Category Archives: Research
IPAS RESEARCH OPEN DAY – 8 AUGUST
Come join us on Thursday 8 August 2019 as we celebrate the fantastic research being conducted at the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), where we use the power of light to make the world a healthier, wealthier and better place!
5PM-6PM: IPAS Show ‘n’ Tell over Free Pizza – Braggs Level 2
Enjoy and watch the world leading research on display. Connect with our researchers over free pizza. Interested in doing a summer scholarship, honours or PhD project with us? This is the perfect opportunity to talk to experts and fellow students across Physics, Engineering, Chemistry and Biology about the exciting work they are doing.
5:30PM onward -7PM: Tours of the IPAS Labs – Depart from The Braggs Level 2
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to go behind closed doors and get a close up to our experiments. See the state-of-the-art equipment we use and create to do our world-leading research.
RSVPs essential for catering. Register here by 26 July.
Photoswitchable probe detects cancer cells migration
A new fluorescent sensor developed by IPAS/CNBP researchers at the Adelaide Medical School can detect migrating cancer cells and could be used to target medication to stop metastasis in aggressive cancers.
Learn more here
IPAS Quantum Mechanics featured in The Australian
It is such an honour for IPAS to be prominently featured in the special Defence Research excerpt of The Australian on May 29th. Our members are proudly contributing towards developing disruptive quantum technologies to give an edge to Australia’s defence: of the 11 ambitious Next Generation Technology Fund, 4 are under development at IPAS.
For full article, please click here.
IPAS Researcher interviewed with SBS Radio

Dr Giuseppe Tettamanzi
Congratulations to Dr Giuseppe Tettamanzi who was invited for an interview with SBS Radio regarding his recent innovative research with Dr Antonio Lauto and the team to develop the technology repairing damaged nerves. This disruptive research has been highlighted by many social media outlets and published in Advanced Science in April.
For media release, please click here.
For podcast, please click here.
DST Seminar at IPAS
Come to IPAS Seminar to explore the potential opportunities, different avenues for employments as well as research collaborations with DST!
What : Be Your Future – Department of Defence Science and Technology
Who : Dr Joanne Harrison, Lisa Stevens and Broderick Matthews
When : 11:10 – 12:00 pm, Thursday 6th June 2019.
Where : Level 2 – The Braggs Seminar Room
Abstract:
Discover opportunities to work with Australia’s most innovative scientists, engineers and IT specialists. We work closely with industry, universities and the scientific community to enhance our combined ability to support Australia’s defence and national security capabilities.
Presenters:
Lisa Stevens – Cadetship Program Manager & Broderick Matthews – Assistant Director STEM Programs
Lisa and Broderick work to bring in future talent through DST’s Talent Pipeline. This includes a variety of entry level programs including Defence Work Experience Program, DST Cadetship Program, DST Summer Vacation Placement, Industry and Graduate Experience Placement, Defence Graduate Program – Research and Innovation, Post Doc and Early Career Researcher Programs.
Dr Joanne Harrison
A/Discipline Leader, ASW Sensors
Maritime Division, Sonar Technology & Systems – Defence Science and Technology.
Joanne did her undergraduate degree at the Flinders University of South Australia, majoring in physics and mathematics. After participating in the Australian National University’s summer scholarship programme at the end of her Bachelor’s degree, Joanne stayed on at the ANU to do Honours and then a PhD at the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering. Her honours project, in the Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratory, was on time of flight spectroscopy for measuring electron collision cross sections in gases. Her PhD project, in the Laser Physics Centre, was on the photodynamics of the nitrogen vacancy colour centre in diamonds. This included building a laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope to study the photodynamics of individual colour centres. Joanne then spent 3 years as a postdoc at the University of Bristol, where she built another confocal microscope and contributed to a large European collaboration working on diamond-based quantum technologies. Joanne joined DST Group in January of 2011, and since then has been working in the advanced undersea sensors lab where she works on both the practical and the fundamental aspects of fibre laser sensing.
IPAS pioneering research in integrated surface plasmon resonance in photonic crystal
This study is the first demonstration of integrated surface plasmon resonance and slow photon effect in photoactive nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. The rational design of the structure and chemical composition of these photonic crystals platforms enables the engineering of photocatalytic platforms that can speed up photocatalytic platforms by a rational management of photons at the nanoscale. This study provides new opportunities to develop and integrate photocatalyst materials with cutting-edge properties for real-life applications, harvesting solar light for environmental remediation and green energy generation.
