Available projects in a sub-area
School of Physics and Astronomy
Applications are now open for the scholarships listed in the tables below.
| Functional Electronic Devices Based on 2D Metal-Organic Materials | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3908 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
A/Professor Agustin Schiffrin Email: agustin.schiffrin@monash.edu Research profile: A/Professor Agustin Schiffrin |
| Prerequisites Completion of 2nd or 3rd year in physics or engineering |
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| Additional details Our research groups investigates the atomic-scale structural and electronic properties of functional nanomaterials, with a focus on two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) formed by organic molecules and metal atoms. These hybrid 2D materials hold promise for hosting a wide range of novel electronic phenomena. In this project, students will fabricate functional electronic transistor-like devices, based on 2D materials such as graphene and hexagonal boron nitride, to serve as gate-tunable platforms for functional 2D MOFs. Student will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge nanofabrication techniques. They will perform experiments (e.g., Raman spectroscopy, electron transport measurements) to characterise these devices. Students will contribute to bridge the gap between novel electronic properties in 2D MOFs and their practical implementation in future electronic devices. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Computational Analysis of 2D Metal-Organic Frameworks for Future Electronics | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3909 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
A/Professor Agustin Schiffrin Email: Agustin.Schiffrin@monash.edu Research profile: A/Professor Agustin Schiffrin |
| Prerequisites Completion of 2nd or 3rd year in physics or engineering |
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| Additional details Our research group investigates the atomic-scale structural and electronic properties of functional nanomaterials. In particular, we focus on two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), that is, hybrid 2D materials composed of organic molecules and metal atoms, with potential to host a vast range of exotic electronic quantum phases. In this project, students will perform numerical calculations of the electronic properties of 2D MOFs based on density functional theory (DFT). To perform these calculations, students will have access to and gain experience with Monash University’s supercomputing resources (MonARCH), and use programming languages, such as Python, to aid in the analysis of DFT results. Through this work, the successful applicant will help guide future experiments, directly advancing our understanding of 2D MOFs and the exciting potential they hold for future electronic technologies. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Towards AI-Controlled Atom-by-Atom Fabrication of Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3910 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
A/Professor Agustin Schiffrin Email: Agustin.Schiffrin@monash.edu Research profile: A/Professor Agustin Schiffrin |
| Prerequisites Completion of 2nd or 3rd year in physics or engineering |
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| Additional details Our research group investigates the atomic-scale structural and electronic properties of functional nanomaterials. In particular, we focus on the synthesis and characterisation of 1D and 2D carbon-based nanostructures and nanomaterials, formed from organic molecular precursors, where specific atomic-scale morphologies give rise to a vast range of electronic and magnetic quantum properties. In this project, students will perform computational and experimental research towards the development of a deep machine learning (ML) automation framework for bottom-up atomic-scale fabrication of low-dimensional carbon-based quantum materials. Students will perform perform numerical calculations of the electronic properties of 1D and 2D carbon-based nanomaterials (e.g. based on density functional theory), use progarmming languages (Python) aiding the analysis of these results, and work towards the developement of an automated nanofabrication framework based on deep ML (PyTorch). Through this work, the successful applicant will help guide future experiments, directly advancing our understanding of 1D and 2D carbon-based nanomaterials and their exciting potential for future electronics, information and quantum technologies. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Growth and fabrication of novel quantum materials | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3911 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
A/Professor Mark Edmonds Email: mark.edmonds@monash.edu Research profile: A/Professor Mark Edmonds |
| Prerequisites Third year physics or engineering students. Advanced second year students may also apply. |
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| Additional details Dr Edmonds’ group investigates the properties of novel two dimensional quantum materials grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) or fabricated via mechanical exfoliation. The team focuses on 2D Kagome magnets and magnetic topological insulators, materials that could enable next generation electronic devices in which current flows along dissipationless edge modes. In this project, the student will learn to grow and fabricate quantum materials. The work will involve substrate preparation and hands on growth or fabrication in collaboration with Dr Edmonds, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students. Throughout the project, the student will gain experience with ultra high vacuum systems, growth characterisation techniques such as reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), exfoliation and heterostructure stacking procedures, scanning probe microscopy, and low temperature electrical transport. By the end of the project, the student will have developed practical expertise in materials growth and fabrication, surface science techniques, and the electronic properties of quantum materials. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Nanoscale EPR imaging/NMR sensing - Quantum sensing using spins in diamond | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3912 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Michael Barson Email: Michael.Barson@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Michael Barson |
