Qiaoyu (Ethan) Han

PhD student
CDM
Swinburne University
Road-tripping in Tasmania in 2026

How would you describe your work to a 10-year old?

I work on making a machine that looks for dark matter, which is a mysterious kind of matter we think is all around us but is very hard to find. I go to the lab and test different machine settings to see which ones work best. If we get it right, our detector could become about 100 times better at searching for dark matter.

How did you get to where you are today?

I became interested in physics in high school because I was fascinated by ideas like relativity and quantum physics. I also had an amazing physics teacher who made the subject exciting and inspired me to study physics at university.

I ended up working on experimental dark matter research through a combination of my own efforts and a bit of good timing. I found my current supervisor, Ben, while searching for research opportunities, and my previous supervisor helped make the connection. Ben gave me the opportunity to join his research group, and it’s been an amazing chance to work on one of the biggest mysteries in science.

What’s the best thing about your role/work?

The best part of my work is getting to experiment with different ideas in the lab and learn by doing. Every day, I discover something new, whether it’s about physics, engineering, or how to solve unexpected problems. I enjoy the process of figuring things out. It’s the journey of learning and discovery that makes the work so rewarding.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying physics/science?

Don’t worry about whether you’re smart enough. Everyone is capable of studying physics if they’re curious, willing to keep learning, and don’t give up when things get challenging. What matters most is enjoying the process and having the courage to give it a try. If physics, science, or any other field excites you, go for it. You will surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work/besides physics?

I’m currently training for my first marathon, so I spend a lot of time running. I also enjoy hiking and getting outdoors. I’m a big motorsport fan as well, and whenever I get the chance, I love doing a karting race. It’s the closest I can get to being a racing driver without the Formula 1 budget!