When a twist of fate sparks a quantum career

Sometimes, the most rewarding career paths aren’t the ones you plan. For Sydney Quantum Academy alumnus Mengke Feng, quantum research wasn’t on his radar until a chance job offer changed everything. That detour led him to a fulfilling career bridging academic discovery and cutting-edge industry innovation. 

“I was interested in physics and research generally, but quantum wasn’t on my radar,” Mengke recalls. “After my undergrad, particle physics was my focus, but when the only job offer was in quantum, I took it. Sometimes when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.” 

That job set him on a path to pursue his PhD at UNSW, where he focused on silicon spin qubits, tiny quantum bits that could power tomorrow’s quantum computers. His research tackled one of the biggest challenges: connecting qubits over long distances to build scalable machines.   

“I studied shuttling of electrons in a linear chain of dots, jellybean structures (elongated quantum dots), and spin-photon coupling via a microwave resonator,” he explains. “Beyond that, I took on side projects outside of my core thesis, like gate set tomography and other noise characterisation techniques.” 

But it wasn’t just the science that shaped his PhD experience.

“Being part of the Sydney Quantum Academy community was so helpful. The seminars pushed me beyond my daily research, exposing me to new topics. Meeting other students working on different quantum problems helped me see my own work in context — it made the whole PhD experience feel shared, and less stressful.” 

Sydney’s vibrant quantum scene offered plenty of opportunities too. “The city’s unique concentration of quantum research opened doors for me during and after my PhD,” he says.  

MengKe did his PhD with the Dzurak group, which evolved into the quantum startup Diraq. “It made sense for me to stay on. I really enjoy the working environment and the people at Diraq. It provides me with a good balance between academia and industry.” 

In his current role as Simulation & Device Physics Manager, a typical week sees MengKe juggling simulations, collaborating with experimentalists, and managing projects. “It’s a diverse role.” 

Reflecting on his PhD, MengKe says, “An important outcome of a PhD is not just being an expert in your topic but also developing the ability to learn new topics much faster than most people.” His advice to future quantum PhDs? “Learn broadly, be curious, and don’t hesitate to ask for help — everyone’s on the same journey.” 

Looking ahead, MengKe is excited by the collaborative, interdisciplinary nature of quantum industry work. “At Diraq, physicists, engineers, computer scientists, and even non-technical team members work closely together. This is a unique experience which you can only get in an industry setting." 

Ready to follow in Mengke Feng’s footsteps?  Applications for PhD Scholarships are open till 8 October 2025. These scholarships support talented students to pursue cutting-edge quantum research at leading Australian universities and join a vibrant community of innovators shaping the future of quantum technology. 

Find out more about our PhD scholarship programs. Or search through the more than 100 SQA scientists and engineers working on quantum technologies in Sydney who are available to supervise PhD students.

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