| Additional details Trying to measure nearby spins surrounding the NV centres, we will do this with an ensemble of NV centres and ensembles of target spins. So there will be a bunch of stuff about average distances and orientations. Also understanding the thermal polarisation of these spins. So I think there is quite a bit of modelling to do and thinking about the measurement concepts. I want to try and do it continuous wave and firstly look at the spins within the diamond (e.g. P1 electron spins or 13C nuclear spins). |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Discovering fundamental symmetries with gravitational waves | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3913 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Professor Csaba Balazs Email: Csaba.Balazs@monash.edu Research profile: Professor Csaba Balazs More information about project #3913 |
| Prerequisites A third-year student is preferred. Background in classical field theory, quantum physics and thermodynamics is desired. Any background in cosmology and relativity are a plus. Experience with symbolic algebra and/or numerical programming is welcome. |
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| Additional details Gravitational waves, ripples of space-time, offer a unique window into the earliest moments of our universe, providing direct access to the extreme energies where the fundamental laws of physics may have been unified. It is theorized that as the universe expanded and cooled, this unified symmetry was shattered through a series of cosmological phase transitions. If these transitions were sufficiently violent, they would have generated a faint background of gravitational waves that still permeates the cosmos today. This project will investigate how this gravitational wave background can be used as a probe to understand these ancient phase transitions. You will explore the theoretical models that connect the properties of these waves to the underlying symmetries of fundamental physics. By analysing the potential signatures of these events, this project aims to uncover what gravitational waves can teach us about the universe's birth and the ultimate laws that govern it. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Study of a flavour anomaly | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3914 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Professor German Valencia Email: German.Valencia@monash.edu Research profile: Professor German Valencia |
| Prerequisites Second or third-year physics students with coding experience in Mathematica, Python or R. Atomic and nuclear physics PHS2081, prefer some particle physics knowledge. |
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| Additional details An important component of particle physics research is the study of rare processes in 'flavour physics'. In current experiments, this typically refers to decays of bottom or charm mesons that have very small branching fractions. Recent experimental studies of these decays have produced a number of 'anomalies', or disagreements with the standard model expectations. We will look into one of them in some detail. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Planetesimal capture in binary star systems | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3915 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Evgeni Grishin Email: Evgeni.Grishin@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Evgeni Grishin |
| Prerequisites Studying Physics or Astronomy |
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| Additional details The formation of planets from their nascent protoplanetary discs is still an outstanding puzzle. One crucial step is the formation of planstesimals - m-km sized rocks which are the building blocks of planets. This project will utilise direct gravitational N-body simulations of the process of planatesimal capture around binary star systems, where over 700 exoplanets are currently known. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Close encounters of binarie in hierarchical triple systems | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3916 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Evgeni Grishin Email: Evgeni.Grishin@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Evgeni Grishin |
| Prerequisites Third year Physics or Astronomy preferred |
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| Additional details Hierarchical triples systems are the only stable gravitational three body system, similar to the Moon-Earth-Sun configuration. Nevertheless, the inner binary can be excited to highly eccentric orbit and experience close encounters. The project will utilise N-body simulations to numerically explore the eccentricity growth of these systems where previous approximation break down. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Precision gravitational-wave astrophysics in the era of big data | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 3917 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Professors Paul Lasky/Eric Thrane Email: Paul.Lasky@monash.edu Research profile: Professors Paul Lasky/Eric Thrane |
| Prerequisites Astrophysics, physics or engineering student |
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| Additional details The field of gravitational-wave astronomy is only ten years old. However, with more than 300 confirmed observations of merging black holes and neutron stars, we are entering a precision era for analysis of both individual events and the full population to fully understand these enigmatic yet explosive mergers. This project will apply advance analysis methods including machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to improve our understanding of black holes throughout the Universe. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| The mysteries of merging black holes | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4000 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Professor Ilya Mandel Email: Ilya.Mandel@monash.edu Research profile: Professor Ilya Mandel |
