UNSW researchers secure $5.5 million for quantum computing, fusion and other projects

The University of NSW has announced that four researchers from its science and engineering faculties have been awarded a total of $5.5 million for projects covering quantum computing, environmental sensing, urban stormwater reuse, and fusion energy storage.

The funding is being delivered through the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) new Mid-Career Industry Fellowships program ($3.7 million) and industry partners ($1.8 million.)

Dr Kok Chan was awarded $764,472 in ARC funding “quantum computing research based on electron spin in a silicon quantum dot” with a project aiming “to enable the manufacturing of such scalable quantum processors and will spearhead the country’s semiconductor quantum processors.”
Professor Dewei Chu – whose work on electronic systems “to mimic the functionality of the human skin” was in the news this week – was awarded $1,019,275 from the ARC for a project aiming “to address the industry need for self-powered, lightweight and durable Internet of Things (IoT) devices for environmental sensing applications.”
Dr Bojan Tamburic was awarded $865,628 from the ARC for a project aiming to improve the resilience of water supplies “by building capacity in urban stormwater reuse and addressing an industry-identified need to determine the suitability of urban lakes and wetlands for stormwater harvesting.”
Dr Patrick Burr was awarded $1,053,296 from the ARC for a project focussed on ”accelerating the development of radiation-tolerant materials for fusion energy, in collaboration with HB11 and Tokamak Energy.”

UNSW’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Professor Nicholas Fisk, said the university’s success rate in the first round of funding was 26.7 per cent, versus a national rate of eight per cent.

“This reflects [applicants’] exceptional dedication and track record in translating cutting edge research into real world applications,” added Fisk.

The initial round of the new Mid-Career Industry Fellowships was announced on Monday. According to the ARC, the program aims to support “mid-career researchers from both universities and industry to translate and transfer their research skills and knowledge into real world applications.”

Picture: Professor Dewei Chu (credit UNSW)