EQUS welcomes Deborah Jin Fellows

EQUS is proud and exciting to have appointed six Research Fellows via the Deborah Jin Fellowship program.  This program aims to increase the proportion of women at EQUS and in quantum physics through targeted recruitment.  It honours the legacy of American physicist Deborah Jin by supporting and encouraging early- and mid-career women in physics.

EQUS launched the Deborah Jin Fellowship program in 2019 with two three-year fellowships awarded, to Dr Elizabeth Bridge and Dr Cindy Zhao.  We are thrilled to have be able to award an additional six three-year fellowships in 2023.

Kerstin Beer, MQ

Kerstin Beer joined EQUS in 2022 as a Research Fellow, working with former Chief Investigator Daniel Burgarth on theoretical quantum computing.  As a Deborah Jin Fellow, she is continuing her work on quantum error correction and quantum machine learning, with Chief Investigator Gavin Brennen.  She obtained a PhD in 2022 from Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany, on quantum machine learning, as part of which she proposed a quantum neural network architecture and suiting algorithms for supervised and semi-supervised training.

“Sadly, I never had the chance to meet Deborah Jin, but from reading about her science and personality, I pictured someone I was lacking during my undergraduate and PhD studies: an inspiring female role model in physics.  I am really grateful to be a Deborah Jin Fellow, which will assist me on my own journey to become an advocate and role model for minorities in quantum physics.”

Angela White, UQ

Angela White joined EQUS in 2021 as a Research Fellow, working with Chief Investigator Matthew Davis on quantum-enhanced gravimeters.  As a Deborah Jin Fellow, she is continuing this work, investigating ways of increasing the sensitivity of quantum-enhanced gravimeters, and researching quantum sensors and superfluids.  She did her PhD at The Australian National University on analogue models of quantum field theory in curved spacetime in cold atom systems.  She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Newcastle University, UK, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan, ANU and UQ.

“Deborah Jin was an outstanding physicist in our field who I admired, so I am very happy to be appointed as a Deborah Jin Fellow and think it is a wonderful opportunity.”

Carolyn Wood, UQ

Carolyn Wood joined EQUS in 2018 as a PhD student, working with former Chief Investigator Magdalena Zych on quantum theory, quantum gravity and quantum thermodynamics, with a focus on applications to quantum information.  After completing her PhD in 2022, she became an EQUS Research Fellow, working with Deputy Director Sally Shrapnel on quantum machine learning, work she is continuing as a Deborah Jin Fellow.

“When I first started studying physics, I often found myself looking to the women in the department for examples of what a woman working in physics could be like.  This fellowship gives me an opportunity to be that person for someone else just starting out in this field, in a very visible way.  I'm looking forward to being a part of an Australia-wide team focused on goals close to my interests—not just quantum technologies, but also the many outreach and personal development activities with which EQUS are involved.”

Salini Karuvade, USYD

Salini Karuvade joined EQUS in 2022 as a Research Fellow, working with Chief Investigators Stephen Bartlett and Andrew Doherty on quantum information theory.  As a Deborah Jin Fellow, she is continuing this work, with a focus on characterisation and control of noisy quantum systems, and verification and validation of quantum computation.  She obtained her PhD in 2022 from the University of Calgary, Canada, where she investigated the power and certifiability of quantum computing for open systems.

“It is an honour to receive this fellowship celebrating the legacy of the legendary physicist Deborah Jin.  This fellowship motivates me to work harder and engage in quality research.  But more importantly, it reminds me of Dr Jin’s commitment to mentoring young academics, especially women.  I look forward to doing the same as a Deborah Jin Fellow.”

Ya Zhang, ANU

Ya joined EQUS as a Deborah Jin Fellow in 2023, working with Chief Investigator Kirk McKenzie on optical frequency metrology, laser stabilisation and space-based interferometry.  She obtained her PhD in 2023 from ANU, on fibre-optic sensors for precision frequency metrology.

“This fellowship is an exciting opportunity to work in my field of passion (laser and frequency metrology), and to transfer laboratory science outcomes to future space-based instruments.”

Cindy Zhao, UWA

Cindy Zhao joined EQUS in 2020 as a Deborah Jin Fellow, working with Chief Investigator Michael Tobar on developing quantum technologies to test fundamental physics and search for dark matter.  As a 2023 Deborah Jin Fellow, she is continuing the work, with a focus on uncovering new physics using precision measurements of crystals in cryogenic environments.  She obtained her PhD in 2020 from USYD, on tunnelling conduction for resistive switching in amorphous carbon.

“I feel honoured to be appointed as a Deborah Jin Fellow.  I hope this valuable opportunity will help me to become more established in my career and have some positive effect for women in science.”

Top to bottom, left to right: Kerstin Beer, Angela White, Carolyn Wood, Salini Karuvade, Ya Zhang, Cindy Zhao.