Training Grant 2024 Enables Global Engagement and Research Growth for Lachlan Miller

The EQUS Training Grant awarded in 2024 offered Lachlan Miller exceptional opportunities for professional growth and research development through attendance at two carefully chosen international conferences. The funding supported valuable networking, advanced knowledge acquisition, and the establishment of meaningful research connections that directly enhance his doctoral work in quantum atomic systems.

The first conference, Coherent Quantum Dynamics 2024, held at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, proved especially beneficial. It facilitated both theoretical enrichment and international research engagement. "The networking opportunities were particularly valuable," Miller noted, as they enabled conversations with PhD students globally engaged in both theoretical and experimental studies of quantum atomic systems. One standout connection was with Colby Schimelfenig, a BEC physicist from the Engels Lab at Washington State University. Specializing in multispecies Bose-Einstein condensates, Schimelfenig’s work presents strong potential for future collaboration and knowledge exchange.

In addition to networking, the conference exposed Miller to emerging research topics that complement his current studies. Presentations on quantum error correction expanded his understanding of quantum computing applications beyond atomic physics. Insights into Rydberg atom physics and their role in DC electric field sensing also broadened his perspective on quantum sensing technologies, potentially shaping future research directions.

The second event, Quantum Thermodynamics Down Under (12–15 November), was particularly aligned with his lab’s work in cold atom superfluid systems. The conference offered cross-disciplinary insights, with two presentations standing out for their direct relevance.

Nicole Luu’s work on the thermodynamic driving of superfluid helium thin films closely mirrored Miller’s research on second sound waves in BEC phonons. Her investigations into phonon excitations using cavity optomechanics and third sound surface waves offered new perspectives relevant to phonon-based rotation sensing.

Federico Cerisola’s presentation on nanoscale thermodynamics using suspended carbon nanotubes resonated with Miller’s prior experience in molecular dynamics modeling of carbon filtration devices. Cerisola’s exploration of entropy-energy conversion, spin-mechanics coupling, and nanoscale mechanical systems offered intriguing parallels and future inspiration.

Overall, the EQUS Training Grant significantly enhanced Miller’s research capacity and global scientific engagement, paving the way for interdisciplinary collaboration and continued academic development.