Our Team

Andy (Andreas) is an Associate Professor and leads the Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing (aPNT) research hub. His work centers on advancing hardware and technologies to enable reliable aPNT solutions. His research specifically explores the use of integrated photonics to miniaturize and enhance sensing and timing systems.

Andre is a Professor at Adelaide University's School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, holding the university's positions of Chair of Experimental Physics and IPAS Chief Innovator, leading AU's Precision Measurement Group. His expertise in optical atomic clocks and desire to make real impacts, has led him to be the co-Founder and CEO of QuantX Labs, an industry-leading defence start-up.

Ashby is a mid-career researcher in the fields of precision metrology and quantum optics. His current focus is on the development and testing of portable optical atomic clocks and related technologies. He loves to be in the lab, making things work and solving problems with his colleagues.

Elizaveta (Liz) is physicist with expertise in optics and photonics, atomic and molecular optics, and laser development. Her work centres on portable atomic clocks for aPNT applications, combining laboratory research with field trials to develop practical, compact clock instrumentation that performs beyond controlled laboratory environments.

Nic specialises in digital signal processing applied to optical metrology and FPGA-based control of physics experiments. He also has experience in the development of frequency combs and their applications. His background in engineering physics allows him to perform work at the boundary of fundamental science and engineering.

Aidan works on the theory of atomic clocks, drawing on a background in open systems and quantum noise. His main focus is on improving stability of portable clocks. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and playing guitar.

Chris is a software engineer working on autonomous operation of portable atomic clocks. He has a background in cold atom physics and contributes to atomic physics theory and numerical modelling in the context of atomic clocks.

Sarah’s research focuses on improving the performance of a rubidium two-photon dual-colour atomic clock. She is also interested in the design, construction, and use of optical frequency combs for atomic clockworks and broader spectroscopic applications.  Sarah is deeply interested in translating experimental discoveries into real-world devices that solve difficult problems.

Sarah is a grant-funded researcher in the Portable Atomic Clocks group at the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS). She work as part of a large, diverse team to develop robust portable optical atomic clocks for precision timekeeping at sea. Her research area is developing frequency combs and next-generation spectroscopy systems to generate timing signals that can be used in lieu of GPS.

​Nick's expertise lies in ultrafast laser science and optical frequency comb design for precision frequency metrology. He received his Ph.D. in 2023 from the University of Colorado Boulder, working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His work focused on the construction of robust and ultra-low noise optical frequency combs, which have enabled the highest stability and accuracy atomic clock experiments.

Allan is an applied physicist specialising in the development of atomic sensors and optical clock technologies. Prior to joining the portable atomic clocks group at Adelaide University, he began his research career at the University of Strathclyde, where he focused on magnetic sensing, vapour cell fabrication, and precision optical spectroscopy.

Rachel is an experimental physicist working on compact, high-precision atomic clocks at Adelaide University. Previously, she has worked on developing compact cold atom systems and laser devices for quantum technologies

Ben is a cold atom physicist with a background in laser cooling. His PhD explored compact ytterbium magneto-optical traps, and he has a keen interest in portable optical clock technology. He also maintains an open resource tracking the performance and development of portable atomic clocks

Hannes has experience across a variety of domains relevant to field-deployable PNT technologies, including lasers, photonic integrated circuits, signal processing and Rubidium vapour atomic clocks.

Dr. Crawford has over 10 years of experience in managing university-industry collaborative research portfolios, with a focus on supporting technology commercialization. With a background in mechanical engineering and manufacturing, both in university and industry settings, his focus is delivering value to all stakeholders.