Category: Centre News

New collaborations formed through QUBIC’s Cell Research Theme are helping lay the groundwork for future advances in health and biomedical research, with four interdisciplinary teams awarded seed funding to pursue innovative projects spanning cancer biology, cellular imaging and quantum sensing.

Understanding how cells function, communicate and respond to their environment is at the centre of the theme. Bringing together expertise in quantum science, microscopy, cell biology and biomedical research, the theme is developing advanced imaging and sensing technologies to investigate cellular behaviour with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. The research aims to reveal the molecular and mechanical processes that underpin life at the cellular level.

But unlocking the full potential of these emerging technologies requires more than technical innovation. It depends on researchers from different disciplines, institutions and backgrounds coming together to share expertise, build new collaborations and develop ambitious ideas.

To help foster these connections, the theme launched its inaugural seed funding initiative, supporting four collaborative pilot projects designed to stimulate new multidisciplinary partnerships across QUBIC and generate early-stage data for future research opportunities.

The funded projects bring together researchers from across The University of Queensland, the University of Technology Sydney and The University of Melbourne, combining expertise in quantum imaging, microscopy, cancer biology, cellular mechanics and extracellular vesicle research.

Cell Theme Lead Dr Elizabeth Hinde said the seed funding initiative was designed to encourage new collaborations and support early-stage ideas with the potential to open new research directions.

“One of the most exciting outcomes of the workshop was seeing researchers from different disciplines and institutions come together to develop innovative project ideas that combine emerging quantum technologies with important biological questions.”

“Several of the winning proposals were led by early career researchers and PhD students, which is particularly exciting. The seed funding will help these teams establish new collaborations and generate preliminary data, with their first results to be shared at the QUBIC Annual Symposium later this year.”

Four projects awarded seed funding

RheoSome: simultaneous kinetic-rheologic measurements of endosomal escape using RheoSCAT imaging
The first funded project, RheoSome, brings together PhD students Charlie Gray, Dan Lei, Jackson Lucas and Kyle Clunies-Ross from the Queensland Quantum Optics Laboratory at The University of Queensland with PhD student Vrushali Maste from the Protein Trafficking and Inflammation Laboratory at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. The team will investigate endosomal escape using RheoSCAT imaging, combining kinetic and rheological measurements to better understand this important cellular process.

Quantum mid-IR microscopy of lipid heterogeneity
Led by Professor Alexander Solntsev (UTS), together with Irina Kabakova (UTS) and Jennifer Stow (UQ), this project will test the potential of quantum mid-infrared imaging to provide label-free lipid contrast in three-dimensional breast cancer models. The work will explore how quantum imaging approaches could be applied to visualise lipid heterogeneity within complex biological systems.

Extracting Extracellular Vesicles for Quantum Imaging using peptide-conjugated magnetic beads
Hongyu Shen and Dr Mina Barzegaramiriolya (UQ/University of Melbourne), working with Chief Investigators Jennifer Stow and David Simpson (UoM), will develop a new approach for isolating cancer-derived extracellular vesicles using peptide-conjugated magnetic beads. The project aims to establish a tool that could support future studies of extracellular vesicles using advanced quantum imaging techniques.

Leveraging Brillouin microscopy to visualise structural properties of 3D cell culture
The fourth funded project is led by Sylvia Jin Hui Tan (UQ/UTS), together with Chief Investigators Jennifer Stow and Irina Kabakova. The team will use Brillouin microscopy to investigate the structural and biomechanical properties of three-dimensional cell culture models, including breast cancer spheroids and pseudo-vessels.

Building the expertise for future quantum biotechnology applications

The four funded teams will present their progress and findings at the QUBIC Annual Symposium in November, showcasing the outcomes of the Centre’s newest collaborations and the potential these projects hold for future Cell Theme research.

Read more about QUBIC’s Cell Research Theme.

Images: Recipients of the winning project teams with Dr Elizabth Hinde, Cell Theme Lead.

National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology, and this year QUBIC was proud to take quantum biotechnology on the road, into schools, onto the airwaves, and out into communities across the country.

Over the course of the week, more than a dozen QUBIC researchers shared their knowledge and passion for science with students, teachers, industry leaders, policymakers and the public through school visits, workshops, public talks, radio interviews, festivals and community events.

From Tasmania to Queensland, researchers sparked curiosity, encouraged conversation and showcased how quantum technologies are helping address some of society’s most pressing challenges across health, agriculture and energy.

Taking quantum science on the road

A major highlight this year was our involvement in the National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip, which celebrated its fifth year in 2026.

The road trip, co-organised with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics and supported by the Australian Institute of Physics, aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers while showcasing the exciting possibilities of quantum technologies and dark matter research.

From 14 to 22 August, QUBIC and Dark Matter researchers Eleanor Trimby, Michael Jones, Galya Haim, Amelie Read, Ethan Han, Amrita Banerjee, Maaz Hayat and Robert James travelled across Tasmania, visiting schools and communities with interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, talks and quizzes designed to engage audiences with cutting-edge science.

The road trip reached students and community members across the state, creating opportunities for young people to meet scientists, ask questions and explore future pathways in STEM.

Bringing quantum biotechnology to communities nationwide

Beyond Tasmania, QUBIC researchers participated in an exciting program of events across Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Wollongong.

In Brisbane, we hosted the Qx Summit: Make it in Queensland, delivered in partnership with Quantum Australia, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) and Silicon Catalyst. Now in its third year, the event brought together more than 200 representatives from academia, government, industry and start-ups to discuss the future of Australia’s quantum ecosystem, including opportunities connected to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and lessons from successful Queensland technology ventures.

The week also provided an opportunity for QUBIC researchers to come together through the Brain Theme Workshop to explore how emerging quantum technologies can be used to observe, manipulate and better understand neural systems across scales. Conversations around quantum technologies and neuroscience sparked new ideas and collaborations.

Our researchers also participated in a range of public engagement activities, including science pub quizzes in Brisbane, Melbourne and Tasmania, as well as public lectures exploring topics from quantum technologies to the mysteries of dark matter.

In Melbourne, Dr Dan McCloskey shared his expertise in diamond quantum sensing at the Melbourne Quantum & Dark Matter Experience, helping audiences explore the fascinating world of quantum science through interactive discussions and activities.

Science meets storytelling

One of the week’s most memorable events was Monsters & Molecules: Journey to the Centre of the Brain, a live, Dungeons & Dragons-inspired science improv show held in Brisbane (image above).

Featuring QUBIC Deputy Director Professor Lezanne Ooi alongside educator Joel Gilmore, comedian Jaimeson Gilders, science communicator Shu Ezackial and bard Sean Sully, the event combined science, storytelling and improvisation to take audiences on a unique journey through the human brain, demonstrating how creative approaches to communication can make complex scientific concepts accessible, engaging and entertaining.

Sharing science beyond the laboratory

Throughout National Science Week, researchers embraced opportunities to connect with audiences through radio interviews, school presentations and community events.

In Wollongong, Dr Anjay Manian appeared on ABC Illawarra Drive to discuss how migratory birds may sense Earth’s magnetic field and what this remarkable phenomenon can teach us about the quantum world (listen here). He also joined Holden Paz at the UOW Nowra Open Day, where they spent the day engaging visitors of all ages in conversations about science, university pathways and quantum biotechnology.

Meanwhile, Charlie Gray visited Craigslea State High School in Brisbane to speak with students about careers in science and his journey into research.

These events highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for researchers to share their work directly with the broader community, building understanding of both the scientific process and the real-world impact of research.

A week of curiosity, connection and discovery

Across Australia, we connected with thousands of people through school visits, public talks, workshops, festivals, media appearances and industry events, shaping the future of quantum biotechnology by inspiring future scientists, innovators and problem solvers.

While the week may be over, our mission continues. Every day, QUBIC researchers are working to harness quantum technologies for applications across health, agriculture and energy, creating new knowledge and translating discoveries into real-world impact.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended an event, hosted a session, collaborated with us, asked questions and shared in the excitement of discovery. Most importantly, thank you to our incredible researchers who generously gave their time, energy and expertise to make National Science Week 2026 such a success.

A huge congratulations to QUBIC Deputy Director Professor Lezanne Ooi and the team at Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, on securing a major investment that will accelerate Parkinson’s disease research.

Quantum technologies are rapidly moving from the lab into the real world, helping tackle challenges across the life sciences. Researchers are developing new ways to detect disease, image biological systems and understand the building blocks of life by bringing together physicists, biologists, neuroscientists, chemists and engineers to solve problems that no single discipline can address alone.

Yet for most young people, their first introduction to quantum won’t come from a scientist. It will come from a teacher. So how do we turn complex, cutting-edge research into something that sparks curiosity, feels relevant, and helps students imagine themselves as part of the future?

That question sat at the heart of QUBIC’s involvement at ConASTA 2026, Australia’s largest science education conference, where we connected with educators from across the country who are finding new ways to bring contemporary science into the classroom.

Throughout the week, we explored how quantum science can be connected to topics students already care about. In his keynote, Bringing Quantum to Life, QUBIC Director Professor Warwick Bowen demonstrated how quantum technologies are moving beyond theory and into real-world applications, from understanding disease to developing new tools for healthcare and biology. One example that resonated strongly with attendees was the potential for quantum technologies to support earlier detection of conditions such as sepsis, highlighting how advances in physics may one day help improve outcomes for patients and families.

University of Wollongong PhD student Emma De Costa approached the challenge from a different angle. Through Seeing Quantum: Mystery Migration, she presented the theory around the remarkable navigation abilities of the European robin to introduce educators to the emerging field of quantum biology. By combining storytelling with a classroom-ready activity, the session demonstrated how concepts such as electron spin, light interactions and magnetoreception can be transformed into fun and engaging learning experiences for students.

Beyond the presentations, rewarding conversations took place at the QUBIC exhibition booth. Teachers shared their enthusiasm for bringing emerging science into the classroom, while also discussing the challenge of making complex ideas accessible and relevant for students.

ConASTA was an opportunity to listen, learn and build relationships with educators who introduce many young Australians to science’s newest ideas. By supporting teacher participation, sharing classroom-ready resources and creating opportunities for researchers and educators to connect, we’re bringing quantum science out of the lab and into conversations that spark curiosity, encourage questions and help students see themselves in the future of science.

If you’re interested in connecting with QUBIC to explore ways to bring quantum science into the classroom, we’d love to continue the conversation.

QUBIC would like to thank everyone who contributed to our involvement in ConASTA 2026, including Professor Warwick Bowen, Emma De Costa, Mark Watson, Alex Stilgoe, Eleanor Trimby, Galya Haim, David Simpson and Kath Pearson, who helped plan and deliver our activities and engaged with educators from across Australia throughout the week. We also thank the many teachers who shared their ideas, experiences and enthusiasm for bringing quantum science into the classroom.

The discoveries we’re chasing at the edge of quantum biotechnology are too complex, too ambitious, and too important to be solved from a single viewpoint. We rely on teams that think differently, question assumptions, and bring their own lived experiences into the lab.

Our mission to develop quantum technologies that can reshape health, energy and agriculture asks us to work across boundaries every day. Physics meets biology. Engineering meets medicine. Fundamental science meets real human need. That kind of science thrives when everyone in the room feels safe to contribute, when people from underrepresented backgrounds see a place for themselves here, and when early and mid-career researchers know that their identity is not a barrier but a strength.

As an ARC Centre of Excellence, we aim to demonstrate world‑leading science through a world‑leading culture. We want every student, researcher and collaborator who comes through QUBIC to feel that they belong, that their voice matters, and that they can build a long, rewarding future in STEM.

We know the broader quantum and STEM sectors still face uneven participation across gender, cultural background and socioeconomic status. And we know deeply interdisciplinary fields like quantum biotechnology need a wider range of perspectives to succeed. Our community reflects this commitment, with 50% of members speaking a language other than English at home and 58% of Chief Investigators being women.

That’s why we invest in programs that create genuine opportunity and community. Our Aspire Fellowship, Fostering Inclusive Science Support Scheme, and cross‑disciplinary mentoring initiatives are designed to open doors, build skills and ensure people have the support they need to thrive. Through partnerships like our sponsorship with the National Youth Science Forum, we help connect LGBTQIA+ students and other underrepresented young people with pathways into STEM that might otherwise feel out of reach. These are just some examples of QUBIC’s long‑term commitment to changing who sees themselves in science.

We’re proud of the culture our community is building, together. It’s a culture where our researchers challenge each other, support each other, and grow together. And it’s a culture that strengthens our science every day, shaping the technologies we develop and the impact they will have.

inSTEM: Creating Space Where Everyone Can Thrive

QUBIC was proud to co‑deliver 2025’s annual inSTEM Conference in Melbourne. inSTEM brings together members from ARC Centres of Excellence who are committed to building research environments where marginalised and underrepresented people can thrive, and where all researchers are supported to become more capable and active allies.

The program offered deep, practical insight into the lived experiences of diverse STEM researchers. The panel on exploring trans, gender‑diverse, and gender‑fluid experiences in the workplace, shared honest reflections on navigating academia through the lens of gender identity. These discussions provided valuable, actionable guidance for research leaders and colleagues committed to improving safety, respect and belonging.

“inSTEM was absolutely outstanding. Panellists, speakers and focus groups really brought home ‘diversity is a fact, inclusion is a choice,’ with methods, tips and strategies to make your research lab a welcoming place for all people.” – Emma De Costa, QUBIC PhD candidate, University of Wollongong

An extract from the 2025 QUBIC Annual Report. Read the full report here.

QUBIC recently brought researchers together from across the Centre for its Molecules Theme Workshop, focused on Molecular Qubits: Development and Applications.

The aim was straightforward: to better understand how molecular qubits could be developed into useful sensing technologies, particularly for challenges in the life sciences.

Protein molecular systems offer a unique opportunity in quantum sensing – they can be designed, tuned and collocated with their sensing target using establish protein engineering techniques. This opens up possibilities for detecting signals in complex environments, such as within biological systems or in targeted diagnostic settings.

But realising that potential is not straightforward. Decisions about how to engineer molecules with improved coherence properties, and what it is ultimately used for are tightly linked. Progress depends on working across these considerations together, rather than in isolation.

The workshop created space to do this by bringing together expertise in theory, experiment, and application. It helped connect areas of work that often run in parallel and refocus them around shared goals.

For QUBIC, this collaboration is critical, ensuring that development is guided not just by what is possible, but also by what is useful.

QUBIC’s outreach program is driven by a belief that curiosity is the foundation of future capability. Quantum biotechnology is an emerging area that most students, teachers and community members have never encountered before, and outreach gives us the chance to introduce it in ways that are engaging, welcoming and accessible. By sharing the ideas, tools and questions shaping the field through school visits, hands‑on demonstrations and public talks, we invite people to explore how quantum science and the life sciences come together, and why this matters for the challenges Australia will face in the decades ahead.

Bringing science to life through real connections

In 2025, the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, QUBIC ran over 30 public engagement initiatives, reaching audiences across the country through talks, festivals, school programs and interactive demonstrations. These activities were designed to make quantum biotechnology tangible and relatable, showing how technologies like quantum sensing and advanced imaging can reveal the mechanics of life, and showcasing QUBIC’s interdisciplinarity in action – physicists, biologists and neuroscientists collaborating to solve shared challenges.

By meeting people where they are, and showing our people in action, we aim to build trust and understanding in a field that is technically sophisticated but deeply human in its applications.

Growing a future community of thinkers, makers and problem‑solvers

Outreach is also about how we cultivate the next generation of interdisciplinary talent. Each school visit, careers event and public talk helps young people picture themselves in fields that span physics, biology, engineering and computation. Many of the students we meet have never heard of quantum biotechnology, yet they leave with questions, excitement and new possibilities in mind. This work broadens participation, strengthens Australia’s STEM pipeline, and ensures that the future of quantum biotech is shaped by a diverse, curious and capable community.

In 2025, QUBIC researchers engaged with over 3000 students and public, with more than 20 public talks and school visits in regional and metropolitan areas a ross three states.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Quantum Thinkers

In 2025 QUBIC expanded our regional and metropolitan outreach through a major engagement at the Your Quantum Future Student Conference, hosted by the ACT
Education Directorate’s Academy of Future Skills. The program brought together over 100 Year 10-12 students from across 15 Canberra schools to learn how quantum technologies will shape future careers and industries, providing hands‑on exposure to emerging fields and access to national experts. The event offered a valuable opportunity to introduce quantum biotechnology to students and teachers, and to demonstrate how quantum science and the life sciences are converging to address major challenges.

Three QUBIC researchers delivered sessions that made quantum biotechnology both accessible and ambitious. Students and teachers explored how quantum
microscopy using squeezed light is advancing imaging, how nitrogen‑vacancy diamond sensors can detect early molecular changes in neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neuron disease, and how quantum sensing can be applied in areas like sport and health diagnostics.

Dr Pavlina Naydenova and Dr Dzung Do-Ha shared their own pathways into quantum biotechnology. They entered from neuroscience and biology, not quantum physics, which showed students that this is a domain open to multiple disciplines and backgrounds.

The conference also strengthened our connections across the national landscape. We engaged with ACT science educators, Questacon, Quantum Australia, and colleagues working to build quantum capability across schools and training programs. The keynote by Australia’s former Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, who spoke about Australia’s leadership in quantum research and the importance of preparing young people for emerging technologies, reinforced the significance of this work. The engagement continues to generate new opportunities, from discussions about future school visits to explorations of deeper collaboration with ACT educators and national partners.

This outreach activity allowed QUBIC to extend its impact beyond its node locations, engaging regional audiences and demonstrating the breadth, relevance and accessibility of quantum biotechnology. It showcased the Centre’s commitment to sparking curiosity, supporting educators, and building long‑term capability in an emerging field that will increasingly shape Australia’s scientific and technological future.

Our Quantum Future presenters were Dr Sergey Kruk (University of Technology Sydney), Dr Pavlina Naydenova (University of Queensland), and Dr Dzung Do-Ha (University of Wollongong).

An extract from the 2025 QUBIC Annual Report. Read the full report here.