Category: Centre News

In a lab in Wollongong, researchers are combining neuroscience and quantum physics to tackle one of medicine’s most devastating conditions: motor neurone disease (MND) – a group of progressive neurological disorders that affects the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement, leading to weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure.

Dr Dzung Do-Ha, based in the Ooi lab, is leading the research that uses quantum diamond sensing to peer into the workings of patient-derived neuronal cultures – a kind of ‘disease-in-a-dish’ model sometimes nicknamed ‘tiny brains in a dish” – to better understand motor neurone disease (MND). A neuroscientist by training, she’s now working at the cutting edge of quantum biotechnology.

Dzung’s background is in biology and neuroscience, but her current work sits at the intersection of life sciences and quantum technologies. Through QUBIC, she’s collaborating closely with Dr Dan McCloskey at the University of Melbourne, bringing together expertise in quantum sensing and neurobiology. This kind of cross-disciplinary research is central to QUBIC’s mission: to apply quantum tools to real-world biological problems.

Diamond voltage imaging microscopy (DVIM) is a technique that uses nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in lab grown diamonds to detect magnetic fields and voltage changes at extremely small scales. These sensors can pick up the faint electrical signals generated by neural activity in neuronal cultures, offering a non-invasive way to study how neurons behave and interact. This is especially valuable in MND research, where understanding early changes in neural function could lead to better diagnostics and treatments.

Using patient-derived iPSC neurons – mini ‘avatars’ of each person’s nervous system – provide a powerful model for studying disease in a controlled environment. By combining them with quantum sensors, Dzung’s team can observe neural dynamics with a level of detail that traditional methods can’t. This approach could help detect early changes in neural activity before symptoms appear, identify biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring, and provide a platform for testing potential therapies, all without needing to access human brain tissue.

This research is unfolding during the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025, a global initiative highlighting the growing impact of quantum technologies. Dzung’s work shows how quantum sensing is moving beyond physics labs and into applications that could transform healthcare. It’s a solid example of how quantum tools can help answer biological questions that were previously out of reach.

With QUBIC’s support and the collaboration between the Ooi and Simpson labs, Dzung’s research is part of a broader movement to bring quantum technologies into the life sciences. QUBIC hosted the first International Conference on Quantum Technologies in the Life Sciences in November in Wollongong, showcasing how interdisciplinary science can drive innovation.

Dr Dzung Do-Ha is helping to build a future where quantum tools are part of everyday biomedical research. Her work on MND is not only advancing our understanding of the disease but also showing what’s possible when neuroscience and quantum physics come together to solve real-world problems.

In 2025, Dzung was recognised as an emerging leader in quantum biotechnology, being awarded the QUBIC Rising Star Award for advancing QUBIC’s vision by bridging quantum sensing with neurodegenerative research.

QUBIC is proud to celebrate two significant achievements by Chief Investigator Dr Elizabeth Hinde from the University of Melbourne – recognition that highlights her leadership in biophysics and her role in shaping Australia’s research future.

International Recognition in Biophysics
Elizabeth has been honoured by the Biophysical Society with the Michael and Kate Bárány Award for her exceptional contributions to understanding genome function through advanced imaging. Her research explores how the architecture of the cell nucleus influences gene expression, replication, and repair. By combining fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopy, and live-cell imaging, Liz reveals how chromatin, the 3D structure that packages our DNA, rearranges in real time.

Her pioneering imaging methods not only advance biophysics but also lay the foundation for quantum-enhanced bioimaging, an area central to QUBIC’s mission to transform life sciences with quantum technologies.

Appointment to ARC College of Experts
Elizabeth has also been appointed to the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts, a prestigious role that plays a critical part in identifying research excellence and shaping national priorities to advance knowledge and drive innovation.

Her appointment ensures that interdisciplinary research, including quantum-enabled biotechnology, has a strong voice in Australia’s research future. It reflects Liz’s standing as an expert of international reputation and reinforces QUBIC’s leadership in bridging physics, biology, and quantum technologies.

