Person
Simmons, Michelle Yvonne (1967 - )
AO FAA FRS FTSE
- Born
- 14 July 1967
London, United Kingdom - Occupation
- Quantum physicist
Summary
Michelle Simmons is a world leader in quantum computing and has pioneered technologies to build electronic devices at the atomic scale. With her team she created the first transistor made from a single atom. Simmons is Scientia Professor of Quantum Physics at the University of New South Wales and Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. In 2018 she was Australian of the Year, and in 2023 was awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Science.
Details
Chronology
- 1992
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Durham University, United Kingdom
- 1992 - 1998
- Career position - Research Fellow, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
- 1999
- Life event - Settled in Australia
- 1999 - 2004
- Career position - Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellow, University of New South Wales
- 2000 -
- Career position - Manager, Atomic Fabrication and Crystal Growth Program, Centre for Quantum Computer Technology, School of Physics, University of New South Wales
- 2000 -
- Career position - Director, Atomic Fabrication Facility, University of New South Wales
- 2003 -
- Career position - Chair, New South Wales Branch, Australian Institute of Physics
- 2003 -
- Career position - Australian Representative for Nanotechnology, International Union of Vacuum Sciences
- 2003 -
- Career position - Member, C8 Commission, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
- 2003
- Award - ARC Federation Fellow
- 2005 -
- Career position - Member, Expert Advisory Committee for Physics, Chemistry and Geosciences, Australian Research Council
- 2005
- Award - Pawsey Medal, Australian Academy of Science
- 2006
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 2007 -
- Career position - Associate Editor, IEEE Journal of nanotechnology
- 2007 - 2017
- Career position - Chair, National Committee for Physics, Australian Academy of Science
- 2008
- Award - ARC Federation Fellow
- 2011
- Award - New South Wales Scientist of the Year
- 2011
- Career position - Director, ARC Centre of Excellence Quantum Computation and Communication Technology
- 2011
- Award - Award for Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, New South Wales Science and Enginnering Awards
- 2013
- Award - Walter Burfitt Prize, Royal Society of New South Wales
- 2013
- Award - ARC Laureate Fellowship
- 2014 -
- Award - Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2014
- Award - Honorary Bragg Member, Royal Institution of Australia
- 2015
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
- 2015
- Award - Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, Australian Museum
- 2015
- Award - Feynmann Prize in Nanotechology, Foresight Institute
- 2015
- Award - CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science
- 2015
- Award - Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian Academy of Science
- 2016 -
- Award - Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2017
- Award - Laureate in Physical Sciences, L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Award
- 2018
- Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
- 2018
- Award - Australian of the Year
- 2019
- Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - For distinguished service to science education as a leader in quantum and atomic electronics, and as a role model
- 2023
- Award - Prime Minister's Prize for Science, Commonwealth of Australia
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Anon, 'Academy Fellows elected to Royal Society', Australian Academy of Science newsletter, 115/6 (2018), 12-4. Details
- Anon, 'Michelle Simmons on Australia's tech future and her illustrious career', ATSE focus, 206 (2018), 10-13, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-900924876. Details
Resources
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science 2023, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Canberra, 2023. https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/prime-ministers-prizes-science-2023. Details
- '2018 Australian of the Year', Australian of the Year Awards, National Australia Day Council, https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/professor-michelle-yvonne-simmons-ao. Details
- Smith, Deborah, UNSW scientist Michelle Simmons is Australian of the Year, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2018. https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/unsw-scientist-michelle-simmons-australian-year. Details
See also
- Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 2023. https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/thomas-ranken-lyle-medal. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 29 January 2019, Last modified: 19 October 2023