The role is jointly funded by the SA government's Department for Industry, Innovation and Science and the University of Adelaide.
Doonan is the research director for the Scaling Green Hydrogen Cooperative Research Centre initiative.
That CRC is looking at key challenges for the scaling-up of the green hydrogen industry, which include production and storage, water, chemicals, mobility, and enabling.
University of Adelaide Professor Michael Goodsite said Doonan had developed a world-leading research group in the broad area of porous materials for sustainable processes.
"Over the course of his career, Professor Doonan has led more than 20 large-scale multidisciplinary projects, which have received in excess of $42 million in funding from research and industry bodies including Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Australian Research Council and the US Department of Energy," he said.
"The commercial relevance of his work can be measured by multiple projects with Petronas Global focused on energy transition research such as carbon dioxide utilisation and hydrogen storage."
University of Adelaide Professor Anton Middelberg said Doonan's appointment underlined how the University collaborated with relevant industries in SA and beyond to have an impact on society.
"His research is at the cutting edge," he said.
"Through this Future Industry Making Fellowship, the university will strengthen its collaboration with the state government to play a world-leading role in scaling hydrogen production in Australia."
SA deputy premier Susan Close said Doonan had an impressive track record of attracting significant investment to drive multidisciplinary research projects with a focus on energy transition.
"I am confident he will further strengthen research efforts in areas of state priority, including scaling green hydrogen production, and drive greater university-industry collaboration," she said.
"SA is home to some exceptional researchers and through the Future Industry Making Fellowships scheme, we can continue to attract and retain global research talent and secure more nationally prestigious fellows to our state."