Liz’s achievements demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary science and its role in shaping the future of health and life sciences. Congratulations, Liz, on these outstanding achievements!

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and to the winners of QUBIC’s inaugural awards! At the QUBIC Annual Symposium, we were proud to honour the incredible people and teams whose work has shaped our Centre in 2025.

These awards recognise excellence across research, collaboration, engagement, and leadership because QUBIC’s success is built on the passion and commitment of its people. From groundbreaking science to inspiring outreach, these achievements reflect the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drives our mission to bring quantum to life.

Our 2025 Award Winners

🌟 Scientific Achievement – Brain Theme
Dr Dzung Do-Ha and Dr Dan McCloskey
For establishing and using a diamond voltage imaging microscope (DVIM) system, to image the electrical activity of neurons as well as characterise subcellular structures relevant to neurodegenerative diseases including MND. Their collaborative work has enabled the first single-shot, label free images of neuronal activity – a major step forward for QUBIC’s Brain Theme.

🌟 Scientific Achievement – Molecule Theme
Dr Martin Stroet
For developing and maintaining the Automated Topology Builder (ATB), a global resource used by thousands of researchers and paving the way for quantum approaches in molecular modeling and drug discovery.

🌟 Scientific Achievement – Cell Theme
Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
For developing a quantum-limited microscope that images living cell activity, opening new possibilities for drug development, cancer diagnostics, and antibiotic resistance testing.

🌟 Ambassador Award
Dr Pavlina Naydenova
For raising QUBIC’s profile through exceptional leadership in outreach and engagement—connecting quantum biotechnology with schools, industry, and government, and inspiring the next generation of quantum thinkers.

🌟 Rising Star Award
Dr Dzung Do-Ha
For advancing QUBIC’s vision by bridging quantum sensing with neurodegenerative research

🌟 Superstars of Outreach Award
Hunter Johnson, Shikun Ma and Dhilan Vallury
For their contribution to the 2025 National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip sideshow, designing new activities and delivering 20 demonstrations to over 500 students with exceptional enthusiasm and commitment to promoting science.

🌟 Advancing Equity Award
Dr Mahya Mohammadi
For advancing equity in science through mentoring under-represented students, international representation, and outreach, applying skills from the Elevating Quantum Women’s Voices program to strengthen QUBIC’s culture of inclusion.

🌟 Outstanding Collaborative Paper
Qiang Zhu, Zahra Raza, Dzung Do-Ha, Emma De Costa, Pavlina Sasheva, Luke McAlary, Hadi Mahmodi, Warwick P. Bowen, Lezanne Ooi, Irina Kabakova, Haibo Yu
For publishing a collaborative paper in Advanced Materials that unites three QUBIC nodes and all research themes: Biomolecular Condensates as Emerging Biomaterials: Functional Mechanisms and Advances in Computational and Experimental Approaches.

🌟 Outstanding Team Project
The Mentoring, Training & Development Portfolio Team
For delivering exceptional initiatives in 2025 including QUBIC’s flagship programs – Winter School, UG Summer Internship, and mentoring opportunities that strengthened QUBIC’s culture and amplified its impact.

🌟 Cross-Nodal Collaboration Award
Emma De Costa
For exceptional leadership in fostering cross-theme collaboration, driving multi-node initiatives and building strong connections across teams for their work in TDP-43

🌟 Research Translation Pioneer Award
Prof Alexander Solnstev and the CTCP Project Team
For advancing QUBIC’s work in next-generation quantum spectroscopy diagnostic platforms for heart disease

🌟 Mentor Award
Prof Allison Fish
For creating a truly participatory, inclusive and supportive environment for QUBIC members, where individuals feel heard and valued.

🌟 Director’s Award
Prof Lezanne Ooi
For exceptional leadership as QUBIC’s Brain Theme Lead, driving collaboration and innovation across nodes, integrating quantum science with biomedical applications, and strengthening QUBIC’s culture through mentorship and inclusion.

Why these awards matter
The QUBIC Awards celebrate more than achievements, they recognise the people who make our mission possible. Every winner and nominee has contributed to advancing quantum biotechnology, building collaborations, and shaping conversations that will define the future of science and technology.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to QUBIC’s success in 2025. We can’t wait to see what we achieve together in the year ahead!

Top image: QUBIC’s Mentoring, Training & Development Portfolio Team accepting the award for Outstanding Team Project

In a Centre as ambitious and interdisciplinary as QUBIC, collaboration isn’t just encouraged, it’s essential. The Connect Initiative is our flagship program designed to support researchers in building meaningful, hands-on collaborations across disciplines, institutions, and borders.

It’s about more than travel or internships. It’s about creating the conditions for researchers in quantum science and the life sciences to work together in ways that are thoughtful, productive, and sometimes unexpected.

Why Connect Matters

Quantum biotechnology is a frontier field. It brings together expertise from quantum physics, bioscience, and beyond – and that kind of interdisciplinarity takes time, trust, and shared experience. The Connect Initiative helps make that possible by supporting researchers to:

• Spend time in unfamiliar lab environments
• Learn new scientific approaches and techniques
• Build collaborations that wouldn’t happen through remote meetings alone

What Connect Made Possible in 2024

Earlier this year, three researchers shared how Connect helped them pursue projects that expanded their research and built new connections across the Centre:

• Dr Marita Rodriguez (UQ) visited labs in Wollongong and Melbourne to explore how authorship and credit are negotiated in interdisciplinary teams. Her work offers practical insights into how recognition is shared and how we can support fairer collaboration, especially for early-career researchers.
• Dr Sergey Kruk (UTS) travelled to UQ and UoM to bring nanophotonics into biological sensing and quantum measurement. His collaborations showed how photonics can enhance the tools we use in bioscience and quantum sensing, making measurements more sensitive and precise.
• Dr Benjamin Carey (UQ) worked with researchers at UOW to build a chip-scale platform for measuring muscle-cell contraction. His project bridges quantum optics and live-cell biology, opening new possibilities for studying neuromuscular function at the single-cell level.

These projects reflect the kind of work Connect is designed to support – collaborative, cross-disciplinary, and deeply relevant to QUBIC’s mission.

What’s Available in 2025

The 2025 Connect Initiative is now open to Centre members. This year’s program includes:

• Internships with industry and government
• Travel support for international collaboration
• Exchange placements embedding quantum researchers in bioscience labs, and vice versa

Each stream is designed to broaden your perspective, deepen your expertise, and strengthen the Centre’s interdisciplinary culture.

Professor Muhammad Usman, a leading expert in quantum computing at CSIRO, has joined QUBIC as an Associate Investigator. His appointment strengthens QUBIC’s mission to translate quantum science into real-world impact, particularly in health and sustainability.

At QUBIC, Professor Usman will contribute to the Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance (QDA), and collaborate across the Molecule Theme with Prof Alan Mark, Prof Haibo Yu and others, as well as the Brain Theme with Prof Warwick Bowen, Prof Lloyd Hollenberg, Prof Lezanne Ooi and others. His work focuses on developing quantum algorithms that can accelerate breakthroughs in medical imaging, early-stage diagnostics, and drug discovery, bridging the gap between academic research and industry applications.

“Quantum computing is one of the most exciting frontiers in science,” says Professor Usman. “It holds the promise to solve problems that are currently beyond the reach of classical computing, from curing diseases like cancer to discovering new materials for clean energy.”

Professor Usman’s team will work closely with QUBIC researchers to drive innovation, support talent development, and position Australia as a global leader in quantum-enabled health and biotechnology.

When he’s not designing quantum algorithms, Professor Usman enjoys experimenting in the kitchen. “As a theorist, I don’t have a physics lab, so I satisfy my experimental curiosity through cooking,” he says.