The 20th Asian Physics Olympiad welcomed at IPAS
IPAS proudly joined the University of Adelaide to host the 20th Asian Physics Olympiad which was held in Adelaide from 5-13 May.
A group comprising 100 of the most outstanding and brightest high school students from 25 countries competing at the 2019 Asian Physics Olympiad were warmly welcomed at IPAS. The group was shown through state-of-the-art fabrication facilities and equipment in The Braggs such as the high tech 3D Metal and Ceramic Printer, The Extrusion Lab, and the Fibre Drawing Tower by IPAS Deputy Director Prof Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Drs Stephen Warren-Smith, Erik Schartner and Georgios Tsiminis. The group was then guided on a visit to the Cryogenic Sapphire Clock (CSO) Lab and had interactive discussions with Dr Ori Henderson-Sapir.
The group also had the unique and immersive experience with IPAS research on display. The demonstrations of Laser Radio, High Temperature Sensor, and Sapphire Clock by Drs Ben Sparkes, Chris Perrella and Stephen Warren-Smith showed the students the world class research at IPAS and the enormous research opportunities at the University of Adelaide. All students were amazed, inspired and appreciated the opportunity to meet and interact with leading researchers at IPAS.
We hope you enjoyed your excursion at IPAS and wish you all the best in your future scientific endeavours!
IPAS proudly part of the pioneering team to develop non-invasive nerve repair technology
Research worldwide has been left unanswered to develop tools for repairing effectively damaged neuronal tissue, which may have serious detrimental effects on patient life quality. An innovative and minimally invasive graft-antenna, which can function concurrently as a wireless simulator and adhesive scaffold for nerve repair, has come to the answer. More amazingly, the graft antenna is biocompatible and does not require circuitry or separate electrodes to stimulate tissue. This innovative device, also highlighted by MIT Technology Review, was developed under a multidisciplinary research team led by Dr Antonio Lauto (University of Western Sydney), Dr Giuseppe Tettamanzi (IPAS – the University of Adelaide), Prof Marcus Stoodley (Macquarie University), and Dr Damia Mawad (University of New South Wales).
Stimulation and Repair of Peripheral Nerves Using Bioadhesive Graft‐Antenna
Ashour Sliow Zhi Ma Gaetano Gargiulo David Mahns Damia Mawad Paul Breen Marcus Stoodley Jessica Houang Rhiannon Kuchel Giuseppe C. Tettamanzi Richard D. Tilley Samuel J. Frost John Morley Leonardo Longo Antonio Lauto.
Advanced Science, First Published: 03 April 2019
DOI:10.1002/advs.201801212
For media release, please click here.
IPAS wins over 1.7 M from the Next Generation Technologies Fund
Congratulations to IPAS scientists for being successfully awarded Next Generation Technology Fund in the Quantum Technologies category. IPAS was overwhelmed to receive 4 over 11 nationally funded projects under the Quantum technology call.
- David Ottaway, Ben Sparkes, Leszek Swierkowski, Barnaby Smith & Graeme Nash
Quantum Radar for Stealth Detection
Amount awarded: $242,500
- Andre Luiten, Charlie Ironside, William Rickard, Tom Stace, Mirko Lobino & David Pulford
Delivering an Australian Portable Quantum Optical Clock
Amount awarded: $998,701
- Andre Luiten, Chris Perrella, Phil Light, Scott Foster
Packaging a Quantum Magnetometer Array for Anti-Submarine Warfare
Amount awarded: $455,498
- Brant Gibson, Scott Foster, Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, David Simpon, Andrew Greentree, Shahraam Afshar
Hydrid diamond fibre optic quantum magneto-sensors
Amount awarded: $250,000
For media release, please click here.
IPAS ECR awarded Gorge Southgate Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr Ruth Shaw who was awarded a George Southgate Fellowship. This funding will assist Ruth to attend the International Conference on Solid State Dosimetry & the Marko Moscovitch School of radiation dosimetry in Japan in September. This is not only the perfect opportunity for Dr Shaw to learn from world class dosimetry leaders but also the ideal chance to engage with potential new collaborators in the dosimetry industry.