# Quantum Science Group: Good News Oct – Dec 2025

**Source**: https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/quantum-science-group-good-news-oct-dec-2025/
**Parent**: https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/

**All topics**

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- [Conferences and Events](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/conferences-and-events/)
  - [Past Conferences and Events](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/conferences-and-events/past-conferences-and-events/)
- [News](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/news/)
  - [Awards/accolades](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/news/awards-accolades/)
  - [Events](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/news/events/)
  - [Spotlight](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/news/spotlight/)

[News](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/news/), [Awards/accolades](https://quantum.sydney.edu.au/category/news/awards-accolades/)

# Quantum Science Group: Good News Oct – Dec 2025

**The final quarter of 2025 (September to December) has been an exceptional one for the Quantum Science Group (QSG). From securing highly competitive grants, high-impact publications, media appearances and student successes, this edition of *Good News* celebrates the leadership, talent and momentum of our community.**

The following QSG members were awarded ARC Discovery Project grants in the latest Scheme Round (2026 Round 1):

Dr Laura Manenti,**Dr** **Xanthe Croot** and **Prof** **Andrew Doherty**, for their project “*Mitigating Ionising Radiation Errors in Superconducting Quantum Computers*”

**Assoc. Prof Ting Rei Tan** and **Dr** **Robert Wolf**, for their project “*Error-corrected quantum metrology for ultra-sensitive force sensing*”

You can read more about their winning projects [here](https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/289).

****Assoc. Prof** John Bartholomew** was invited to speak at the Bradfield Oration about the opportunity quantum presents for Australia (view the live blog coverage [here](https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/future-sydney-bradfield-oration-live-blog-chris-minns-and-michele-bullock-to-take-the-stage/live-coverage/c0d69e21c43aa727862a10610e20c999)); featured in an article in the [Daily Telegraph](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-quantum-academy-nsw-looking-to-become-hub-for-quantum-tech-in-coming-years/news-story/7b9282f816a19864c4ad5e4231502399) and in an article in the [Border Mail](https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/9097978/former-riverina-schoolboy-makes-quantum-leaps-in-science/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPvz2FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFNUnVIcjBqTFpiSGVrdVBwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjTU6Geqv3WlYRRLmLaRHy7k8d75d3ZzeC4L3w2m4zdr08-NjIkh3Gn2-4ym_aem_X-MJA8Xp60kYCR2qjOIViA); and had his radio debut on ABC Radio Mornings in November.

**Prof Andrew Doherty, Prof Stephen Bartlett, **Assoc. Pro****f **John Bartholomew, Dr Xanthe Croot, and **Assoc. Prof**** **Ting Rei Tan** were named Chief Investigators in the [new ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Performance and Integration](https://www.arc.gov.au/arc-centre-excellence-quantum-computer-performance-and-integration). This Centre of Excellence will be led by UNSW but have a large node at the University of Sydney. Securing ARC funding was a team effort, but a special mention goes to Prof Andrew Doherty, Deputy Director (Research Excellence), who spearheaded the successful bid.

**Prof David Reilly** was appointed Chief Investigator for the new ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust (MathQuEST), to be headquartered at the University of Sydney.

**Dr** **Cyril Laplane** was awarded CAPEX funding to purchase a “*High-Resolution and Compact Optical Spectrometer for Advanced Quantum, Astro-, and Nano-Photonics Research*”; as was ****Assoc. Prof**** **Ting Rei Tan** for his project on “*Agile Control System for Quantum Simulation of Chemical Dynamics*”.

********Assoc. Prof******** **Ting Rei Tan** was named the Sydney Nano – Research Member of the Year.

And finally, congratulations to long-time QSG collaborator **Prof Thomas Ohki**, who was [appointed Professor of Practice in Quantum Technology](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2026/01/21/quantum-industry-leader-thomas-ohki-appointed-professor-of-pract.html) at the School of Physics.

**With so much momentum across our faculty and research staff, it’s equally inspiring to see our students making their mark. Last quarter brought a wave of impressive achievements from the next generation of quantum researchers, reflecting both their talent and the strength of the mentorship within our community.**

PhD student Rebecca Radebold’s project Qubridge won the Audience Choice Award in [Blackbird Foundry’s Cohort 5](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/blackbirdvc_thats-a-wrap-foundry-season-5-has-officially-activity-7393425765515771904-ZopR#:~:text=Blackbird's%20Post-,Blackbird,wilder)%20futures%20for%20the%20world.).

Rebecca and PhD student Edward Zhang (QNL) were awarded [Sydney Nano Student Ambassador Scholarships](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rebecca-radebold-43991618a_im-happy-to-announce-that-ive-been-awarded-activity-7393895181667753984-6_3O/) and appeared alongside PhD student Prachi Nagal (QCL) in a [Daily Telegraph](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-quantum-academy-nsw-looking-to-become-hub-for-quantum-tech-in-coming-years/news-story/7b9282f816a19864c4ad5e4231502399) article.

PhD student Xanda Kolesnikow et al’s paper [Protected phase gate for the 00–π\pi qubit using its internal modes](https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.14634) was accepted by PRX Quantum.

PhD student Maverick Millican et al’s paper [Engineering continuous-variable entanglement in mechanical oscillators with optimal control](https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.20844) was accepted by Physical Review Letters.

Congratulations to the following students whose Honours degrees were conferred:

- Nihar Makadia (QCL)
- Jason Wang (QCL)
- Luke Murray (QNL)

And to the following PhD candidates in the Theory Group, who were awarded their Doctoral degrees:

- Nouedyn Baspin
- Nicholas Fazio
- Evan Hockings
- Sam Smith
- Edgar Tanuarta
- Felix Thomsen

**The last quarter brought new faces and heartfelt farewells as several members embarked on exciting next steps in their careers.**

We welcomed:

- Dr Timo Hillmann, Postdoctoral Research Associate, QTG.
- Visiting masters student, Matteo Maury, who is undertaking an internship with Dr Ting Rei Tan in the Quantum Control Laboratory.

We farewelled:

- Dr Seok Hyung Lee, Postdoctoral Research Associate, QTG.
- QTG PhD students: Felix Thomsen, Nicholas Fazio, Sam Smith, Evan Hockings and Nouedyn Baspin – all of whom have joined the team at spin-off Iceberg Quantum
- QTG PhD student, Nicholas Fazio, who has taken up a position at Yaqumo Inc. in Japan.
- QTG PhD student, Edgar Tanuarta who is now with the Australian Public Service.
- QIL Hons student, Maria Nicolae, who has recently commenced a role at spin-off Q-Ctrl.
- Research Assistant, Amelie Skelton, QTG.

**With such a successful quarter behind us, the QSG community is entering 2026 with strong momentum and a clear sense of what’s possible. With major initiatives underway and new opportunities emerging, the year ahead promises to be an exciting one for the Quantum Science Group.**

9 February 2026

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