David Gozzard

Dr David Gozzard is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). His research focuses on quantum imaging, high-precision measurement systems, and satellite laser communications. He holds a Forrest Fellowship, recognizing his contributions to advancing Australia’s space technology capabilities.

Dr Gozzard earned his PhD in Physics from UWA in 2018, specializing in stabilized reference frequency transfer systems for the Square Kilometre Array telescope. His postdoctoral work at the Australian National University further developed optical phased arrays and laser systems for metrology and communication.

Research Interests

• Quantum metrology and optical frequency stabilization
• High-bandwidth satellite laser communication systems
• Free-space optical links and atmospheric turbulence mitigation
• Optical ground station networks and tactical deployment

His recent work demonstrates advancements in optical communication systems, including record-breaking 100 Gbps free-space links and drone-based geopotential measurements. He leads projects funded by the Australian Research Council (DECRA), the Department of Defence, and international partnerships.

Awards

• Forrest Fellowship (2019)

Advising & Grants

Supervises Higher Degree by Research students in optical communication and quantum systems. Active in securing grants such as the $14M Quantum Australia initiative and the Australian Space Agency’s optical communications projects.

Labs & Teams

A core member of the Western Australian Optical Ground Station (WAOGS) team, developing next-generation laser communication infrastructure for space missions and Earth observation.