Michael Kriele is a Research Fellow and Research Lead in the Astrophotonics Group at the University of Western Australia (UWA), where he develops ultra-precise optical and microwave frequency transfer systems for large interferometric arrays and next-generation timing architectures. He currently serves as technical lead for the Synchronisation and Timing system of the Square Kilometre Array Mid-Frequency Telescope (SKA-Mid), a phase-stable frequency distribution system underpinning the telescope’s array-level coherence.

Michael received his BSc in Creative Technology and dual MSc degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Twente, specialising in telecommunication engineering, wireless sensor systems, and communication system design. His trajectory toward precision timing and astronomical instrumentation began with an RF-engineering internship at the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy. He later completed a dual-degree PhD at Eindhoven University of Technology and Curtin University, where his thesis—High Precision Mapping of the Diffuse Low-Frequency Sky using Spherical Harmonic Transit Interferometry—advanced techniques in wide-field sky modelling, calibration, and low-frequency interferometric imaging.

Since joining UWA in 2022, Michael has worked across both engineering and research leadership roles in the Astrophotonics Group. He contributes to the SKAO-funded frequency dissemination program and also serves as Quality Assurance Lead for the TeraNet Optical Ground Station Network, Australia’s first commercial optical deep-space communications infrastructure.

Michael’s broader research interests span precision time and frequency metrology, photonic distribution architectures, phase-stable optical fibre links, array calibration, and large-scale system reliability. He remains scientifically active in wide-field radio astronomy, interferometric methods, and calibration techniques for distributed sensor arrays.