University of Queensland laser physicist Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop has been honoured with an Order of Australia (AO) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for distinguished service to laser physics and nano-optics as a researcher, mentor and academic, to the promotion of educational programs, and to women in science.
Professor Rubinsztein-Dunlop, former Head of the UQ School of Mathematics and Physics and Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems, is an internationally recognised expert in optics, laser spectroscopy, laser micromanipulation, and atom cooling and trapping.
Professor Joseph Grotowski, current Head of School at the UQ School of Mathematics and Physics believes this honour is well-deserved.
“Professor Rubinsztein-Dunlop is a physics researcher par excellence. In particular, she has made leading contributions to the development of optical tweezers, where microparticles can be moved and spun using laser light,” he said.
“She has further collaborated with biologists, who use her optical tweezers as tools in for making measurements inside of cells. She has over 200 publications in international peer refereed journals, including Nature, as well as many books and other media.”
Beyond her research excellence, Professor Rubinsztein-Dunlop has been recognised for her significant contributions in mentoring the next generation of physicists in Australia.
“Professor Rubinsztein-Dunlop is a role model for women in research, inspiring them to change the world with a career in science, mathematics and physics,” Professor Grotowski said.
Media: Professor Joseph Grotowski, j.grotowski@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 3260; Dominic Jarvis, dominic.jarvis@uq.edu.au, +61 413 334 924.
