Elizabeth Williams

Dr Elizabeth Williams is a Senior Lecturer at the ANU Centre for European Studies and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the ANU Department of Nuclear Physics. She holds a B.S. (Intensive) in Physics from Yale University (2004) and a Ph.D. in Experimental Nuclear Structure from Yale (2009). Her research bridges nuclear physics and applied ethics, focusing on AI governance and responsible innovation. As a Research Fellow at the 3A Institute, she develops frameworks for managing data, AI, and cyber-physical systems in societal contexts. Her work emphasizes anticipatory governance, ethical AI implementation, and the societal impacts of emerging technologies.

Her academic journey includes postdoctoral roles at Yale and CSIRO, an ARC DECRA fellowship at ANU (2012–present), and leadership in transdisciplinary research programs. Key interests include fusion-fission dynamics in superheavy elements, trustworthy autonomous systems, and policy around AI ethics. She has contributed to projects like the AI Observatory for the Nuclear Sector and studies on rehabilitation robotics in healthcare.

Williams has published extensively on nuclear physics phenomena (e.g., quasifission, fission dynamics) and AI-related topics such as voice data documentation, trust in human-machine systems, and defense technology implications. Her research highlights the intersection of science and policy, advocating for proactive approaches to technological development's societal consequences.