Kenneth Crozier

Research project: Advancing the frontiers of imaging through optical micro- and nanostructures

Optical technologies play a key role in everyday Australian life from the lasers and optical fibres required for high-speed Internet, to the image sensors for digital photography, to the microscopes in research institutes across the country, and the lasers used for surgery.

Professor Crozier will deliver an integrated program of research, education and commercialisation that will also involve training the next generation of Australian optical scientists.

Through this project he will develop optical technologies based on nanoscience that could enable digital cameras to ‘see’ more than colour, individual viruses and molecules to be held in place and observed, and large area biological samples to be imaged at high resolution with unprecedented speed.

Not only will the project benefit Australian society, it will also give industry access to cutting-edge breakthroughs in optical science.

With a combination of support from the veski innovation fellowship and the University of Melbourne, Kenneth will recruit a team of PhD students and research fellows, which will further enhance Victoria’s knowledge economy.

Kenneth will also form close collaborations with industry. The goal will be for the technology developed in the program to be commercialised and deliver more benefits for Victorians.

Kenneth firmly believes that communicating the excitement and societal relevance of his work to the general public will have a beneficial impact upon fostering the next generation of innovators in Victoria.

After an impressive start in Victoria, Kenneth has gained an international reputation as one of the leading researchers in micro- and nano- optical structures and their applications in imaging, sensing and lab-on-a-chip.