Andrew White

(he/him)

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Prof Andrew White heads the Quantum Technology Laboratory at the University of Queensland, which he founded in 1999, and is a Node Leader in the Australian Research Council Training Centre in Current and Emergent Quantum Technologies (2025–2030).

EXPERTISE. Over the years he has conducted research on various topics including shrimp eyes, nuclear physics, optical vortices, and quantum computers. Andrew likes quantum weirdness for its own sake, and his current research aims to explore and exploit the full range of quantum behaviours—notably entanglement—with an eye to engineering new technologies and scientific applications. Recent examples include using quantum technologies in neuromorphic computing to realise truly energy-efficient artificial intelligence, improved machine learning using quantum reservoirs, and otherwise impossible measurements using indefinite causal order.

BIO. Andrew was raised in a Queensland dairy town on the east coast of Australia, before heading south to the University of Queensland in Brisbane to study chemistry, maths, physics and—during World Expo—the effects of alcohol on uni students from around the world. Deciding he wanted to know what the cold felt like, for his PhD he first moved to the Australian National University in Canberra, then the University of Konstanz in Germany.

Before returning to Australia, he was a Postdoctoral Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (1997-1999), where his discoveries include that there can be more than enough snow to hide a cactus, but not nearly enough to prevent amusing your friends when you sit down.

ROLES. Andrew's previous positions include: Director of the Australian Research Council Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems until it wrapped up in mid-2025, as well as Deputy-Director (2011 to 2016); Program Manager and Chief Investigator (2008 to 2017) in the ARC Centre for Quantum Computing and Communication Technology; and Program Manager (2003–2007) and Chief Investigator (2000–2007) in the ARC Centre for Quantum Computing and Communication Technology.

MORE INFO. If you’re still awake at this point, you may wish to visit Andrew’s webpage, https://quantum.prof : that’ll fix it!

Experience

  • –present
    Professor of Physics, University of Queensland
  • 1997–1999
    Postdoctoral Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Education

  • 1998 
    Australian National University, PhD in the Field of Physical Sciences

Publications

  • 2025
    From 1991 to 2025, see https://quantum.prof

Grants and Contracts

  • 2025
    From 1999 to 2025, see https://quantum.prof
    Role:
    Variously Chief Investigator, Principal Investigator, Deputy-Director, or Director
    Funding Source:
    Australian and international

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Academy of Science
  • American Physical Society
  • Optica (formerly the Optical Society of America)
  • Australian Institute of Physics
  • Australian Optical Society
  • Institute of Physics

Research Areas

  • Quantum Information, Computation And Communication (020603)
  • Quantum Optics (020604)
  • Quantum Physics Not Elsewhere Classified (020699)
  • Nonlinear Optics And Spectroscopy (020503)
  • Lasers And Quantum Electronics (020502)
  • Photonics, Optoelectronics And Optical Communications (020504)
  • Nanophotonics (100711)
  • Technology Not Elsewhere Classified (109999)
  • Interdisciplinary Engineering Not Elsewhere Classified (091599)

Honours

Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Science Pawsey Medal, Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the Optical Society of America

Contact Andrew for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision