Quantum Research Opportunities

The Sydney quantum community are after bright minds to work on the next breakthroughs in quantum science and technology.

Published on:
quantum microscope

Research projects on offer

Our Sydney network of quantum experts are seeking PhD, Honours and Master students to work on various quantum science and technology research projects. Projects suit both experimentalists or theorists and driven individuals with backgrounds across a range of disciplines such as physics, computer science, engineering, chemistry or mathematics.

Applications for our PhD Scholarship program will open in April 2025. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply.

Our PhD scholarship program offers an array of research projects spanning quantum science and technology across our partner universities. To find a research project, filter projects by university or research specialisation at the PhD level. Please note this list is not exhaustive. You can also use our database to search for experts/supervisors based on their research interests and discuss other opportunities. We recommend contacting a prospective supervisor in advance of applying for our scholarship programs.

How to use the filter - view by university, study level or use the general search field to view by quantum research field e.g. communication, sensing or computing/computation.

General search and filters

  • Exploration of Novel Colour Centres in Wide Bandgap Semiconductors for Quantum Applications

    A/Prof Cuong Ton-That

    This project aims to investigate and characterise novel colour centres in wide bandgap semiconductors, with a particular focus on β-Ga2O3 and related materials. Drawing inspiration from recent discoveries of transition metal-related colour centres emitting in the telecom range, we seek to uncover and engineer optically active point defects for quantum information and sensing applications. The research will involve: (i) Synthesis and controlled doping of wide bandgap semiconductor crystals, focusing on transition metal impurities and their complexes. (ii) Advanced spectroscopic characterisation of colour centres, including high spatial resolution, temperature-resolved cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy to determine electronic structure and spin properties, and (ii) combination of CL and laser excitation to study excited state dynamics and map higher-lying excited states.

    For more information, contact the project supervisor: A/Prof Cuong Ton-That
    This project would suit: This project would suit high-performing students with a background in physics, materials science or engineering. Experience with optical spectroscopy would be advantageous but is not required.
    University of Technology Sydney
    Honours, Masters, PhD,

  • Formal Verification of Quantum Circuits

    Prof Sanjiang Li, Prof Yuan Feng

    The ARC Discovery Project (approved in 2021) aims to develop comprehensive theory and effective techniques for formal modelling, equivalence checking, and model checking of quantum circuits. The research is timely as the rapid growth of quantum computing hardware makes it an urgent task to develop verification techniques for quantum hardware design and quantum compilers. The successful development of the algorithms and software tools proposed in this project will significantly advance the knowledge on formal verification of quantum circuits and help Australian quantum start-ups build and maintain an internationally leading position in the rapidly emerging quantum electronic design automation (EDA) industry.

    For more information, contact the project supervisor: Prof Sanjiang Li
    This project would suit: Students with a background in Computer Science, Mathematics, or electronic design automation (EDA)
    University of Technology Sydney
    Honours, PhD,

  • Formal verification of quantum logic circuits

    Prof Sanjiang Li, Prof Yuan Feng

    The project aims to develop comprehensive theory and effective techniques for formal modelling, equivalence checking, and model checking of quantum circuits. The research is timely as the rapid growth of quantum computing hardware makes it an urgent task to develop verification techniques for quantum hardware design and quantum compilers.

     

    For more information, contact the project supervisor: Prof Sanjiang Li
    This project would suit: computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, or related background
    University of Technology Sydney
    PhD,

  • Generation and manipulation of entangled photons on the nanoscale

    A/Prof Alexander Solntsev

    Entangled photons form the basis of quantum optics, enabling a range of applications in secure telecommunication, optical quantum computing and quantum-enhanced sensing. In the last 2 years, we have learned how to generate and manipulate entangled photons on the nanoscale: in nano-resonators and meta-surfaces. This project will focus on developing theory and performing numerical analysis in this new and largely unexplored area of quantum optics.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-021-00793-z

    For more information, contact the project supervisor: A/Prof Alexander Solntsev
    This project would suit: Theoretical quantum optics
    University of Technology Sydney
    Honours, Masters, PhD,

  • Generative quantum machine learning

    Dr Maria Kieferova, Prof Michael Bremner

    This project will explore the power and applications of generative machine learning both in the context of near-term and fault-tolerant quantum computation. The goal of the project will be to develop new approaches to quantum machine learning and establishing their strengths and limitation. The work will be predominantly theoretical in nature but include numerical studies and demonstrations on quantum computing prototypes when appropriate.

    For more information, contact the project supervisor: Dr Maria Kieferova
    This project would suit: The requirements are strong mathematical background, ability to program in Python and a degree in maths, physics, computer science or equivalent.
    University of Technology Sydney
    PhD,