A/Prof David Simpson’s July Public Lecture explores how diamond quantum sensing is transforming our understanding of the human body.

As part of the University of Melbourne’s prestigious July Lectures in Physics, a tradition since 1968, Associate Professor David Simpson delivered a compelling talk on Quantum Biotechnology and Quantum Sensing. This lecture was a highlight of the 2025 series, held in celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025), marking 100 years since the birth of quantum mechanics.

In his talk, A/Prof Simpson explored how diamond-based quantum sensors are revolutionising medical technologies. From decoding magnetic signals in brain tissue to detecting iron imbalances in the body, these technologies are not only illuminating biology in new ways, but they’re also laying the groundwork for next-generation medical diagnostics and therapies.

 “Diamond materials are leading a new quantum sensing revolution that is transforming our understanding of the human body,” Simpson explains. “What was once confined to the lab are now becoming the clinical tools of tomorrow.”

This work is part of a broader national effort led by QUBIC, which brings together a multi-disciplinary team of physicists, biologists, chemists, neuroscientists and social scientists to harness quantum technologies for real-world biomedical impact. QUBIC is at the forefront of developing quantum tools to study living systems, with applications ranging from understanding neurodegenerative diseases to cancer detection.

Watch now: Quantum Sensing: The diamond age of quantum biotechnology

The July Lectures in Physics are presented by the University of Melbourne School of Physics. They are a series of free public lectures exploring physics: from the most fundamental questions to its influence in society.

Hunter Johnson, a PhD student in the Simpson Lab at the University of Melbourne’s School of Physics, appeared on Melbourne’s RRR Einstein A Go-Go Radio Show to share insights into the fascinating world of quantum sensing using lab-grown diamonds.

Hunter’s research focuses on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres – tiny, fluorescent defects in the diamond’s crystal structure – which act as ultra-sensitive nanoscale sensors. When illuminated with green light, these centres fluoresce and allow researchers in the David Simpson’s Quantum Sensing Lab to detect extremely small electric and magnetic fields. Because NV centres flicker on and off in response to voltages and magnetic fields, they offer a powerful, non-invasive way to monitor neural activity and detect magnetic materials in biological systems. Hunter also discusses how lab-grown diamonds are chemically engineered layer by layer, allowing researchers to scale up production and tailor the crystals for specific sensing applications.

“We’re essentially turning diamonds into tiny, high-precision tools for biology,” says Hunter. “It’s a beautiful intersection of physics, materials science, and medicine.”

Quantum sensors based on NV centres are more than just a scientific curiosity, they represent a potential leap forward in how we study and understand the human body. These sensors can detect the electrical signatures from neurons with extreme precision, opening the door to new approaches in brain imaging, drug discovery, and real-time monitoring of biological processes. Unlike traditional technologies, they work at room temperature, are scalable, and can be integrated into compact devices. This makes them ideal for future biomedical tools that are both powerful and practical.

Listen to the full interview here: Programs: Einstein A Go-Go – 6 July 2025, Einstein A Go-Go — Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio

Banner image: A diamond fluroescing. Credit: Quantum Sensing Lab, University of Melbourne.

We’re thrilled to celebrate Farrel Separgo, a PhD student in the Zhou lab at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), for his recent achievements in science communication! Farrel was awarded the People’s Choice Award at the UTS Faculty heats of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and became a finalist at the Falling Walls Lab in Canberra – an international platform for breakthrough ideas in science and society.

Farrel’s research focuses on nanothermometers, tiny devices that measure temperature at the cellular level. Just as we use thermometers to detect fever, cells too exhibit temperature changes when they’re unwell. Farrel’s work aims to uncover how diseases alter cellular behaviour, offering new insights into diagnosis and treatment. His nanothermometers are not just small, they’re smart, built on principles of quantum mechanics, and designed to probe the hidden thermal signatures of disease.

