Curriculum Vitae
Academic
EDUCATION
University of Western Australia
Ph.D (2019)
B.Sc (Hons.) (2014)
GRANTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS
Since PhD Completion (earlier awards omitted)
2022 EQUS Best Collaborative Research
2022 Aspire Award
2021 UWA Rising Star Award
2021 Forrest Prospect Fellowship
2021 EQUS TRL Grant
2020 EQUS Director’s Medal
2020 UWA Research Collaboration Award
2019 Bragg Medal Final Shortlist
2019 EQUS Research Travel Award
EXPERIENCE
Research Fellow - ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics
Swinburne University of Technology
Oct 2021 - Present
Research Fellow - ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems
University of Western Australia
Feb 2019 - Present
SUPERVISION AND TEACHING
Supervision
I have supervised honours and PhD students whose work connects to ORGAN and dark matter in general, yielding high quality publications. If you are interested in a project with me, get in touch.
Teaching
I taught first year quantum and particle physics at UWA in 2020 and 2021, and re-designed the introductory quantum mechanics course.
RESEARCH
Key Responsibilities
Core team member for The ORGAN Experiment, a high mass axion haloscope focusing on the 60-200 µeV mass range
Lead the ORGAN Low Frequency experiment - a spin-off axion haloscope hosted at Swinburne University of Technology, focused on the ∼100 MHz frequency range
Development of quantum technologies such as novel superconductor applications, and single photon counters in the GHz frequency range
Development of new dark matter detection techniques, such as searches for light scalar dark matter
Main cavity and extended frequency range sensitivity simulations for ADMX, the world-leading axion haloscope
Major Achievements
• Design, commissioning and operation of the first run of ORGAN, the first dark matter detection experiment in Australia
• Planning and improvement of ORGAN, working towards the first scanning run of an axion haloscope above 15 GHz, and the development of spin-off experiments
• Work leading to world-first scalar dark matter searches based on mechanical oscillators, and optical delay lines
• Design of various novel DM detectors, including those based on frequency metrology, lumped LC resonators, and dielectric structures
• First characterization of material properties of 3D printed superconducting Niobium
• Contributions to ADMX Run 1c, Sidecar, EFR, and new low frequency proposals
Statistics
>25 publications in peer-reviewed journals
14 articles in Physical Review journals (5 in PRL)
h-index 16 (Google Scholar)
~1000 total citations, most cited work with >250 citations
Over $250k in competitive research funding
For a full list of publications see my Google Scholar profile.
For more CV details including conference presentations and collaborations, please get in touch.
Science Communication & Other Projects
EXPERIENCE
Naked Astronomy/Naked Scientists
The Naked Scientists
Dec 2019 - Present
I completed an 8-week internship with The Naked Scientists in 2019. My role included finding science news stories, writing articles, conducting and editing interviews, and creating and presenting science pieces for broadcast on the BBC, ABC, and various podcasts. I gained extremely valuable experience in communicating a broad range of concepts in various media.
Since December 2019 I have been producing The Naked Scientists’ long-running space science podcast, Naked Astronomy, and occasionally producing content for The Naked Scientists main show.
The Uncertainty Principle
2019 - Present
A live science/comedy show delivered annually at Perth FRINGE WORLD from 2019 - 2021, and subsequently as a podcast. Myself and another host interviewed scientists in a ‘late night show’ format, and engaged over a thousand of attendees across the live run of the show, and many more in podcast form. Every live performance was sold out, and we won a comedy award at FRINGE WORLD in 2021, receiving strong reviews. The show is currently on hiatus.
Outreach Portfolio Chair/Deputy Chair
ARC Centres of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics and Engineered Quantum Systems
Dec 2019 - Present
I have taken on outreach and public engagement leadership roles with the two ARC Centres I work with. When not doing active research, I co-chair the EQUS Public Engagement committee, and deputy chair the CDMPP Engagement committee. In my Public Engagement roles I help co-ordinate a range of outreach activities across the Centres.
Of particular note are the Quantum and Dark Matter Road Trips around regional Australia, visiting schools and community groups. The most recent road trip ran in August 2022 from Brisbane to Perth, a joint effort of both Centres, and we have recently received funding to run the road trip again in 2023!
Also of note is the EQUS Quantum Art Competition, an annual event which I helped create, where artists submit works responding to a prompt relating to quantum mechanics. The first exhibition of Quantum Art is currently planned for June 2023.
STEM Ambassador Program
Science and Technology Australia STEM Ambassador Program
Mar 2020 – Jan 2022
I was one of Science and Technology Australia’s STEM Ambassadors for 2020/2021; this program fosters relationships between scientists and members of parliament. My allocated MP was Patrick Gorman, the Member for Perth. We met regularly to discuss science and policy issues, and I serve as a connection between Mr. Gorman and a network of STEM professionals. We collaborated on STEM Town Hall events, where Perth STEM Professionals and Mr. Gorman met to discuss the issues at the overlap of science and policy.
TEDx Speaker, Coach and Curator
TEDxPerth/TEDxKingsPark
Dec 2019 - Dec 2021
I presented at TEDxPerth in 2018, was a youth curator for TEDxYouth@Perth in 2020, and eventually took on a role as a curator in the newly formed TEDxKings Park. In this role I participated in selection, coaching and development of speakers for TEDx events in Perth. It was fascinating to work with speakers from a range of fields, with a host of interesting ideas.
GRANTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS
Last 5 Years (earlier awards omitted)
2022 Centre for Dark Matter Particle Physics Outreach Award
2021 Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems Outreach Award
2021 FRINGE WORLD Weekly Comedy Award
2020 EQUS Public Engagement Grant
2019 Naked Scientists Intern Program
2018 EQUS Communication and Outreach Award
2018 UWA 3 Minute Thesis Competition Winner
2018 Asia-Pacific 3 Minute Thesis Competition Top 10
2018 British Council’s “Famelab” Competition National Finalist