The QUT Centre for Robotics in Brisbane City is home to one of Australia’s most dedicated research mentors. Professor Michael Milford, the centre’s director and an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, has been named a finalist in the 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Researchers.
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The Eureka Prizes, considered Australia’s most comprehensive national science awards, honour excellence in research, innovation, leadership and engagement. Professor Milford’s nomination recognises his dedication to mentorship as a core part of his academic and professional identity.
Over the years, Professor Milford has mentored thousands, ranging from high school students to seasoned researchers, across disciplines and continents. His mentees have gone on to win competitive grants, receive top awards, and step into leadership roles in academia and industry alike. Rather than providing prescriptive advice, he prefers to offer adaptable strategies that mentees can tailor to their own ambitions and circumstances.
He believes that mentoring is both rewarding and constantly evolving. It’s a process, he says, that challenges mentors to keep learning, reflecting, and refining their approach. He draws from his own early career experiences, crediting the guidance of his mentors as instrumental to his success. As he stepped into leadership roles, his commitment to mentoring deepened, becoming a central focus of his work at QUT Centre for Robotics.
What sets Professor Milford apart is not only his one-on-one guidance but also his commitment to reaching wider audiences through digital platforms. His Hacking Academia initiative—now boasting over 60 episodes—offers candid insights and practical tips on topics such as publishing, securing funding, and navigating academic challenges. What began as a casual video on paper-writing techniques has grown into a trusted global resource.
He often hears from researchers who say Hacking Academia helped them land their dream job, win their first grant, or simply feel less alone in the often challenging academic environment. For Professor Milford, those stories are among the most meaningful rewards of his work.
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The 2025 Eureka Prize winners will be revealed at a special ceremony on 3 September. Whether or not he takes home the award, Professor Milford’s influence on the research community, both in Brisbane and around the world, is already firmly established.
Published 2-August-2025
