Department of Physics and Astronomy

Advances in physics are at the very heart of technological developments that will influence the way we live in the 21st century. At Swinburne, we run courses and conduct cutting cutting-edge research that’s leading the way.

Did you know?

Swinburne ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide for physics research and above world standard for our research in astronomical and space sciences.

Explore our courses

Physics

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Astronomy

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Space Technology

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Postgraduate projects

Physics and Astrophysics Honours students can choose from a range of research projects in 2025, available through the Optical Sciences Centre (OSC), the Centre for Quantum Technology Theory (CQTT) and the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (CAS).

Project lists

Download our honours project lists:

Find out more about your project supervisor

Our facilities

W. M. Keck Observatory

Learn more (W. M. Keck Observatory)
Swinburne supercomputing: OzSTAR and Ngarrgu Tindebeek

Learn more (Swinburne supercomputing: OzSTAR and Ngarrgu Tindebeek)
Microanalytical and Microfabrication Facility

Learn more (Microanalytical and Microfabrication Facility)
Nanofabrication Laboratory

Learn more (Nanofabrication Laboratory)
Ultrafast Laser Labs

Learn more (Ultrafast Laser Labs)
Ultrafast Micro-Spectroscopy Facility

Learn more (Ultrafast Micro-Spectroscopy Facility)
Advanced Visualisation Facilities

Learn more (Advanced Visualisation Facilities)

Associate Professor Brenton Hall

Department Chair

Department of Physics and Astronomy

+61392144310

brhall@swinburne.edu.au

Academic staff

Name	Position	Contact
Dr Rebecca Allen	Senior Lecturer	+61 3 9214 5846 rebeccaallen@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Matthew Bailes	Laureate Fellow	+61 3 9214 8782 mbailes@swinburne.edu.au
Chris Blake	Professor	+61 3 9214 8624 cblake@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Jeremy Brown	Assoiate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy	jmbrown@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor James Chon	Associate Professor	+61 3 9214 4326 jchon@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Jeff Cooke	ARC Future Fellow	+61 3 9214 5392 jeffreycooke@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Darren Croton	Professor	+61 3 9214 5537 dcroton@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Bryan Dalton	Professor	+61 3 9214 8187 bdalton@swinburne.edu.au
Lap Dao	Professorial Fellow	+61 3 9214 4317 dvlap@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Rebecca Davies	ARC DECRA Fellow	rdavies@swinburne.edu.au
Jeffrey Davis	Associate Professor, ARC Future Fellow	+61 3 9214 4308 jdavis@swinburne.edu.au
Distinguished Professor Peter Drummond	Professor and Science Director, CQOS	+61 3 9214 8043 pdrummond@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Christopher Fluke	Professor	+61 3 9214 5828 cfluke@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Duncan Forbes	Professor	+61 3 9214 4392 dforbes@swinburne.edu.au
Xiaosong Gan	Associate Professor	+61 3 9214 8675 xgan@swinburne.edu.au
Distinguished Professor Karl Glazebrook	Director, Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing	+61 3 9214 4384 kglazebrook@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Anthony Greaves	Lecturer (Teaching Intensive)	agreaves@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Brenton Hall	Department Chair Physics and Astronomy	+61 3 9214 4310 brhall@swinburne.edu.au
Distinguished Professor Peter Hannaford	Professor Emeritus	+61 3 9214 5164 phannaford@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Damien Hicks	Group Leader, Complex Systems	+61 3 9214 4712 dghicks@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Sascha Hoinka	Postdoctoral Research Fellow	+61 3 9214 4724 shoinka@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Hui Hu	Associate Professor	+61 3 9214 8156 hhu@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Jarrod Hurley	Supercomputing Manager	+61 3 9214 5787 jhurley@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Smitha Jose	Lecturer (Teaching Intensive)	+61 3 9214 4325 smithajose@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Glenn Kacprzak	ARC Future Fellow	+61 3 9214 5439 gkacprzak@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Virginia Kilborn	Chief Scientist	+61 3 9214 4380 vkilborn@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Ivo Labbe	Senior Research Fellow	ilabbe@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Xiaji Liu	Professor, ARC Future Fellow	+61 3 9214 8166 xiajiliu@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Russell McLean	Professorial Fellow, CQOS	+61 3 9214 8555 rmclean@swinburne.edu.au
Toby Mitchell	Postdoctoral Research Associate	tjmitchell@swinburne.edu.au
Jeremy Mould	Professor of Astrophysics	+61 3 9214 4921 jmould@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Michael Murphy	Professor, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing	+61 3 9214 5818 mmurphy@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Margaret Reid	Professor	+61 3 9214 8287 mdreid@swinburne.edu.au
Wayne Rowlands	Senior Lecturer	+61 3 9214 8142 wrowlands@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Emma Ryan-Weber	Astrophysicist	+61 3 9214 4746 eryanweber@swinburne.edu.au
Syed Shah	Research Fellow	smshah@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Mohsen Shamohammadi	Postoctoral Research Fellow	mshamohammadi@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Andrei Sidorov	Professorial Fellow	+61 3 9214 4325 asidorov@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Tapio Simula	ARC Future Fellow	+61 3 9214 5920 tsimula@swinburne.edu.au
Yang Sun	Research Fellow	yangsun@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Christopher Vale	Professor	+61 3 9214 8026 cvale@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Jiayang Wu	Senior Research Fellow	+61 3 9214 4314 jiayangwu@swinburne.edu.au
Nadia Zatsepin	Associate Professor	nzatsepin@swinburne.edu.au
Jielai Zhang	Postdoctoral Research Fellow	jielaizhang@swinburne.edu.au

Latest news

- Astronomy
- Education
- Science
- University
Swinburne’s Professor Matthew Bailes honoured with 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

Swinburne’s Professor Matthew Bailes has been awarded the 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for his pioneering work in astrophysics, particularly his discovery of fast radio bursts (FRBs).

Read more (Swinburne’s Professor Matthew Bailes honoured with 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science )

Wednesday 09 October 2024
- Science
- Student News
Swinburne students demonstrate how science can solve social issues

Over 120 Swinburne University Bachelor of Science students created solutions for issues faced by City of Boroondara Council through a scientific lens, using their knowledge in biotech, chemistry, maths, data analysis, engineering and software engineering.

Read more (Swinburne students demonstrate how science can solve social issues )

Thursday 26 September 2024
- Astronomy
The Solar System used to have nine planets. Maybe it still does? Here’s your catch-up on space today

Some of us remember August 24 2006 like it was yesterday. It was the day Pluto got booted from the exclusive “planets club”.

Read more (The Solar System used to have nine planets. Maybe it still does? Here’s your catch-up on space today)

Monday 22 January 2024
- Science
- Astronomy
Space is getting crowded with satellites and space junk. How do we avoid collisions?

Reports this week suggest a near-collision between an Australian satellite and a suspected Chinese military satellite. Meanwhile, earlier this month, the US government issued the first ever space junk fine. The Federal Communications Commission handed a US$150,000 penalty to the DISH Network, a publicly traded company providing satellite TV services.

Read more (Space is getting crowded with satellites and space junk. How do we avoid collisions?)

Friday 20 October 2023
- Astronomy
- Technology
We traced a powerful radio signal to the most distant source yet – a galaxy billions of lightyears away

Every day and night, hundreds of thousands of intense, brief flashes of radiation suddenly flicker on and then off all across the sky. These “fast radio bursts” are invisible to the naked eye, but to a radio telescope many almost outshine everything else in the sky for a few thousandths of a second.

Read more (We traced a powerful radio signal to the most distant source yet – a galaxy billions of lightyears away)

Friday 20 October 2023