Teaching Strengths
Dr Sarah Scholten
ARC Externally-Funded Research Fellow
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
College of Science
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
My research endeavours to harness the unique properties of light to break the boundaries of precision measurement for both fundamental and applied research. After gaining my PhD and continuing my work in the field of molecular spectroscopy with optical frequency combs, I have also evolved a deeper understanding of atomic physics through my post-doctoral experiences developing a compact high-stability optical clock. I have a deep interest in translating experimental discoveries and techniques developed during my research efforts into real-world, out-of-lab measurement devices that solve difficult problems and benefit the world.I was awarded my PhD in 2019 from the University of Adelaide, for which I received the Dean's commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. After submission of my thesis, I joined the University of Adelaide as a grant-funded researcher within the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).
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Compact High-Stability Optical Clock: We have developed an optical clock based on a two-photon transition within rubidium which is performing at the same level as the best commercially available frequency standard (the Hydrogen maser), whilst being 10-fold smaller and lighter. This is possible through a new patented laser interrogation scheme pioneered within the research group using two different colour photons to excite the two-photon transition, leading to a million-fold increase of excitation efficiency. This technology is breaking the traditional limits between size, weight and performance of optical clocks. We are developing the clock into a more compact, more efficient device ready for out-of-lab deployment, while harnessing the benefits of these upgrades to perform fundamental investigations of atomic light shift effects.
- High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy: We are continuing development of our high-resolution molecular spectroscopy experiment based on a laser frequency comb light source and high-precision trace gas spectrometer. We use novel techniques to measure the absorption of different comb modes using a Virtually Imaged Phase Array (VIPA) spectrometer which has demonstrated a measurement accuracy of 1% and a precision of 0.04% and analysis cycle of less than 1s for measurement of the number density of Carbon Dioxide. We demonstrated for the first time, rapid precision measurement of 12C16O2 and 13C16O2, at 0.03% and 1.24% respectively. This measurement technique is also verified to be highly linear for concentrations ranging over three orders of magnitude. We are now using this novel technique and applying it to biological samples, such as Carbon Dioxide produced from yeast, and we are currently developing the system to perform measurements of biomarkers in exhaled breath of patients for medical diagnostic applications.
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Award | Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing Best Industry Collaboration Award | Adelaide University | Australia | - |
| 2026 | Award | ARC Centre of Excellence for Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS) Team Outreach and Engagement Award | ARC Centre of Excellence for Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS) | Australia | - |
| 2025 | Award | Young Tall Poppy Award (South Australia) | Australian Institute of Policy and Science | Australia | - |
| 2025 | Achievement | Australian American Young Leadership Dialogue Program Membership | The Australian American Young Leadership Dialogue | Australia | - |
| 2024 | Award | The Advertiser Woman of the Year Awards: Innovator of the Year | The Advertiser | Australia | - |
| 2024 | Recognition | Inspiring South Australian Women’s Awards: Emerging Leaders Commendation | Australia Day Council of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | Australian and New Zealand Optical Society John Love Award | Australian and New Zealand Optical Society (ANZOS) | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | The Australian and New Zealand Optical Society Geoff Opat Early Career Researcher Award | Australian and New Zealand Optical Society (ANZOS) | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | Women In Innovation South Australia Award - Science Category | Women in Innovation SA | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | National Measurement Institute Measurement Impact Award | National Measurement Institute | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | National Measurement Institute People's Choice Award | National Measurement Institute | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | Superstar of STEM | Science and Technology Australia | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | University Award for Outstanding Achievement Excellence In Research: Team | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2021 | Award | Fresh Science | Science In Public | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Award | Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Award | Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing Best Student Paper | Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing | Australia | - |
| 2018 | Award | Warsash Science Communications Prize in Optics | Australian Optical Society (AOS) | Australia | - |
| 2017 | Award | The Merry Wickes Transdisciplinary Award | Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing | Australia | - |
| 2016 | Scholarship | Research Training Program | Australian Government Department of Education | Australia | - |
| 2015 | Scholarship | Australian Postgraduate Award | ), Australian Government Department of Education | Australia | - |
| 2015 | Award | The David Sutton Memorial Prize | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2014 | Scholarship | Playford Trust Honours Scholarship | The Playford Trust | Australia | - |
| 2014 | Award | The Fred Jacka Memorial Prize | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2014 | Scholarship | Photonics Scholarship | Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Scholarship | Photonics Scholarship | Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Award | Outstanding Academic Achievement Award | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Scholarship | School of Chemistry and Physics Summer Research Scholarship | The University ofAdelaide | Australia | - |
| Date | Project | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount (not including Industry cash contributions and/or in-kind) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | COMBS Impact and Translation Grants: Comb Line Amplifiers for Metrology | R. Russell, M. Merklein, C. K. Lai, B. Eggleton, S. Scholten, L. Pointon, W. Morrow, L. Haerteis, A Boes, and A. Luiten. | Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science | $40,000 |