“Cells are quite like us. Their localised temperature can change significantly when they’re sick,” Farrel explains. “With these nanothermometers, we can uncover hidden mysteries about how diseases affect cells and their behaviour.”

At the Falling Walls Lab, Farrel presented the future potential of the technology not only as a tool for fundamental research but also as a platform for diagnostics and biomedical innovation. While he didn’t advance to the international stage, his presentation at The Australian Academy of Science’s Shine Dome in Canberra connected cutting-edge quantum research and the broader scientific community.

Farrel’s work is an excellent example of how quantum technologies can transform bioscience and biotech. His nanothermometers embody QUBIC’s mission to develop quantum applications that can revolutionise Australian industries from healthcare to agriculture and energy.

Importantly, Farrel’s success also highlights the critical role of science communication. Presenting complex quantum biomedical research to a general audience is no small feat. Farrel embraced the challenge, focusing on clarity and engagement over jargon and humour.

“It was both challenging and exciting to present my research to people with no background in the field,” he says. “I focused on keeping the audience engaged, ensuring they get more out of the presentation.”

Farrel’s successes are a testament to the power of clarity, curiosity, and courage in research. We’re excited to follow his story and hear more on the advances of this technology in studying diseases and the applications in diagnostic tools.

About The Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT is an academic competition that challenges PhD students to present their research in just three minutes using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience. It’s a celebration of clarity, creativity, and impact in science communication.

About Falling Walls Lab
An international forum for the next generation of innovators, Falling Walls Lab invites students and early-career researchers to pitch their breakthrough ideas in 3-minute presentations. Finalists compete at national labs, with winners advancing to the global stage in Berlin. The competition is inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall and aims to break down barriers in science and society.

Science Communication to Connect and Inspire
Science communication is a catalyst for change. When emerging researchers like Farrel are supported to share their stories, they don’t just explain their work, they connect, inspire, and inform. At QUBIC we’re proud to invest in mentoring, training, and development to upskill the next generation of scientists. Through curated programs and initiatives like the Winter School, Summer School, Themes Workshop, Annual Workshop, and other opportunities, researchers at all career stages are provided with the tools to succeed in sharing their science with the world.

Katoomba, NSW | 5–7 August 2025

QUBIC held its annual Themes Workshop in the scenic Blue Mountains town of Katoomba, bringing together over 60 researchers from across our nodes for three days of scientific exchange, skill-building, and strategic collaboration. In the International Year of Quantum, we continue to explore what it means to apply quantum technologies to real-world biological problems.

This year’s workshop integrated QUBIC’s research themes – Molecules, Cells, and Brain – into a single, unified program. The format enabled researchers from quantum physics, biology, chemistry, and neuroscience to engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue and uncover new intersections between their work.

Sessions covered topics ranging from molecular sensing and modelling to cellular imaging and quantum computing, with presentations exploring everything from nanodiamond-based biosensors and phase separation in proteins, to quantum-enhanced microscopy and omics data integration. The diversity of topics reflected the Centre’s core mission: to harness quantum technologies to understand and manipulate biological systems at every scale.

The workshop serves as a strategic engine for collaboration, accelerating the development of quantum technologies that address pressing biological challenges, including early disease detection, neurodegenerative disorders, and drug discovery.

Early-career researchers and HDR students played a central role in the program, presenting their work and gaining experience in communicating complex ideas across disciplines. This focus on professional development is key to building a skilled and collaborative research community equipped to lead the future of quantum biotechnology in Australia.

An Industry Session, featuring Fernando Alves from Quantum Australia and Dr Mark Waller from Pending AI, added valuable perspective on translation and impact. Their talks explored commercialisation pathways, strategic partnerships, and the role of AI in navigating ultra-large chemical spaces, reinforcing the importance of connecting fundamental research with industry.

As QUBIC continues to grow, events like the Themes Workshop are essential for shaping the future of quantum biotechnology by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, supporting emerging researchers, and aligning scientific discovery with societal need.