Two researchers from our top-rated Physics department have been awarded prestigious Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowships by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
These two fellowships totalling more than £3 million are part of a £15 million investment to support early-career researchers working on cutting-edge quantum technologies.
Dr Tobias Franzen and Dr Liam Gallagher, both members of the Quantum Light and Matter research section (QLM) in physics, are among the 11 fellows chosen across the UK for their potential to shape the future of quantum science.
The fellowships will allow them to establish new research activities complementing existing research within Durham.
Dr Tobias Franzen’s research will be focusing on quantum networking using Ytterbium (Yb) qubits.
Classical computers operate using bits that can only be in a 0 or 1 state at any time. On the other hand, a qubit exists simultaneously in multiple states (superposition) and can be entangled, allowing for more efficient processing in quantum computers than classical ones.
His project aims to develop a compact system that can generate entanglement between Yb qubits using standard optical fibres.
Tobias will work with industry partner VEXLUM (Finland) to simplify the complex laser systems required to work with Yb qubits and with Prof Matthias Keller (University of Sussex) to develop optical interfaces for Yb qubits.
This work could help build scalable quantum networks and open the door to more secure and efficient communications.
Meanwhile, Dr Liam Gallagher is exploring ways to make particles of light (known as photons) interact more effectively.
His research will involve coupling light with strongly interacting excitations in semiconductors.
This could lead to the development of new quantum devices that can reliably entangle photons, which is a crucial step in building powerful quantum systems.
To achieve this, Liam will work with academic partners, Professor Geetha Balakrishnan (University of Warwick) and Dr Hamid Ohadi (University of St Andrews) as well as commercial partners BAE Systems FAST Labs who will assist with semiconductor growth.
These fellowships are not just about science – they are also about building a more inclusive and diverse research environment.
The selected fellows are encouraged to lead responsibly and foster innovation that benefits everyone. As part of their work Liam and Tobias will develop hands-on outreach activities to communicate their research to a wide audience.
Their work will help tackle challenges in areas like quantum computing, sensing, and communication, with real-world applications including drug discovery, encryption, and materials science.
Our Department of Physics is ranked 88th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Visit our Physics webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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