Potential student research projects

The Research School of Physics performs research at the cutting edge of a wide range of disciplines.

By undertaking your own research project at ANU you could open up an exciting career in science.

Filter projects

Some other physics related research projects may be found at the ANU College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Mathematical Sciences Institute and the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Astrophysics

The intersection of nuclear structure and nuclear scattering

This project explores nuclear scattering using shell-model-derived potentials to better understand complex nuclear interactions. Students will enhance coding skills, deepen quantum mechanics knowledge, and apply high-performance computing to study processes relevant to nuclear astrophysics and nucleosynthesis, shedding light on the origins of the chemical elements. 

Professor Cedric Simenel

Atomic and Molecular Physics

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Exploring the many body physics in an atomic matterwave system with PT symmetry

Investigating the possible enhancement of sensitivity in atomic sensors with PT symmetry and the underlying many body evolution.

Dr Jessica Eastman, Dr Simon Haine

Engineering in Physics

Terahertz polarisation optics

This project will pioneer compact, low-loss terahertz polarisation optics—polarisers, waveplates, and circular polarisers—by harnessing artificial birefringence in metamaterials to overcome the limitations of natural crystals.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Mr Oleg Kameshkov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Materials Science and Engineering

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Laser-written nanostructures for future photonics

Use lasers to sculpt matter at the nanoscale! In this project you’ll create shimmering holographic patterns and functional nanostructures on metals and glasses, exploring their applications in photonics, anti-counterfeiting, and smart coatings—all while uncovering the physics of light–matter interaction.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya

Controlling light with nanostructured surfaces

Metasurfaces are ultra-thin nanostructured materials that can shape and control light in extraordinary ways, but to be practical they must be tunable rather than fixed. This project develops liquid crystal–integrated metasurfaces to create reconfigurable flat optical devices for dynamic focusing, beam steering, and advanced sensing.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Terahertz polarisation optics

This project will pioneer compact, low-loss terahertz polarisation optics—polarisers, waveplates, and circular polarisers—by harnessing artificial birefringence in metamaterials to overcome the limitations of natural crystals.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Mr Oleg Kameshkov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Photonics, Lasers and Nonlinear Optics

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Laser-written nanostructures for future photonics

Use lasers to sculpt matter at the nanoscale! In this project you’ll create shimmering holographic patterns and functional nanostructures on metals and glasses, exploring their applications in photonics, anti-counterfeiting, and smart coatings—all while uncovering the physics of light–matter interaction.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya

Controlling light with nanostructured surfaces

Metasurfaces are ultra-thin nanostructured materials that can shape and control light in extraordinary ways, but to be practical they must be tunable rather than fixed. This project develops liquid crystal–integrated metasurfaces to create reconfigurable flat optical devices for dynamic focusing, beam steering, and advanced sensing.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Nonlinear topological photonics

The project bridges the fundamental physics of topological phases with nonlinear optics. This promising synergy is expected to unlock advanced functionalities for applications in optical sources, frequency combs, isolators and multiplexers, switches and modulators, both for classical and quantum light. 

Dr Daria Smirnova

Physics of Fluids

Controlling quantum turbulence in atomic superfluids

Turbulence is one of the most important unsolved problems in modern physics, underpinning universal phenomena from galactic formation to heat and pollutant transport in our atmosphere and oceans. This project seeks to theoretically investigate turbulence in superfluids, and introduce methods of controlling the system dynamics using quantum feedback control.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Dr Simon Haine, Professor Joseph Hope

Physics of the Nucleus

Impact of nuclear structure on dark matter direct detection

Quantum many-body modelling of the atomic nucleus will help us understand how dark matter particles interact with atomic nuclei, as well as how many scattering events we can expect in underground laboratory search for dark matter. 

Ms Raghda Abdel Khaleq, Dr Navneet Krishnan, Professor Cedric Simenel

The intersection of nuclear structure and nuclear scattering

This project explores nuclear scattering using shell-model-derived potentials to better understand complex nuclear interactions. Students will enhance coding skills, deepen quantum mechanics knowledge, and apply high-performance computing to study processes relevant to nuclear astrophysics and nucleosynthesis, shedding light on the origins of the chemical elements. 

Professor Cedric Simenel

Quantum Science and Technology

Exploring the many body physics in an atomic matterwave system with PT symmetry

Investigating the possible enhancement of sensitivity in atomic sensors with PT symmetry and the underlying many body evolution.

Dr Jessica Eastman, Dr Simon Haine

Controlling quantum turbulence in atomic superfluids

Turbulence is one of the most important unsolved problems in modern physics, underpinning universal phenomena from galactic formation to heat and pollutant transport in our atmosphere and oceans. This project seeks to theoretically investigate turbulence in superfluids, and introduce methods of controlling the system dynamics using quantum feedback control.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Dr Simon Haine, Professor Joseph Hope

Theoretical Physics

Introduction to quantum integrable systems

The aim of this project is to introduce quantum integrable systems which play a very important role in modern theoretical physics. Such systems provide one of very few ways to analyze nonlinear effects in continuous and discrete quantum systems.

A/Prof Vladimir Mangazeev

Foundations of quantum tunnelling

The project is to improve our understanding and description of quantum tunnelling of interacting particles using tools from quantum field theory, quantum many-body systems, and quantum information. 

Professor Cedric Simenel

Topological data analysis

A range of projects are available applying and developing the tools of topological data analysis. Data include 2D and 3D digital images, structural motifs in molecular-dynamics simulations, porous materials and more. 

Dr Vanessa Robins

Impact of nuclear structure on dark matter direct detection

Quantum many-body modelling of the atomic nucleus will help us understand how dark matter particles interact with atomic nuclei, as well as how many scattering events we can expect in underground laboratory search for dark matter. 

Ms Raghda Abdel Khaleq, Dr Navneet Krishnan, Professor Cedric Simenel

Stochastic dynamics of interacting systems and integrability

There are many interesting physical statistical systems which never reach thermal equilibrium. Examples include surface growth, diffusion processes or traffic flow. In the absence of general theory of such systems a study of particular models plays a very important role. Integrable systems provide examples of such systems where one can analyze time dynamics using analytic methods.

A/Prof Vladimir Mangazeev

A computational method to detect and quantify symmetry

Apply methods from topological data analysis to derive a new approach to quantifying the geometric symmetries of three-dimensional shapes. 

Dr Vanessa Robins

Motions of crystalline bar-joint frameworks

Periodic frameworks, viewed as simple mechanisms, can be rigid or display a variety of exotic deformation properties such as surface modes or expansive auxetic motion. This project will conduct a systematic search for frameworks with these properties. 

Dr Vanessa Robins

Topological and Structural Science

Topological data analysis

A range of projects are available applying and developing the tools of topological data analysis. Data include 2D and 3D digital images, structural motifs in molecular-dynamics simulations, porous materials and more. 

Dr Vanessa Robins

Nonlinear topological photonics

The project bridges the fundamental physics of topological phases with nonlinear optics. This promising synergy is expected to unlock advanced functionalities for applications in optical sources, frequency combs, isolators and multiplexers, switches and modulators, both for classical and quantum light. 

Dr Daria Smirnova

A computational method to detect and quantify symmetry

Apply methods from topological data analysis to derive a new approach to quantifying the geometric symmetries of three-dimensional shapes. 

Dr Vanessa Robins

Motions of crystalline bar-joint frameworks

Periodic frameworks, viewed as simple mechanisms, can be rigid or display a variety of exotic deformation properties such as surface modes or expansive auxetic motion. This project will conduct a systematic search for frameworks with these properties. 

Dr Vanessa Robins