| Prerequisites Either physics or astrophysics students; the project will involve a significant computation component. |
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| Additional details This project will investigate the surprising astrophysics behind the discoveries of merging black holes detected through gravitational-wave observations. We will probe the implications for massive binary evolution. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Development of micro-scale probes for magnetic detection of brain activity | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4001 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Professor Kris Helmerson Email: Kris.helmerson@monash.edu Research profile: Professor Kris Helmerson |
| Prerequisites Preferably having completed Physics 3rd Year Unit, PHS3000 |
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| Additional details This project aims to develop micro-scale probes for use in the brain to sense the extremely small magnetic fields resulting from the currents flowing along nerve cells. In contrast to electrical probes that directly sense the voltage changes generated by nerve cells, analogous probes for sensing magnetic fields are much less developed. The main reason is the weakness of the magnetic fields produced by neural activity requires very sensitive magnetic detectors, which can only be realised at the micro-scale by quantum sensors. The probe to be developed will utilse a quantum sensor based on optically detectable defects in diamond that are sensitive to magnetic fields. Such a probe should allow the study of magnetism in brain activity at the spatial scale of microns. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Cross roads of physics and women’s health: advanced x-ray imaging for breast cancer. | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4002 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Michelle Croughan Email: Michelle.Croughan@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Michelle Croughan More information about project #4002 |
| Prerequisites Students should be a 2nd or 3rd year science student studying either physics or astrophysics, and mathematics. SCI1022 is a bonus if interested in coding. |
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| Additional details Breast cancer screening is critical for catching the disease early and giving women the best chance of survival. Most people assume that current medical imaging technology is highly accurate in detecting disease, but the reality is there are still significant errors made in diagnostic imaging simply because the imaging technology is not sensitive or specific enough for the task. Traditional x-ray imaging only focuses on the particle nature of light, measuring only where dense materials such as bone or metals absorb the x-rays. Our research focuses on developing alternate x-ray imaging techniques, like phase contrast. Phase contrast is a novel technique which captures the wave properties of x-rays by measuring how they are refracted and diffracted. This new method is much more sensitive to soft tissues in the human body, allowing us to get more information, better image quality, and reduce radiation dose. We aim to translate this technology to the medical space by redesigning medical imaging tools like dedicated breast CT for screening and diagnosis, and micro-CT for analysis of surgical removed breast tissue. As a student involved in this research you will get an opportunity to:
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Structure and dynamics of glasses | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4003 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
A/Professor Amelia Liu Email: amelia.liu@monash.edu Research profile: A/Professor Amelia Liu |
| Prerequisites Physics and maths majors, third year level preferred |
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| Additional details In condensed matter physics, the structure of a material is integral to its nature. Glasses are not an easy fit in this model. At a fundamental level, it is not known how their structure reflects their formation or the properties they subsequently display. For crystals, it is straight-forward: at the liquid-to-crystal phase transition, symmetry is broken and long-range periodic order arises. The new phase is rigid and this property is determined by the inversion symmetry of the structure. Glasses thwart this description; they are solids with liquid structure. The nature of the “glass transition” and why glasses are solids with a disordered structure is a deep mystery. This largely computational project will develop and test new local structural parameters in glasses that relate to the property of “rigidity”. The accessibility of these parameters in different diffraction and imaging measurements will be tested to guide future experimental measurements. The project would suit a student who is interested in condensed matter, the mechanics of materials and scattering experiments and who seeks to develop their coding and/or mathematical skills in an applied project. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| X-ray speckles to visualise tendons and cartilage connective tissues | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4004 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
A/Professor Kaye Morgan and Dr Samantha Alloo Email: Kaye.Morgan@monash.edu Research profile: A/Professor Kaye Morgan and Dr Samantha Alloo More information about project #4004 |
| Prerequisites Python coding skills and 2nd year physics. |
