RMS form fields - FT27 working draft

Inherited FT26 limits; verify against FT27 instructions when released.

A1_application_title

Beyond Order: Disorder-Oriented Design of Quantum Materials

A4_application_summary

This project aims to develop new strategies for designing advanced materials in which structural disorder is viewed as a source of useful functionality rather than a detrimental effect. Using state-of-the-art computational modelling approaches, the fellowship will uncover new classes of disordered materials with tailored electronic and quantum properties for next-generation chips and computing devices. Expected outcomes include durable, low- energy and fabrication-friendly materials compatible with existing semiconductor platforms. The project will place Australia as a global leader in semiconductor innovation and accelerate the shift toward a more connected, energy-efficient and sustainable technological future.

A5_national_interest_test

The energy demand of modern technologies is growing far faster than the energy efficiency of the electronic devices that sustain them. To overcome this imbalance, new materials are urgently needed to reduce power consumption without compromising performance. While current materials design approaches are highly effective for studying crystalline materials, they remain limited in exploiting the advantages of atomic disorder, which is known to influence conductivity, stability, and durability but cannot yet be controlled or optimized in a predictable way. This project will transform that challenge into an opportunity by developing a new computational framework to model and harness disorder as a functional design feature.

By identifying materials that are more durable, energy-efficient, and easier to manufacture, this fellowship will help Australia lead the development of next-generation semiconductors and quantum devices that support sustainable and low-energy computing. The advanced algorithms developed from the fellowship will enhance Australia’s digital materials design capability and strengthen collaboration between universities, research institutes, and industry. The fellowship will train skilled researchers in data-driven modelling and semiconductor science, aligning with national priorities in advanced manufacturing and quantum technologies, and positioning Australia as a global leader in innovative, energy-efficient materials for future information technologies.

B6_career_interruption_flag

Yes

B6_total_period

Researcher Dr Yuefeng Yin has reported a career interruption of 1 year since 2016.

B7_career_narrative

I have worked as a computational materials scientist at Monash University, with over 90% of my time devoted to research on computational materials design, electronic/spintronic structure modelling and algorithm development, and the remainder on teaching computational modelling and condensed matter physics. My research opportunities have been consistently supported by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET), the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI), and domestic/international industry collaborations.

B9_mentoring_leadership

I have co-supervised 2 PhD students (1 graduated) and mentored 6 PhD students (4 graduated), 2 Master’s students and 6 undergraduates. This work has resulted in 6 published journal papers with me as corresponding author (plus 2 under review), and 4 oral conference presentations, including at the APS March Meeting, with me listed as supervisor. My supervision develops research independence, interdisciplinary skills and critical thinking, encouraging students to pursue original research. I also lead research training through practical materials, hands-on notes and code examples.

B10_research_output_context

In computational materials science and condensed matter physics, peer-reviewed journal articles are the main measure of research quality and impact. My work integrates first-principles theory and data-driven modelling to address fundamental questions in quantum and disordered materials. To date, I have published 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, with an h-index of 17 and over 1,000 citations—consistent with field norms, as computational condensed matter research generally receives fewer citations than experimental or applied STEM areas.

My publications demonstrate systematic investigation of emerging topics in materials science. For example, I have published five papers on the electronic and spintronic structures of two-dimensional quantum materials bismuth allotropes, proposing new physical models and revealing novel quantum phenomena, with results published in Mater. Today Phys., Phys. Rev. B, and New J. Phys. Another major focus involves tuning the electronic properties of magnetic topological materials through controlled disorder, with results published in ACS Nano, Matter, Nano Lett., and npj Quantum Mater.

I am frequently the corresponding or lead theoretical author for model design and analysis. My interdisciplinary collaborations have led to high-impact papers in Nat. Commun., Adv. Mater., and Adv. Funct. Mater. Overall, my research outputs demonstrate my originality, leadership, and research excellence in computational materials.

B12_current_arc_projects

No entries shown in the FT26 application.

B14_eligibility_extension

B15_interruption_category

(blank)

B16_extension_period

(blank)

B17_professional_equivalent_to_phd

Yes

B18_current_academic_level

Level B

E1_government_priority_areas

value:
- National Quantum Strategy, 2023.
- Australia Government's Critical Technologies Statement, 2023.
- Australia's National Science Statement - A Future Made in Australia, 2024.
note: '[FT27 TODO] confirm these policies are still current/announced at FT27 lodgement;
  add any newer ones.'

E2_research_activity_split

applied_research_pct: 10
pure_basic_research_pct: 50
strategic_basic_research_pct: 40

E3_field_of_research

- code: '401804'
  name: Nanoelectronics
  percentage: 30
- code: '510805'
  name: Quantum technologies
  percentage: 30
- code: '510403'
  name: Condensed matter modelling and density functional theory
  percentage: 40

E4_socio_economic_objective

- code: '240403'
  name: Integrated circuits and devices
  percentage: 20
- code: '280110'
  name: Expanding knowledge in engineering
  percentage: 20
- code: '280120'
  name: Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences
  percentage: 60

E5_interdisciplinary

Disorder-oriented materials design requires strong integration of knowledge from materials science and condensed matter physics, with progress driven by advanced computational methods. Achieving meaningful outcomes in model construction, materials screening, and device modelling further depends on inputs from algorithm development and artificial intelligence.

flag: 'Yes'
ways:
- Investigatory Team
- Methodology
- Design

E6_international_collaboration

flag: 'Yes'

E7_countries

- United States of America
- New Zealand
- Japan

E8_student_places

phd_fte: 2
masters_fte: 0
honours_fte: 3

F1_medical_research

F2_medical_research_statement

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