Sarah Scholten

Dr Sarah Scholten

Grant-Funded Researcher (B)

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

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).

  • Portable rubidium clock operating outside.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.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2025 - ongoing ARC ECR Industry Research Fellow Institute for Photoncis and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide
    2023 - ongoing Associate Investigator Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS)
    2022 - ongoing Grant Funded Researcher (Lecturer) Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide
    2019 - 2022 Grant Funded Researcher University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    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 -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2015 - 2019 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2014 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science (First Class)
    2011 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Laser Physics & Technology)

  • Research Interests
    Atom Optics Atomic and Molecular Physics Lasers and Quantum Electronics Nonlinear Optics and Spectroscopy Optical Physics Optics Quantum Optics
Date Project Investigators Funding Body Amount 
(not including Industry cash contributions and/or in-kind)
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 Department of Defence $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

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    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
    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

  • Other Supervision Activities
    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

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    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
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
  • Phone: 83131078
  • Email: sarah.scholten@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134380
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: The Braggs, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Physics
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