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| Additional details Conventional X-ray imaging primarily reveals dense or thick materials that strongly absorb X-rays, like bone or metal. However, by introducing a simple mask (such as a piece of sandpaper) into the X-ray beam, it is possible to detect weakly absorbing objects, such as the biological tissues that sit around the bones. This technique produces two new kinds of X-ray images that reveal unprecedented detail, providing richer information than conventional X-ray imaging alone. In collaboration with Lund University, this project will investigate the potential of mask-based X-ray imaging for studying the biomechanics of tendons and cartilage. These biological tissues have subtle structural features that are often difficult to visualise using standard X-ray techniques, making them an ideal sample for this emerging imaging method. The student will explore the collected synchrotron data using our image-processing software, extracting new kinds of x-ray images, comparing the complementarity of the various images, and evaluate whether this novel imaging approach provides meaningful insights into tendon and cartilage biomechanics. This project is ideal for a student interested in medical imaging, image analysis, biomechanics, and computational data processing, while contributing to the development of next-generation X-ray imaging techniques. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Searching for Charged Lepton Flavour Violation with the COMET Experiment | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4005 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Sam Dekkers Email: Sam.Dekkers@monash.edu |
| Prerequisites At least 2nd year physics labs (or some other way to show some experience with lab instruments/electronics/python coding) is preferred |
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| Additional details The COMET experiment at J-PARC is searching for muon to electron conversion, an observation of which would be clear evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The Monash University COMET group is leading one of the main physics detectors' development and construction (the so-called cylindrical trigger hodoscope (CTH) detector) so a project with our group with provide hands-on experience in the field of experimental particle physics. At the Monash University COMET laboratory we have a detector electronics test bench for developing and validating the final CTH detector chain and trigger system. We are also working on realistic particle detector simulations as we approach real data collection in the near future. Projects can be tailored to more hardware or software related as per your interest. If you have any questions about the COMET experiment or the project feel free to contact us (sam.dekkers@monash.edu) before applying! |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Photodetectors for next generation particle detectors | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4006 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Sam Dekkers Email: Sam.Dekkers@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Sam Dekkers |
| Prerequisites Completed First year physics |
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| Additional details Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are a type of photodetector with vast applications in the field of experimental particle physics including at the LHCb experiment at CERN. One application is in the detection of Cherenkov radiation, an important phenomenon used for particle identification and timing at the LHCb experiment and many other particle physics experiments. Our Monash University LHCb group is developing a Cherenkov radiation laboratory for characterising and testing both current and new SiPM technologies for next generation particle physics detectors. We are also exploring new SiPM technologies and applications in collaboration with the nano photonics group here at Monash University as well as the Australian Synchrotron. A project with our group will give hands-on experience in the field of experimental particle physics and can be tailored within the topic depending on your interests. If you have any questions about our work feel free to contact us (sam.dekkers@monash.edu) any time before applying! |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| Zero-field magnetometry - Quantum sensing using spins in diamond | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4007 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Michael Barson Email: Michael.Barson@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Michael Barson |
| Prerequisites Second Year Physics or Engineering Student |
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| Additional details Looking at anti-crossings where quantum states mix and weird things happen. The state eigenenergies are often weakly affected to perturbing fields at these points, making them bad for sensing. However, the spin states can get highly mixed. By probing mixing we can try to make more sensitive quantum sensors, particularly in regimes where mixing is problematic, in particular at zero magnetic field. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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| High-frequency non-linear hall measurements - Quantum sensing using spins in diamond | |||
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| Code | Start date | Value | Contact |
| 4008 | 23 November 2026 | $3300 ($550 x 6 weeks) |
Dr Michael Barson Email: Michael.Barson@monash.edu Research profile: Dr Michael Barson |
| Prerequisites Second Year Physics or Engineering Student |
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| Additional details This one is trying to do some microwave frequency measurements of novel magnetic materials. Basically Hall effect measurements, but up into the GHz frequency. Non-linear too, so the output frequency comes out as harmonics of the input frequency. Basically there is a lot of high-frequency electronics and test and measurement experimental work to do. Make the device, devise the measurement scheme, set-up the measurement. |
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| Applications The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 August 2026 (5pm) |
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