You can challenge yourself as an undergraduate physics student by working on a cutting-edge research project with our world-class researchers.ÌýÌý
In your first year, the ‘Step into Research’ program offers the chance to undertake a small research project with one of the research groups in the school. In second and third years, it’s through the 'Taste of Research' program.ÌýÌý
In first year, research projects are done on a voluntary basis, and in higher years there is the option of course credit. If you are applying for credit you must formally enroll in PHYS4200, SCIF2041, or SCIF3041. You can read more about these below.Ìý
First year
First year
All first year research projects are done on a voluntary basis.
Second & third years
PHYS4200
Physics Research Project
SCIF2041
Research Internship A
SCIF3041
Research Internship B
Discover our research projects
Now that you’re familiar with course structures, explore the research projects you can work on through the 'Taste of Research' or 'Step into Research' programs. Below our researchers share the details of projects they are leading. These projects are available to undergraduate students in 2025.Ìý
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Looking back in time to the early Universe
Our group uses some of the world’s largest radio telescopes to measure some of the Universe’s faintest signals. We study the Epoch of Reionization, the time period when the very first stars and galaxies were born. Since the signal is so faint, petabytes of pristine data are required to measure the signal; while there are many telescopes around the world trying to measure this signal, no one has ever seen it. Potential projects would include trying to ascertain the contamination in the measured data to reveal the underlying signal through python programming, machine learning, and statistical representations. Skills obtained through this project would be useful for both astrophysics and data science career paths. -
We investigate new materials, devices and qubits with a focus on systems that may have applications in a future quantum computer made from spins, superconductors or topological systems. Experimental projects may involve activities ranging from device design and fabrication in a clean room environment,Ìýelectromagnetic simulation, cryogenic measurement in dilution refrigerators, as well as developing control and readout software for qubit measurement. Please contact me to discuss a project topic that aligns with your interests and skills.Ìý
Dr Caroline Foster
My group works on the dynamical and structural evolution of galaxies through cosmic time. We make use of complex 3D spectroscopic data cubes at different cosmic epochs to measure detailed galaxy evolution.
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Students may work on quantifying the dependence of the rotational support of galaxies on cluster-centric distance in galaxy clusters at intermediate redshifts (z~0.3). Other ideas are welcome, so feel free to come and discuss your ideas.
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All projects in my group require familiarity and comfort with high level computing languages (typically R and/or python).
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Quantum computing
Quantum computation focuses on using quantum bits to encode information. Unlike classical bits, which can be either 0 or 1, quantum bits exploit the superposition principle and can be in any combination of 0 and 1, which can make computation considerably faster and open new avenues that are inaccessible with classical bits. The two key problems facing the community at present are increasing the lifetimes of quantum bits (coherence), which determines how long quantum information can be stored, and devising ways to couple two or more bits so that complex operations can be performed in practice (entanglement). The research projects will focus on these two phenomena, devising novel strategies to beat decoherence mechanisms and to control interactions between quantum bits.
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Topological quantum matter
In recent years a large number of physical phenomena have been ascribed to topological mechanisms, in which the curvature of the eigenspace of the system plays a vital role in determining the robust quantisation of response functions. These phenomena are so widespread nowadays that the 2016 Nobel Prize was awarded to three scientists who revealed their topological nature, and the Australian Research Council has established the Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies to investigate topological materials and effects. The research projects will focus on establishing the role of topological terms in the response functions of a series of newly discovered materials, including topological insulators, Weyl semimetals, and transition metal dichalcogenides.
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My group works on the dynamical and structural evolution of galaxies through cosmic time. We make use of complex 3D spectroscopic data cubes at different cosmic epochs to measure detailed galaxy evolution.
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Students may work on quantifying the dependence of the rotational support of galaxies on cluster-centric distance in galaxy clusters at intermediate redshifts (z~0.3). Other ideas are welcome, so feel free to come and discuss your ideas.
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All projects in my group require familiarity and comfort with high level computing languages (typically R and/or python).
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Research interests of our group include:
- Atomic and nuclear theory and high precision atomic calculations
- Properties of superheavy elements
- ÌýAtomic and nuclear clocks
- Violation of the fundamental symmetries and tests of Grand Unification theories
- Dark matter models and search for dark matter
- Search for cosmological variation of fundamental constants in an evolving Universe
- Quantum chaos and statistical theory of small systems
- Quantum effects in strong gravitational field and black holes
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My group’s research revolves around the physics of the early Universe and in particular what observations can tell us about the Universe’s history, composition and origin. Depending on students' prior knowledge and interest, I offer projects on topics such as cosmic inflation, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, the cosmic microwave background, the formation of the Universe’s large scale structure, or machine learning for data analysis.
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I am offering research projects in experimental condensed matter physics, studying the electronic properties of advanced quantum devices and topological materials. Potential projects include
- Spin-3/2 qubits in silicon quantum dots
Electrons are spinÌý½Ìýparticles whereas positively charged holes are spin-3/2, and makeÌýveryÌýfast quantum bits. We study extremely fast qubits in silicon quantum devices. - Measuring the quantum Hall effect in two-dimensional systems
The quantum Hall effect has been the subject of 3 separate Nobel prizes. Here you will measure the quantum Hall effect in 2D systems at temperatures below 2 Kelvin and magnetic fields up to 9 Tesla.
- Studying quantum electrical transport in one-dimensional nanowires
- Putting the flow back into electrical currents - hydrodynamics of electrons in quantum devices
We often talk of "electrical currents"; here we are exploring the viscous nature of the electrical fluid that flows in transistors.
- Making and measuring atomically thin transistors using graphene and the "sticky tape" fabrication approach
These projects will be rather "hands-on", with students working with researchers in our group to perform experiments themselves, taking their own data, and in some cases handling liquid cryogens and helium refrigerators.
- Spin-3/2 qubits in silicon quantum dots
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My research group works in the area of Galactic archaeology, using the present-day properties of the Milky Way to investigate its history and evolution. I am offering projects studying the chemical compositions and orbits of stars in our galaxy, including:
- Identifying stars that have been captured from other galaxies
- Data mining in large survey data sets to find stars with anomalous compositions
- Determining the orbits and initial properties of stellar streams in the Galactic halo
These projects all involve python programming, and no prior programming experience is required.
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