The physicist supporting Australia’s next-gen scientists

Dr Jacob Haimson is accustomed to being at the cutting edge of things.

The University of Melbourne alum was among the first to design and install clinical linear accelerator machines across Europe, Australia and the United States, revolutionising cancer treatment for countless patients.

Through his company, Haimson Research Corporation, he has helped the US government develop its particle accelerator program, allowing scientists to unlock secrets from the quantum world.

Reaching the pinnacle of science

A self-confessed “nuisance” when growing up, Jake said he was competitive in all aspects of his life.

At the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Science didn’t satisfy Jake – he aimed for an Honours degree. But in 1948, his final year, he decided he’d “had enough of school”, and left to get a job at Australian General Electric.

From there, he set his sights abroad – jumping on a freighter ship bound for Italy at the age of 22 before starting work at Metropolitan Vickers (allied with International General Electric) in Manchester, north-west England.

_{Dr Sarah Donaldson and Dr Jacob Haimson spent two days travelling around the University, meeting with young scientists and hearing about their work.}

It was here Jake began working for the first time with linear accelerators – machines that charged electrons up to ultra- high energies, creating powerful beams capable of radiating cancerous tissues.

The technology would come to define Jake’s life, leading to illustrious appointments at Varian Medical Systems, a US company specialising in oncology treatment, and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

But, Jake said his career highlight took place where it all began: at the University of Melbourne, where he completed his Doctor of Science. Jake earned the advanced degree at the young age of 38 (most DSc recipients have a “grey beard” when they receive the prestigious honour, Jake explained).

Only scientists who have made original, substantial and distinguished contributions to a field are eligible – and the degree marks out Jake as an acclaimed authority in linear accelerator development.  “I wanted to get to the farthest point I could make. And, that was it,” he said.

Having reached this pinnacle of his career, Jake is now focused on ensuring other Australian scientists can do the same.

His connection to the University of Melbourne continues through his philanthropic giving, where he’s ensuring a new cohort of young Australian scientists can work to revolutionise their fields, just as he did.

Empowering future innovators

Jake is deeply invested in the future of physics and medical research. He said retirement “never made sense”, and he longs to be back in his laboratory, pulling apart the latest problem he’s been asked to solve.

That longing has led to a new passion: to equip young researchers with resources to make their own breakthroughs in the field.

The prestigious Jacob Haimson and Beverly Mecklenburg Lectureship – honouring both Jake and his mathematician business partner Beverly – has opened pathways for ambitious scientists to pursue cutting-edge research at the University of Melbourne.

_{(L-R) Dr Paul Giansiracusa, Dr Jacob Haimson and Dr Matteo Volpi at the X-band Laboratory for Accelerators and Beams (X-LAB).}

Much like Jake’s pioneering work, their discoveries have been beneficial to the global scientific and medical community.

Associate Professor David Simpson, who was awarded the Lectureship in 2021, has been working with a team to develop new applications for quantum biotechnology, particularly investigating how quantum sensors can be applied to detect signals from the brain and heart.

“The support has enabled us to secure additional funding, which has driven our applied research program, we are now focused on seeing this technology translated into the field to solve real world problems,” David said.

“The support has also helped grow the team of talented researchers with the group doubling in size over the past three years.”