Owen Stanley

• PhD student
• CDM
• University of Melbourne
• Road-tripping Adelaide to Sydney (2025)

 

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

I’m searching for dark matter — a kind of invisible stuff in space that we can’t see, but we think it’s all around us.
To look for it, I watch special materials like a crystal (made up of Sodium Iodide) and a super-cold liquid (made of Xenon) to see if they make tiny flashes of light. I use very sensitive light detectors called photomultiplier tubes — they’re kind of like super eyes that can see even the tiniest bit of light. But here’s the trick: I also build a model, like a big list of all the normal things that can cause a flash of light. That way, I turn my experiments into the most boring place on Earth — where we know exactly what should happen. So, if we ever see a flash of light that doesn’t fit the list… it might mean dark matter just said hello!

How did you get to where you are today?

I grew up in Perth and moved to Melbourne to study biomedicine, but quickly realised it wasn’t for me. I switched to a science degree and ended up majoring in physics — a subject I found challenging but rewarding. During my undergrad, I joined a summer research project in the dark matter group, working on photomultiplier tubes. I found the work fascinating, especially seeing how all the components of an experiment fit together. I stayed on for a Master’s, continuing in the same area. After that, I was unsure whether to continue, but a joint PhD program between the University of Melbourne and the CNRS in France offered the chance to work on two experiments and experience research abroad — an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Since starting the PhD, I’ve discovered a love for building and testing different systems, having had the opportunity to work in Melbourne, Nantes, and Paris across several research groups. I still work on photosensors, but now with a much deeper appreciation for their use and complexity.

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing science or physics??

Don’t feel like you have to work in the same field you are studying in currently. There are a lot of unexpected places where the skills you learnt through your studies will be helpful.

What are your interests outside work/physics?

For the past year, I have spent most of my non-working time on indoor bouldering, going 3-4 times per week.

 

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