Alexandra Olaya-Castro
Colombian theoretical physicist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexandra Olaya-Castro (born March 30, 1976) is a Colombian theoretical physicist, currently a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London.
Alexandra Olaya-Castro | |
|---|---|
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| Born | March 30, 1976 |
| Citizenship | Colombian and British |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for | Quantum effects in biomolecular processes |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Quantum Biology |
| Institutions | University College London |
| Thesis | Quantum correlations in multi-qubit-cavity systems (2004) |
| Neil F. Johnson | |
| Website | www |
She is known for her work on quantum physics on biomolecular processes, specifically for her research on quantum effects in photosynthesis.[1] She was the recipient of the Maxwell Medal in 2016 "for her contributions to the theory of quantum effects in bio-molecular systems".[2]
Early life and education
Olaya-Castro did an undergraduate in Physics Education at Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas and later obtained a Master of Science in Physics at Universidad de Los Andes in 2002. She then moved to the UK to pursue a doctorate in physics in the department of physics at the Somerville College, Oxford, where she obtained her DPhil in Physics with her thesis titled “Quantum correlations in multi-qubit-cavity systems” supervised by Neil F. Johnson.
Research and career
Following her DPhil in Quantum Science at the University of Oxford, Olaya-Castro was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship by Trinity College as well at Oxford University from 2005 to 2008. There she began her research in quantum effects in photosynthesis.[3]
In 2008, Olaya-Castro was awarded an EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship hosted by University College London[4][5] where she started an independent research group investigating problems at the interface of Quantum Science and Biology. She obtained a permanent Lecturer position at UCL in 2011 and was promoted to Reader in 2015.[6] In 2016 she became the recipient of the Maxwell and Medal Prize by the Institute of Physics for her contribution to the theoretical understanding of quantum effects in biomolecules.[7] In 2018, Olaya-Castro was promoted to full Professor at UCL[8] and in 2019 she was also appointed as the first vice-Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences.[9]
Olaya-Castro’s current research interests lie in the theoretical understanding of the quantum to classical transition [i.e.[10]] and in how quantum science can contribute to new theoretical and experimental explorations of dynamics and control of biomolecular processes [i.e.[11]].
Teaching
Olaya-Castro teaches the 4th-year course in Advanced Quantum Theory attended by intercollegiate students from University College London, King's College London, Queen Mary University of London and Royal Holloway.[12]
Public engagement
In 2015, she delivered a public talk at the Royal Institution which is available as a podcast.[13]
Olaya-Castro’s research was showcased at the 2016 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.[14]
In 2016 Olaya-Castro delivered a TEDx talk advocating for breaking socioeconomic and gender stereotypes through exploring what she calls the option B, the talk in spanish is found here: El poder de la opción B para romper estereotipos.
Awards and honours
In 2003, she was awarded the Arthur H Cooke Memorial Prize for distinguished work by a first year student, Department of Physics, University of Oxford.[15]
In 2005, she won a Junior Research Fellowship at Trinity College, University of Oxford.
In 2008, she was awarded an EPSRC Career acceleration fellowship to pursue independent research.[16][17]
In 2016, she was awarded the Maxwell Medal and Prize.
In 2024, she was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.[18]
Selected publications
The most cited publications by Olaya-Castro to the date are:[19]
- GD Scholes, GR Fleming, A Olaya-Castro, R Van Grondelle. Lessons from nature about solar light harvesting. (2011) Nature chemistry 3 (10), 763-774
- A Olaya-Castro, CF Lee, FF Olsen, NF Johnson. Efficiency of energy transfer in a light-harvesting system under quantum coherence. (2008) Physical Review B 78 (8), 085115
- GD Scholes, GR Fleming, LX Chen, A Aspuru-Guzik, A Buchleitner. Using coherence to enhance function in chemical and biophysical systems. (2017) Nature 543 (7647), 647-656
- A Kolli, EJ O’Reilly, GD Scholes, A Olaya-Castro. The fundamental role of quantized vibrations in coherent light harvesting by cryptophyte algae. (2012) The Journal of chemical physics 137 (17), 174109
- EJ O’Reilly, A Olaya-Castro. Non-classicality of the molecular vibrations assisting exciton energy transfer at room temperature. (2014) Nature communications 5 (1), 1-10
- A Olaya-Castro, GD Scholes. Energy transfer from Förster–Dexter theory to quantum coherent light-harvesting. (2011) International Reviews in Physical Chemistry 30 (1), 49-77
- F Fassioli, A Olaya-Castro. Distribution of entanglement in light-harvesting complexes and their quantum efficiency. (2010) New Journal of Physics 12 (8), 085006
- F Fassioli, A Nazir, A Olaya-Castro. Quantum state tuning of energy transfer in a correlated environment. (2010)The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 1 (14), 2139-2143
Personal life
Olaya-Castro is the mother of two children.[20]
