More Than $8.6 Million in National LIEF Funding Involving IPAS Members
The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) is proud to announce that its members are contributing to more than $8.6 million in successful Australian Research Council (ARC) LIEF grants for 2026 round 1. These major national investments will establish new research infrastructure and strengthen Australia’s capabilities in photonics, sensing, archaeology, molecular science, nanofabrication and gravitational-wave astronomy.
Associate Professor Jiawen Li — $1.3M (Lead)
With team members Professor Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Associate Professor Andreas Boes and Professor Kishan Dholakia (University of Adelaide)
3D Printing Facility for Precision Micro & Nano Photonics
This project will establish a facility for 3D printing ultra-precise optical micro- and nano-structures, enabling optical fibres and photonic chips to be seamlessly connected and deployed outside the laboratory. The facility will support advances in quantum technologies, secure communications, bioimaging, sensing and advanced materials.
Associate Professor Lee Arnold — $688,334 (Lead)
Australian Optical Dating and Archaeological Luminescence Facility (AusOpAL)
AusOpAL will develop next-generation luminescence dating techniques to more accurately determine the age of archaeological materials and sediments. The facility will enhance timelines of human evolution, migration and environmental change, and support the training of future geoscientists.
Associate Professor Nigel Spooner — $1.39M (Team Member)
Lead Chief Investigator: Associate Professor Juraj Farkas (University of Adelaide)
Metal Isotope Facility for Advanced Research
This project will establish a facility capable of highly precise metal-isotope measurements, supporting research across geology, environmental science, agriculture, industry and nuclear safety. The new analytical tools will enable sophisticated metal tracing in natural and engineered systems.
Dr Tara Pukala — $1.79M (Team Member)
Lead Chief Investigator: Professor Justin Chalker (Flinders University)
Mass Analysis Facility for Precision Molecular Science
The facility will deliver high-resolution mass spectrometry for molecular imaging and the analysis of complex chemical mixtures. It will accelerate research in sustainable materials, catalysis, environmental remediation, wine production, protein science and neuroscience.
Professor Glenn Solomon — $1.3M (Team Member)
Lead Chief Investigator: Professor Igor Aharonovich (University of Technology Sydney)
3D Nanofabrication Facility
This project will create Australia’s first advanced 3D nanofabrication capability, enabling device fabrication across nanometre to millimetre scales. It will underpin breakthroughs in quantum technologies, sensing, meta-optics and photovoltaics.
Professor David Ottaway and Professor Peter Veitch — $2.9M
Lead Chief Investigator: Associate Professor Bram Slagmolen (The Australian National University)
Australian Partnership for Breakthrough Science in the Advanced LIGO+ Era
This national partnership will support crucial upgrades to the Advanced LIGO+ gravitational-wave observatories. These enhancements are expected to enable the detection of hundreds of gravitational-wave events each year, ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of this global scientific frontier.
These grants highlight the vital role that photonics plays in technological and scientific progress. Photonics enables us to sense the deepest structures of our planet, uncover the molecular complexity of materials and life, observe gravitational waves from distant cosmic events, and develop next-generation quantum technologies.
IPAS is proud to contribute expertise to these nationally significant projects and remains committed to advancing the tools, technologies and knowledge that shape Australia’s scientific and technological future.
To see the full list of Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facility Grants clic here