Quantum Enhanced Biosensing Scholarship at The University of Queensland Australia

Our research aims to translate the precision sensing techniques from quantum optics to biological measurements. This philosophy has recently been successful applied in kilometres large scales for astronomy, allowing the LIGO collaboration to detect the first gravitational waves.

Using similar techniques but at microscopic scales, we have developed the first biosensor free of all source of technical noise making our sensor only limited by the fundamental quantization of the light. This allow us to detect and track single proteins down to 3.5 nanometres in size and track them with 100 measurements per second. Notably this is achieved using only a tiny fraction of power compared to other sensors, and thereby greatly reduces photodamage dealt by detection. We aim to use this sensor to uncover biophysical phenomena never directly seen before, such as the rotational steps of single motor molecules. Moreover our sensing technique can be used for the development of new rapid detection platform for medical diagnostics such as early stage cancer detection.

Your work will consist in further develop this technology and apply it to explore biophysical phenomena alongside our precision sensing team. This can involve design, characterisation, modelling, and proof-of-concept deployment of precision sensors.

A working knowledge of optics/photonics, signal processing, RF electronics and scientific programming (e.g. MATLAB, Python, C++ or similar) for data analysis would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

The Queensland Quantum Optics Lab undertakes research in quantum physics and technology, exploiting micro- and nano-scale optical devices. Our mission is to test fundamental physics, and develop applications in metrology, communication, and biomedical imaging. Much of our research is based on optical architectures integrated on silicon chips, and is compatible with present-day fibre optical systems.

Our research fellows and PhD students work closely together. Our team members come from many technical and personal backgrounds, allowing for plenty of cross-pollination of ideas.

We are affiliated with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS).