Home / Research / Facilities

Facts & figures

Core Research Facilities

8 Open-access specialist facilities
120 On-site experts providing guidance and research services
570+ Instruments available for users

Infrastructure_

Research facilities

High-impact research through state-of-the-art infrastructure

Our Core Research Facilities provide access to world-class equipment and expertise for researchers and industry as they tackle some of the greatest challenges of today.

The University of Sydney operates eight world-class Core Research Facilities across 23 sites, offering access to over 500 cutting-edge instruments supported by more than 100 highly skilled platform scientists and technicians.

Our Core Research Facilities are home to an ever-evolving suite of frontier capabilities, including first-in-country technologies. They have been central to advancing knowledge across a range of fields including medicine and health, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing biomedical engineering, life and earth sciences, digital humanities and cultural heritage, and many more.

Together, the Core Research Facilities' specialisations cover three foundational areas of research and development: modelling, making and measuring.

Modelling

Infrastructure_

Sydney Informatics Hub

Enabling research data analysis and training. We provide world-class computational and storage infrastructure, software tools, and data analytics and visualisation services to enable a broad range of approaches to informatics.

Making

Infrastructure_

Staff process engineer in a protective suits working in the cleanroom

Research and Prototype Foundry

Enabling fabrication at micro and nano scale. We offer instruments for the fabrication of devices and structures with features on the micro and nano scale, with specialised processes allowing users to prototype new optical, electronic, microfluidic and quantum science and technology devices.

Infrastructure_

Sydney Manufacturing Hub

Enabling additive manufacturing and materials processing. We specialise in cutting-edge Additive Manufacturing (AM) and materials processing of metals, ceramics and polymers, and offer researchers and industry access to concept-to-production capabilities supported by design and technical expertise.

Measuring

Infrastructure_

Sydney Analytical

Enabling chemical, biological and materials analysis. We support capability in vibrational spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction and scattering, protein production and characterisation, and drug discovery.

Infrastructure_

Sydney Cytometry

Enabling quantitative cell sorting and analysis. Sydney Cytometry provides access to cell analysis and cell purification techniques in quantitative single-cell science to address questions in cell biology and biomedical research, applied clinical research and trials, and the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

Infrastructure_

Sydney Imaging

Enabling biomedical imaging. We provide a comprehensive suite of preclinical and clinical imaging modalities, a state-of-the-art hybrid theatre and world-class imaging techniques.

Infrastructure_

Sydney Mass Spectrometry

Enabling proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics analysis. We provide state-of-the-art tools and expertise for proteomics, metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging for the life and biomedical science communities.

Infrastructure_

Sydney Microscopy and Microanalysis

Enabling micro, nano and atomic-scale exploration. Our capabilities support insights into how the world operates at the scale of living cells, tissue, molecules, crystals and even individual atoms.

Research Highlights

Cover of 2023 Core Research Facilities Highlights publication

Download our Core Research Facilities Research Highlights (5.9MB / pdf)

Read about the research excellence we've enabled, and find out how we're supporting national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

View from the labs

Take a look inside some of our world-class Core Research Facilities.

National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy

The National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) is a federal government initiative that provides funding for major research facilities, supporting infrastructure and networks to drive research excellence. NCRIS builds collaborations between researchers, government and industry to deliver practical outcomes to complex issues challenging our society.

The University of Sydney is involved in the following NCRIS projects:

Other major facilities

Project enquiries

Access Grants

Find out about our grant scheme and apply

Services and pricing

Resources

Capabilities overview (Core Research Facilities brochure)

3.1MB

Core Research Facilities: Research Highlights

5.9MB

Contact

Professor Simon Ringer

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure)

Phone

+61 2 9351 2353

Email

crf.info@sydney.edu.au

Hector Eden

Director, Platform Operations (Research Infrastructure)

Email

crf.info@sydney.edu.au

Tim Dixon

Director, Partnerships and Projects (Research Infrastructure)

Email

crf.info@sydney.edu.au

Related news

A WW2 Spitfire was lost in the Norwegian wilderness for 76 years. Now a Sydney team is helping to rebuild it.

The University of Sydney is part of an international project that is "reverse-engineering" engine parts for a rare Spitfire that was last flown by a Great Escape pilot and recovered from a peat bog in 2018.

26 February 2024

Researchers closer to understanding hydrogen's great challenge

Embrittlement is one of the biggest obstacles facing the transition to a global hydrogen economy. A new process uncovered by researchers at the University of Sydney is helping shed light on how to better prevent it.

13 February 2024

University signs precision-medicine research partnership with Bruker

The strategic partnership will place the University of Sydney in a leading position internationally to advance nanomedicine, gene therapies and the early detection, treatment and prevention of disease.

12 December 2023

New medical imaging facility to revolutionise research and patient care

The Australian National Total Body PET Facility will drive advancements in cancer studies, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease and drug development, and reduce scanning time and radiation doses to transform patient care.

Infrastructure_

Sydney academics awarded prestigious ARC Grants

The University of Sydney was awarded almost $6 million through the Australian Research Council's Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grants 2024 round. Over $4 million of this funding will go towards new open-access research infrastructure to be operated and managed within the University's Core Research Facilities network.

21 February 2023

Abstract illustration of quantum technology.

Future Qubit Foundry to keep Australia at the forefront of quantum tech

The Future Qubit Foundry in the Sydney Nanoscience Hub will position Sydney for quantum partnerships with industry and government.

Exhibition of Chinese miniature treasures used on clothing

An exquisite exhibition of miniature wearable sculptures, once worn on traditional Chinese robes, is on display at the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney until April 2024.