Engineering a better future

Professor Sarah Johnson is applying engineering solutions to a range of end-user’s problems.

The basis of Sarah’s research is digital information and digital signals processing. She has developed an international profile in error correction codes, which are essential to establishing and maintaining secure and reliable transmission of data, which improve the reliability and quality of digital technologies such as television, mobile phones and the Internet.

"Just about any time we communicate, whether it is a text message to a friend or a critical communication, we are using error correction to get that message through," Sarah says.

Sarah’s fundamental contribution to secure information communication systems has demonstrated national and international impact, in both theory and end user applications. Her works in Low Density Parity Check Codes have significant implications for communications reliability, utilisation and simplified implementation.

In addition to making fundamental discoveries, Sarah actively engages with industry, most significantly collaborating with Quintessence Laboratories, developing ultra-secure quantum key enabled communication. This aims for the realisation and production of data communications systems with guaranteed security properties based on quantum technology.

She is also extensively engaged in applying digital signal processing in the field of biomedical engineering, with a focus on developing new technologies to monitor recovery following injury or disease.

A University of Newcastle electrical engineering alumna, Sarah was awarded her PhD in 2004 and launched her research career with a fellowship at NICTA, Australia's Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence. She is now Professor at the University of Newcastle and her specialty field is digital information and digital signals processing which has widespread application across a number of fields.

Sarah focusses on creating solutions through using mathematical algorithms and collaborating across a number of disciplines. Working with colleagues in computer science, electrical engineering and biomedical sciences Sarah aims to deliver the keys to a clearer image of the future.

Women in STEM

As an engineer, it’s no surprise that Sarah has a keen interest in promoting STEM. This led to her co-found HunterWISE, a group dedicated to promoting and supporting girls and women in STEM.

HunterWISE features two interlinked actions aimed at increasing the number of girls and women participating in STEM through a school program and a series of networking events across the Hunter for women STEM professionals. This approach is designed to steer women toward STEM, and encourage their retention in the STEM pipeline.

In 2017 Sarah was awarded a NSW Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Engineering & Communications Technologies. “It is a great privilege to receive this award which recognises the importance of Science and Engineering to our community.”