Rate My Professor Ann Roberts

Professor Ann Roberts is a Professor of Physics in the School of Physics within the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne. She earned her Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and the University Medal in Physics, along with her PhD in physics, both from the University of Sydney. Following her doctoral studies, she conducted postdoctoral research overseas before joining the University of Melbourne as a Research Fellow, advancing to her current professorial position. Her research spans physical optics and photonics, with notable contributions to the theoretical, computational, and experimental investigation of plasmonic devices, metamaterials, nanoscale antennas, and meta-optics. She leads the Roberts Group, which develops nanoscale structures for precise control of light, including wavefront sensing elements for phase imaging in biology, plasmonic waveguides, integrated photodetectors, and metasurfaces that replace conventional bulky optical components. Current projects include non-local meta-optics for phase visualization, tunable imaging modalities, phase-change material-based meta-optics, nanoparticle-enhanced photodetection, structural colour inspired by beetles, and Mie voids in high refractive index materials. Her work draws inspiration from nature, such as beetles and birds, to explore colour at the nanoscale, with potential applications in manufacturing.

As a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS), Professor Roberts has impacted fields like plasmonics, nanophotonics, and optics. Her collaborations have advanced art conservation techniques with the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation and security features for banknotes with the Reserve Bank of Australia. She has received the University Medal in Physics (1988, University of Sydney), the Alan Walsh Medal for Service to Industry (2020, Australian Institute of Physics), and fellowships from Optica, SPIE, and the Australian Institute of Physics. Additionally, she is a member and former President of the Australian and New Zealand Optical Society, contributing to service in the optical physics community. Her pioneering efforts in subwavelength optics and optical imaging continue to influence compact device development for healthcare, agriculture, and environmental management.