| 2025 | COMBS Infrastructure Fund: Constructing two fully stabilised mode-locked combs | A. Mitchell, G. Ren, A. Dubey T. Mitchell, B. Corcoran, I Kabakova, S. Scholten, D. Lancaster, Wen Qi Zhang, R. Scholten. | Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science | $100,000 |
| 2025-2028 | Quantum clocks for assured global navigation: enabling the Global Positioning System 2.0 | S. Scholten | Australian Research Council | $637,833 |
| 2024-2025 | Sovereign Portable Atomic Clock for Global Positioning System 2.0 | S. Scholten | Department of Education | $474,794 |
| 2024-2027 | Confidential | A. Boes, A. Luiten, S. Scholten, A. Mitchell | $1,636,818 | |
| 2022-2024 | Compact Clock for Small Satellite Applications - Engineering Model | A. Luiten, C. Perrella, S. Scholten, M. Nelligan, N. Bourbeau Hebert, G. Sylvia | SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre | $149,600 |
| 2020-2023 | Compact Clock for Small Satellite Applications | A. Luiten, C. Perrella, S. Scholten | SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre | $292,524 |
| 2020 – 2021 | Demonstration of a Two-Photon Atomic Clock with Light Shift Suppression using Two-Colour Magic Wavelengths | C. Perrella, A.N. Luiten, S. Scholten, J. Ginges | Asian Office of Aerospace R&D, Air Force Office of Scientific Research | $131,081 |
I greatly enjoy teaching students in both a research and scholarly role. I take a particular interest in teaching students about the curious behaviour of light in particular. My recent teaching activities include:
- Lecturer Physics IIB (Optics Module)
- Workshop Facilitator Physics IIB (Optics Module)
- Workshop Facilitator Optics & Photonics III
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Improving the Performance of a Two Photon Rubidium Optical Atomic Clock | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr William Hayes Morrow |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Development of bespoke on-chip light sources for use in compact quantum sensing devices. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Scott Bailey |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Improving the Performance of a Two Photon Rubidium Optical Atomic Clock | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr William Hayes Morrow |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | A low SWaP Two-Photon Rubidium Optical Atomic Clock for alternate GNSS | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Lachlan Max Pointon |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Photonics and Machine learning approaches to Detect Environment, Physiology and Disease | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Madeleine Cochrane |
| 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Compact Clock for Small Satellite Applications: Protocol Development for Increased Stability | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Emily Jane Ahern |
| 2020 | Co-Supervisor | Using an Optical Frequency Comb to Perform Gas Spectroscopy | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Joshua Whitaker-Lockwood |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Developing High-Sensitivity Techniques for Frequency Comb Spectroscopy | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Joshua Whitaker-Lockwood |
| 2019 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Ultrahigh-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy for Transdisciplinary Applications | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Faisal Karim |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Fibre Interferometer for Laser Pre-stabilisation | University of Adelaide | Physics | Honours | Full Time | Maeve Edwards |
| 2024 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Photonics Integrated Circuit Laser for Miniaturised Optical Atomic Clocks | University of Adelaide | Physics | Honours | Full Time | William Morrow |
| 2024 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Optimising Performance of an Optical Atomic Clock using Multi-Pass Spectroscopy | University of Adelaide | Physics | Honours | Full Time | Paul Pounendis |
| 2023 - 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Two-Photon Rubidium Optical Atomic Clock for Global Positioning System Alternative | University of Adelaide | Physics | Honours | Full Time | Lachlan Pointon |
| 2020 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Improving concentration sensitivity for broadband gas spectroscopy | University of Adelaide | - | Master | Full Time | Joshua Whittaker-Lockewood |
| 2018 - 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Determining Natural Gas Composition Using Frequency Comb Spectroscopy | University of Adelaide | Petroleum Engineering | Honours | Full Time | Gianraffaele Moffa |
| 2018 - 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Determining Natural Gas Composition Using Frequency Comb Spectroscopy | University of Adelaide | Petroleum Engineering | Honours | Full Time | Shayan Afshar |
| 2017 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Ultrahigh-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy for Transdisciplinary Applications | University of Adelaide | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Faisal Karim |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 - 2027 | Member | Science and Innovations Optical Metrology Subcommittee for the 2027 CLEO Technical Program | Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics (CLEO) 2027 | United States |
| 2026 - 2026 | Member | Program Committee for the Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics (ANZCOP) | Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics | Australia |
| 2026 - ongoing | Chair | ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breaththrough Science (COMBS) Education and Outreach Committee | ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breaththrough Science (COMBS) | Australia |
| 2026 - 2026 | Member | Science and Innovations Optical Metrology Subcommittee for the 2026 CLEO Technical Program | Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics (CLEO) 2026 | United States |
| 2025 - ongoing | Member | Research Impact and Translation Committee | ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science | Australia |
| 2025 - ongoing | Vice-Chair | Australian Institute of Physics South Australian Branch (Vice-Chair) | Australian Institute of Physics | Australia |
| 2022 - ongoing | Member | Australian Institute of Physics South Australian Branch | Australian Institute of Physics | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Board Member | Science Network Committee | Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing | Australia |
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