Bright minds are being sought for PhD projects in quantum technology, a field harnessing the counterintuitive physics of subatomic matter and energy. Researchers at top universities and startups are advancing cutting-edge research in areas like superfast computing, ultrafine sensors, cryptography, and simulation of new drugs and materials. Generous scholarships are on offer, paying between $37,684 to $41,650 per year, plus training allowances and industry experience opportunities.
Dr Maja Cassidy, a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), notes that Australia’s quantum sector is buzzing with excitement about potential applications, with 8,700 jobs expected by 2030. Prof Peter Turner, CEO of Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA), agrees, highlighting the global recognition of Australian quantum research excellence.
Companies like Diraq, BTQ, Eigensystems, and KPMG are involved in the projects, which include levitating electron qubits on solid neon, algorithms for distributed consensus, and advancing quantum computing. Key individuals include Prof Gavin Brennen of Macquarie University and Dr Andre Saraiva at UNSW.
Unlocking the Power of Quantum Technologies: Exciting PhD Opportunities Await
The world of quantum technologies is abuzz with excitement as researchers harness the counterintuitive principles of quantum mechanics to make groundbreaking advances in various fields. From superfast computing and ultrafine sensors to cryptography and simulation of new drugs, the potential applications are vast and varied. To fuel this burgeoning industry, top universities and innovative startups are offering generous PhD scholarships to talented students who want to take a leap into the world of quantum technologies.
The Quantum Sector is Buzzing with Excitement
The Australian quantum sector is poised for exponential growth, with an estimated 10,000 jobs expected to be created in the next decade. To meet this demand, initiatives like the Next Generation PhD Program and the SQA Partnership PhD Scholarship are providing opportunities for students to contribute to multi-disciplinary solutions tackling real-world problems. “There are all sorts of commercial opportunities in quantum tech being explored today,” said Prof Gavin Brennen of Macquarie University, who has two projects with Next Generation scholarships attached.
Next Generation PhD Program: Collaborative Research and Industry Placements
The Next Generation PhD Program, funded by CSIRO and managed by SQA, offers six PhD projects that bring together academics from three top research universities – UNSW, UTS, and Macquarie University – and industry partners. The program provides a stipend of $37,674 per year over four years, a training allowance, and access to SQA’s popular PhD Experience program, including tailored seminars, workshops, and events. Successful applicants will engage with peers from diverse disciplines, contributing to multi-disciplinary solutions tackling real-world problems.
The six PhD projects offered under the Next Generation banner are:
- “Levitating electron qubits on solid neon” supervised by Dr Maja Cassidy at UNSW with industry placement at Diraq.
- “Algorithms for distributed consensus” supervised by Prof Gavin Brennen at Macquarie University, with industry placement at BTQ.
- “Quantum algorithms for combinatorial optimisation problems” supervised by A/Prof Troy Lee at UTS with industry placement at KPMG.
- “Advancing quantum computing with Diraq” supervised by Dr Andre Saraiva at UNSW with industry placement at Diraq.
- “Emulating realistic quantum interference” supervised by Prof Peter Turner at Macquarie University with industry placement at Eigensystems.
- “Quantum networks for communications and sensing” supervised by Prof Gavin Brennen and Dr Zixin Huang at Macquarie University, with industry placement at BTQ.
SQA Partnership PhD Scholarship: Co-Designed Research and Industry Internships
The SQA Partnership PhD Scholarship, open to both domestic and international students, offers two projects at UNSW. The scholarship includes a stipend of $37,674 per year over four years, a training allowance, and access to SQA’s popular PhD Experience program. For international students, tuition fees are waived, while other costs – such as visa costs and health cover – may also be provided at the discretion of UNSW.
Successful applicants can complete up to four quantum courses offered by Sydney’s three other top research universities – University of Sydney, UTS or Macquarie University – and gain access to industry internships. The two projects offering an SQA Partnership scholarship are:
- “Spin qubit circuit-level noise characterisation and mitigation” supervised by Dr Andre Saraiva at UNSW.
- “Superconducting devices in novel high temperature superconductors” supervised by Dr Maja Cassidy at UNSW.
These initiatives demonstrate the commitment to creating a pipeline of talent to build the quantum ecosystem in Australia. As SQA’s Turner emphasized, “Creating a pipeline of talent to build that ecosystem is essential, and it’s great to be working with CSIRO on this.”
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