PREFERRED. Bathe's lab programs DNA and RNA into custom 2D/3D nanoscale materials (DNA origami via the DAEDALUS algorithm) for applications spanning vaccines/therapeutics, massive molecular data storage, and — most relevant here — using DNA as a programmable scaffold to organize photonic and quantum-optical elements (mimicking quantum coherence effects seen in photosynthetic light-harvesting) and single-molecule optical biosensing.
Baumberg directs the NanoPhotonics Centre, confining light into sub-nanometre plasmonic 'picocavities' between metal nanostructures to achieve single-molecule-sensitive SERS and study light-matter coupling at the molecular scale. Current work spans low-cost healthcare biosensors, chiral nanophotonics and quantum coherent effects in plasmonic cavities.
Bean's group designed, built, and operates MAROON-X, a fiber-fed, high-dispersion precision radial-velocity spectrograph on the 8m Gemini-North telescope, achieving sub-m/s-class radial-velocity precision to detect and mass-characterize small planets around nearby M dwarfs and to identify/refine targets for JWST atmospheric spectroscopy. This is an astronomy pivot from quantum sensing in the sense the filter intends: a purpose-built, cutting-edge-sensitivity spectrograph (rather than a quantum sensor per se) enabling detection at the edge of instrumental precision.
Observational exoplanet astronomer using ground- and space-based facilities (including HST and JWST) to characterize exoplanet atmospheres and compositions.
Emmanuel Beaurepaire (DR1 CNRS, LOB/École Polytechnique) is a pioneer of multiphoton and harmonic generation deep-tissue microscopy. Research: (1) two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) and three-photon deep-tissue brain imaging; (2) second-harmonic generation (SHG) and third-harmonic generation (THG) label-free imaging of collagen, myosin, myelin; (3) multimodal 3-photon light-sheet microscopy with ultrafast lasers; (4) metabolic imaging using FLIM/NADH. Key LOB permanent staff (May 2024). Active collaboration with LCF/Lasers group on ultrafast laser development.
Observational cosmologist working on the Dark Energy Survey and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory/LSST, using wide-field optical imaging to study dark energy, dark matter, and dwarf galaxies; involved in survey instrumentation and analysis pipelines.
Studies planetary dynamics and exoplanetary system architectures, combining theoretical dynamical modeling with observational discovery of exoplanets; 2026 AAS DDA Vera Rubin Early Career Prize recipient.
Jean-Baptiste Béguin's research at QUANTOP centers on optical nanofibre-trapped atom interfaces for quantum memories and quantum networks. Research: (1) nanofibre-trapped cold Cs atoms — quantum noise spectroscopy of atom-light spin coupling; (2) single-photon storage and retrieval from nanofibre-guided modes; (3) sub-Poissonian atom loading. Key direction in CBQS center for quantum sensing via coherent atom-photon interfaces.
Bell's group uses DNA nanotechnology and advanced optical microscopy for single-molecule biosensing. Research directions: (1) DNA-based biosensing — DNA origami structures as programmable biosensing platforms; using structural switching of DNA nanodevices to sense specific biomolecules with single-molecule sensitivity; (2) Super-resolution microscopy with DNA — DNA-PAINT and FRET-based single-molecule localization for mapping molecular architectures in cells; (3) Solid-state nanopores — DNA-threaded through nanopores as a precision biosensor for protein identification and force measurement; (4) Multiplexed single-molecule detection — combining DNA-based sensors with optical readout for parallel biomolecule profiling. New group established at UCL, strong biosensing focus.
Poul Martin Bendix (Associate Professor, BendixLab/NBI) investigates physical properties of living cells using advanced optical techniques. Research: (1) optical tweezers for mechanosensing — GPCR mechanosensing with picoNewton force resolution, membrane curvature sensing by proteins (annexins, BAR-domain proteins); (2) thermoplasmonics — gold nanoparticle laser heating for controlled membrane microsurgery, cell fusion, and plasma membrane repair; (3) single-molecule biophysics — DNA-protein interactions using 4-trap optical tweezers (LUMICKS C-Trap) with STED imaging; (4) filopodia dynamics — twist and rotation of actin filaments; (5) Brillouin microscopy for cell mechanics; (6) COBM center management. GPCRmec consortium (Novo Nordisk). 2026 BPS Annual Meeting featured.