Melrose was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Oxford University, UK, where he completed a Doctor of Philosophy in 1965.
[9] Moving back to Australia, Melrose was Reader in Theoretical Physics at Australian National University, 1969 to 1978.
Melrose is a member of the Chandrasekhar Prize Selection Committee, at the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies.