Annual Symposium 2025
Monday 17 November – Tuesday 18 November
Sage Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong, NSW
We are thrilled to bring you QUBIC’s Annual Symposium in wonderful Woolyungah/Wollongong! We look forward to having the whole QUBIC community gathered together for 2-days of collaboration, research and knowledge-sharing. The Symposium will feature talks by our EMCRs and researchers, as well as some talks from international leaders, interactive activities designed by our portfolio leads, and plenty of time for networking.
The Symposium will begin at 9am on Monday 17 November, so we encourage attendees to arrive by 5pm on Sunday 16 November to check-in, register and join us for a casual pizza and pasta buffet dinner.
Program
Sunday 16 November, Sage Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong, NSW
| Time | Activity | Speaker & Topic |
| 5pm onwards | Arrival, check-in and registration | n/a |
| 6.30pm – 8pm | Welcome dinner (casual pizza & pasta night) | n/a |
Monday 17 November, Sage Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong, NSW
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 9am – 9.20am | Welcome to Country | |
| 9.20am – 9.50am | Director’s Welcome | Prof. Warwick Bowen |
| 9.50 – 10.30 | Keynote Talk Quantum sensing in biological systems | Professor Kirstine Berg-Sørensen, Technical University of Denmark |
| 10.30am – 11am | Morning tea | |
| 11am – 12.15pm | Theme session 1: Molecules | Dr Martin Stroet, UQ – Theme lead overview |
| Design and progress of an integrated confocal–AFM microscope | Mitch Conway, CSIRO | |
| Vibronic contributions to hyperfine-mediated spin kinetics | Anjay Manian, UOW | |
| Quantum Microscopy: Imaging with Undetected Mid-IR Photons | Isa Ahmadalidokht, UTS | |
| 12.15 – 1.15pm | Lunch | |
| 1.15pm – 2.30pm | Theme session 2: Cells | Elizabeth Hinde, UoM – Theme lead overview |
| Ballistic optical tweezers to study nonequilibrium biological systems | Mark Watson, UQ | |
| Quantum image scanning microscopy | Mike Mlodzianoski, UoM | |
| Nanothermometer design | Yee Yee Khine, UTS | |
| TBA | Jackson Lucas, UQ | |
| 2.30pm – 3.30pm | Mentoring Training & Development (MTD) Portfolio Early-Mid Career Researcher Committee (EMCR) 3MT PITCH | Haibo Yu, UOW (Chair MTD Portfolio) Sergey Kruk, UTS (Chair EMCR Committee) |
| 15.30 – 16.30 | Afternoon tea – Roving canapes | |
| 15.30 – 17:30 | Poster session | Haibo Yu, UOW (Chair MTD Portfolio) |
| 17.30 – 18.30 | Free time | |
| 18.30 – 21.00 | Symposium dinner – Trivia + Awards |
Tuesday 18 November, Sage Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong, NSW
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 8:30 – 8:35 | Director’s Day 2 Welcome / Day 1 wrap-up | Prof. Warwick Bowen |
| 8.35 – 9.15 | Plenary Talk 1 Diamond based quantum sensing in tissues and organisms | Prof Romana Schirhagl, UMCG |
| 9.15 – 9.45 | Plenary Talk 2 Artificial and biological networks with possible connections to theories of consciousness | Prof Daniele Faccio, University of Glasgow |
| 9.45 – 10.15 | Morning tea | |
| 10.15 – 11.30 | Theme session 3: Brain – Quantum Sensors for the “Little Brain”: Enabling Cerebellar MEG with OPM Technology | Lezanne Ooi, UOW – Theme lead overview |
| Quantum Sensors for the “Little Brain”: Enabling Cerebellar MEG with OPM Technology | Sophie Lin, UoM | |
| TBA | Dzung Do-Ha, UOW | |
| TBA | Ben Carey, UQ | |
| 11.30 – 12.30 | Outreach & Engagement (O&E) Portfolio Showcase: Outreach demonstrations & pracs | Jenny Stow, UQ (Chair O&E Committee) |
| 12.30 – 12.45 | Group photo | |
| 12.45 – 2.15pm | Lunch SAC & AB Working Lunch | |
| 2.15pm – 3.15pm | Research Translation Portfolio (RTP) Workshop: Research Translation to Innovation | Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop, UQ (Chair RTP Portfolio) Facilitator: Dr Michael Harvey |
| 3.15pm – 4.15pm | Inclusion, Diversity, Ethics & Access (IDEA) Portfolio Workshop: Authorship Training | Kim-Anh Le Cao, UoM (Acting Chair IDEA Portfolio) Facilitator: Dr Marita Rodriguez, UQ |
| 4.15 – 4.30pm | Wrap up and closing remarks Conclusion of conference | Prof Warwick Bowen |
| 5pm – 8pm | Public Lecture Quantum Technologies for Life & Health UOW Science Space, Innovation Campus, Wollongong | Prof Jennifer Dionne, Stanford University Prof Sir Peter Knight, Imperial College London |
Join us for an evening with Prof Jennier Dionne & Prof Sir Peter Knight as they talk about how quantum technologies are transforming our understanding of life and health, from the microscopic ecosystems in our oceans to the future of medical diagnostics. | Registration to attend the public lecture is essential. Register here: Quantum Technologies for Life & Health: Public Lecture. | |
| 5pm | Bus transfer to public lecture for Symposium attendees For a seat on the bus, you must pre-register to attend the Public Lecture | Sage -> UOW Science Space, Innovation Campus, Wollongong |
| 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Welcome reception (QUBIC / qLIFE attendees) | UOW Science Space, Innovation Campus, Wollongong |
| 6pm- 6.30pm | Public arrival | |
| 6.30pm – 8pm | Public Lecture & Fireside Chat Illuminating the Building Blocks of Life with Quantum Science The First 100 Years of Quantum Science: From Inspiration to Societal Value | MC: Prof Lezanne Ooi, University of Wollongong Prof Jennifer Dionne, Stanford University Prof Sir Peter Knight, Imperial College London |
| 8pm | Conclusion of event |
*Program subject to change
Cost to attend the Symposium
What’s included for QUBIC members?
- Accommodation: Twin occupancy room with bathroom for Sunday 16 & Monday 17 November.
- Meals: Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea daily. Dinner on Sunday and Monday evening are included. Light canapes will be served Monday evening during the Poster Session.
What’s not included?
- Airfares and other travel: Attendees will need to arrange their own airfares and other travel as required.
- Airport transfers: Attendees are responsible for finding their own way to the Symposium.
- Accommodation and registration to attend qLIFE (19-21 November, Novotel, Wollongong)
Getting to Woolyungah/Wollongong and the Sage Hotel
- The easiest and most economical way to travel from Sydney to Wollongong is by train, which takes approx. 90 minutes. Trains depart from Central Station in Sydney, running to Wollongong train station (there is an airport surcharge when taking the train from the airport).
- The Sage Hotel is a 10-minute walk or 3 min car ride from Wollongong train station.
- More information about transport to and from Sydney to Wollongong can be found here.
- For transport in-and-around Wollongong, there is an extensive bus network including The Gong Shuttle.
- The Sage Hotel is located adjacent to WIN Stadium. The WIN Entertainment Centre bus stop is located at the opposite end of the street to Sage Hotel, only 2 mins walk away.
3MT Style Poster Pitch and Poster Session
We are excited to host two engaging sessions brought to you by the MTD Portfolio during the Symposium, designed to highlight the cutting-edge research of students and Early to Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs).
3MT Pitch, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Monday 17 November
On day 1 of the Symposium, all attending students and EMCRs are invited to pitch their research at the 3MT Style Poster Pitch. Each participant will have 3-minutes to dynamically present their poster to the audience and judges using only 1 slide. This fast-paced session is a great way to showcase your research project in a concise and engaging manner. This session will be judged by QUBIC’s Scientific Advisory Council and a People’s Choice Award will also be awarded. Register to participate in this event via Symposium registration form.
What’s required? You will need to provide your name, advisor, presentation title, profile photo and single slide to the organising committee.
Poster Session & Competition, 3:30pm – 5:30pm, Monday 17 November
All QUBIC students and EMCRs are required to prepare and present a poster at the Symposium. Posters will be displayed at the event throughout the week in the Waters Edge room for everyone to peruse throughout the event. This is a fantastic opportunity to share your research with peers and experts, while gaining valuable feedback and fostering potential collaborations. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as a People’s Choice Award, all judged by the QUBIC Scientific Advisory Council. Canapés will be served during the session to promote informal networking and discussions.
What’s required? You will need to provide your name, advisor, poster title, abstract (max. 200 words), profile photo to the organising committee. Posters are to be no bigger than A0 portrait size and must be brought with you to the Symposium for display. The Poster Session organising committee will contact you for your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is it from Sydney Airport to Woolyungah/Wollongong?
Sydney airport <-> Wollongong is approx. 90 mins by train.
Information about transport between Sydney and Wollongong can be found here.
Can I bring my family to stay?
We understand that you may wish to bring your family to the Symposium, thus requiring accommodation that suits your needs. While QUBIC will cover the cost of standard accommodation for our attendees, we are unable to cover additional costs associated with family members. If you would like to bring your family, please let us know on the registration form including the number of additional guests and who they are, and we will work with you and the venue regarding options.
Do you require support to attend the Symposium?
QUBIC is committed to ensuring that all our members feel welcome and supported at the Symposium. We recognise that some attendees may have additional needs or caring responsibilities, and we are here to help. If you would like to discuss your support requirements and how QUBIC is able to assist, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr Allison Fish, Chair IDEA Committee on a.fish@law.uq.edu.au.
I would like to extend my stay at the hotel prior to or following the Symposium. Is this an option and what is the cost?
Attendees are more than welcome to extend their stay at their own cost for a discounted rate in the lead up to or following the Symposium (subject to room availability). Sage have provided a discounted room rate from 14 November to 23 November for those wishing to extend their stay. Please book directly here: Sage Hotel Wollongong – November Partnership – University of Queensland.
I will be finding my own way to the venue, is there parking?
On-site parking is available at $25 per vehicle per day and is subject to availability. There are also several council parking lots surrounding the property.
Tell me more about Sage Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong.
Please find all the information about Sage Wollongong on the hotel website.
I want to attend qLIFE following the Symposium. Where can I register?
qLIFE, the International Conference on Quantum Technologies in the Life Sciences will follow the Symposium from 19-21 November at Novotel, Wollongong. qLIFE seeks to foster a cross-disciplinary community to spark innovation, support the development of quantum tools tailored for life science applications, cultivate emerging talent, deepen our understanding of biological systems, and accelerate translation into real-world impact. Find out more about this exciting conference and register directly via the qLIFE website.
Are you a non-QUBIC member wishing to attend?
Please contact admin.qubic@uq.edu.au for information regarding availability, inclusions and associated costs.