Conference Description
The Quantum Biology GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
Quantum biology is a rapidly growing field that explores the role of quantum phenomena in living systems. From photosynthesis to magnetoreception, quantum effects may have profound implications for understanding and enhancing biological processes and functions. The theme of the 2025 Quantum Biology GRC is “Quantum in Biology, Quantum for Biology”. The conference will feature a broad range of topics that address both the role of quantum phenomena in enabling and enhancing biological function beyond the classical limit, and the applications of cutting-edge quantum technologies and sensing techniques to study biological processes in new regimes and with sensitivity unachievable by existing methodologies. This meeting also aims to look forward and examine the opportunities afforded by biology in engineering systems (biology for quantum) to enhance and exploit quantum phenomena beyond the confines of the existing physics sandbox, and to build new systems and environments that can support quantum technology at the cutting edge.
The conference will foster interdisciplinary collaborations and stimulate new directions of research in quantum biology, aiming to advance our fundamental understanding of life and its origins and explore potential applications for health, medicine, and technology. In particular, the conference's key focus will be building and strengthening communication between different subdisciplines, breaking down existing language limitations and entrenched viewpoints.
The Quantum Biology GRC is a unique opportunity for scientists of all career stages to interact and exchange ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment. The conference will include invited talks from leading experts, poster sessions, and ample time for informal discussions and networking. The conference will also feature a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for early-career researchers, which will take place before the main conference and provide a platform for presenting and receiving feedback on their work, as well as mentoring and career development activities. The Quantum Biology GRC and GRS welcome participants from all backgrounds and disciplines who share a common interest in quantum biology. We hope to see you at the 2025 Quantum Biology GRC!
The topics, speakers, and discussion leaders for the conference sessions are displayed below. The conference chair is currently developing their detailed program, which will include the complete meeting schedule, as well as the talk titles for all speakers. The detailed program will be available by November 2, 2024. Please check back for updates.
Keynote Session: Quantum Biology: Experiment and Theory
Discussion Leaders
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Gregory Scholes (Princeton University, United States)
Speakers
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Susana Huelga (Ulm University, Germany)
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Michael Wasielewski (Northwestern University, United States)
Quantum Tunneling
Discussion Leaders
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Jochen Blumberger (University College London, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Sam Hay (University of Manchester, United Kingdom)
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Adam Offenbacher (East Carolina University, United States)
Photons in Quantum Biology
Discussion Leaders
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Stan Botchway (UK Research and Innovation, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Shaul Mukamel (University of California, Irvine, United States)
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Frank Schlawin (University of Hamburg and Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Germany)
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Nathan Babcock (Howard University, United States)
Energy Transfer and Ultrafast Measurements
Discussion Leaders
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Elisabet Romero (Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Spain)
Speakers
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Susannah Bourne-Worster (University College London, United Kingdom)
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Youngchan Kim (University of Surrey, United Kingdom)
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Graham Fleming (University of California, Berkeley, United States)
Biomedicine
Discussion Leaders
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Rachel McKendry (University College London, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Jack Miller (Aarhus University, Denmark)
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Sabrina Maniscalco (Algorithmiq Oy, Finland)
Magnetoreception
Discussion Leaders
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Christine Merlin (Texas A&M University, United States)
Speakers
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Richard Baines (University of Manchester, United Kingdom)
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Maria Ingaramo (Calico Labs, United States)
Quantum Sensing
Discussion Leaders
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Martin B Plenio (University of Ulm, Germany)
Speakers
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Melissa Mather (University of Nottingham, United Kingdom)
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Romana Schirhagl (Groningen University / University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands)
Biological Radicals and Spin
Discussion Leaders
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Yun Chen (Johns Hopkins University, United States)
Speakers
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Jenny Clark (University of Sheffield, United Kingdom)
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Erik Schleicher (University of Freiburg, Germany)
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Clarice Aiello (QuBiT Lab, United States)
Expanding the Domain of Quantum Biology
Discussion Leaders
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Warwick Bowen (University of Queensland, Australia)
Speakers
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Zoya Leonenko (University of Waterloo, Canada)
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Ivan Kassal (University of Sydney, Australia)
The GRC Power Hour™
Organizers
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Clarice Aiello (QuBiT Lab, United States)