NITheP Research Workshop on Quantum Biology

NITheP Research Workshop on Quantum Biology

Quantum theory has been successful so far in describing microscopic phenomena occurring in inanimate systems consisting of photons, electrons and atoms, while the life sciences deal with living systems on a macroscopic scale. For the first time, the regimes of applicability of these two areas of science are intersecting: quantum physicists are able to describe systems of increasing complexity, while life‐scientists are able to give increasingly detailed explanations of macroscopic phenomena in terms of molecular structures and mechanisms. Recent progress in experimental techniques has allowed the first ever identification of quantum effects in biomolecular dynamics. Understanding the relevance of these effects is a fast‐growing and fascinating direction of research. Quantum biology is an emerging and fast‐growing field as a result of diverse and international scientific research input. This workshop would be an opportunity to strengthen existing research collaborations, as well as to create new collaborations with leading experts from around the world.

Topics and Speakers:

1. “Modeling photosynthetic exciton transport on random graphs “, A. Buchleitner (University of Freiburg, Germany)

2. A. Ekert (National University of Singapore, Singapore; University of Oxford, UK)

3. “Quantum and Classical Interplay in Biological Systems”, G. G. Guerreschi (University of Innsbruck, Austria)

4. “The quantum Goldilocks effect: optimality, robustness, and the convergence of timescales in quantum transport”,  S. Lloyd (MIT, USA)

5. “A Simple Model of Decoherence Assisted Transport”, A. Marais (NITheP and UKZN)

6. “Quantum Networks and Noise: Principles and Simulations “, J. Prior (Universidad Politecnica de Cartagena, Spain and University of Ulm, Germany)

7. “Open Quantum Random Walks”, I. Sinayskiy (NITheP and UKZN)

8. “Synthetic Biology – Engineering with Biology”, R. Sparrow (CSIR, South Africa)

9. “Electron transport in the Respiratory Complex I “, V. Vedral (National University of Singapore, Singapore; University of Oxford, UK)

More information about this event…