Associate Professor Rose Ahlefeldt leads the rare-earth quantum technologies group at the Australian National University. Her work explores how rare-earth ions can be used to develop optical quantum devices for large-scale networked quantum technology, including quantum memories, entanglement sources, repeaters, and interfaces that connect matter-based quantum processors with optical networks.
In QPI, she serves as Deputy Director, People and Culture, where she leads the Centre's activities in research training, career development, equity, diversity and inclusion. Drawing on extensive experience in research training and developing initiatives that support participation and belonging in science, she will help QPI prepare a diverse new generation of quantum researchers with the technical capabilities and collaborative skills needed by the emerging quantum sector.
Her research contributions to QPI focus on developing rare-earth interfaces, microwave-to-optical transducers and hybrid entanglement technologies to network quantum processors into scalable quantum computing architectures.
