Sydney Quantum Academy grows support to over 100 talented PhD students

Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) is pleased to award multiple new PhD Scholarships, with a total of 107 PhD students receiving support over the last 2 years.  

Recognised for their outstanding potential, students work alongside some of the world’s leading quantum researchers at Sydney’s top universities and develop their industry-ready skills.  

Since the organisation formed in 2020, SQA has funded nearly 150 PhD and undergraduate students, to the value of $7.2 million. The scholarship program has provided opportunities for students who are passionate about a career in quantum with support to pursue their studies at SQA's four partner universities - UNSW Sydney, University of Sydney, Macquarie University and University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). 

46 students were awarded scholarships within the latest scholarship rounds three and four, in 2021, ranging from full scholarships of up to AU$35,000 pa, to top-up, extension or PhD Experience Program entry scholarships.  

All students gain entry to career development funding and the SQA PhD Experience program, accessing a variety of courses, seminars, and workshops to assist their research and career development.  

PhD student Steve Yu, a PhD Scholarship recipient studying at UNSW Sydney, is excited to be a part of the SQA community as it gives him opportunities to connect and collaborate with peers and researchers from different universities across Sydney.  

“It makes me feel like you are part of a community, all working together for the prosperity of quantum technology,” he said. 

“My research is primarily focused on the realization of error-corrected logical qubits using high spins in silicon. The scope of the project is ranging from nano-fabrication, to quantum operation, and quantum error correction. SQA plays a key role during my PhD as it builds a better bridge for collaboration between different fields across different groups.” 

Throughout the year, the SQA PhD Experience Program provides training and networking opportunities. It also draws in prominent speakers to discuss the latest quantum research and technology, as well as insights on quantum careers across industry and academia.  

Speakers have included world-leaders in the emerging technology, including Prof John M. Martinis — (the physicist behind Google’s famous ‘Quantum Supremacy’ achievement), Prof David Reilly (Microsoft Quantum-Sydney), Prof Ping Koy Lam (ANU), and Dr Nicola Pastorello (BlueScope). 

The program is "essential to guarantee that our students learn and work in a world-class environment,” says PhD supervisor and Professor of Physics at UNSW, Andrea Morello.  

“Quantum technologies are, by nature, highly multi-disciplinary and require intense levels of collaboration and ideas exchange.” However, Professor Morello says it can be very difficult for a single research group to host the totality of the skills and know-how in the discipline.  

With opportunities for collaborations, networking and cross-institutional studies organised regularly during the PhD Experience Program, Professor Morello says it allows students “to be exposed to the widest range of ideas, methods and techniques”.  

SQA Education Manager, Dr Eser Zerenturk is proud to welcome the new students. “It’s a huge achievement for us to now support the studies and future careers of 107 quantum PhD students working across so many diverse fields in Sydney,” says Dr Zerenturk. 

“We’re excited to see the SQA community grow and support these passionate students to take advantage of the cross-disciplinary environment here in Sydney.” 

Offers are now out for round 5. Round 6 will open April 2022. To stay updated on scholarships and other opportunities sign up to our mailing list. 

Congratulations to the successful recipients:   

Round 3 

Round 4 

*SQA PhD Experience Scholarship recipient