Research Areas in NSF QuBBE
Primary Research Directions
The U.S. National Science Foundation Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Quantum Sensing for Biophysics and Bioengineering (NSF QuBBE) will develop biocompatible quantum materials, establish protocols for sensing and imaging within cells, and demonstrate the utility of quantum measurement in biology. Biological problems demand new measurements with nanoscale resolution, single molecule sensitivity, and the ability to correlate dynamics in time and space. Measuring coherence and correlation across the hierarchical length- and time-scales relevant to biology is a grand challenge that frustrates our most powerful molecular tools, imaging techniques, and observational platforms. Quantum science enables measurements of unprecedented sensitivity and generates precisely the correlations required to measure dynamics in time and space. NSF QuBBE brings together researchers from material science, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine working side-by-side at every step to define and tackle these challenges.
Recent Publications
T.-X. Zheng, M.I. Bakti Utama, X. Gao, M. Kar, X. Yu, S. Kang, H. Cai, T. Ruan, D. Ovetsky, U. Zvi, G. Lao, Y.-X. Wang, O. Raz, S. Chitransh, G.T. Smith, L.R. Weiss, M.H. Czyz, S. Yang, A.J. Fairhall, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, D.D. Awschalom, A.P. Alivisatos, R.H. Goldsmith, G.C. Schatz, M.C. Hersam, and P.C. Maurer, "A Surface-Scaffolded Molecular Qubit", arXiv:2601.19976 (2026)
K.R. Pradeep, P. Acharyya, P. Nandi, T.S. Ie, B.C. Li, D.J. Gosztola, G.S. Engel, R.D. Schaller, and M.G. Kanatzidis, "Ultrafast Carrier Self-Trapping Driven by Strong Exciton-Phonon Coupling in 2d Ma(3)Bi(2)I(6)Cl(3) Perovskite", J Am Chem Soc (2026)
Y. Wang, T. Madhavan, V. Wachter, J.D. Schaefer, A. NewRingeisen, Z. Wei, F. Fung, B.A. Stickler, and M.D. Lukin, "Nonlinear Dynamics and Mechanical Frequency Combs with a Meissner-Levitated Micromagnet", arXiv:2609.11668 (2026)
I. Ghosh, K. Banker, and G.S. Engel, "Dynamical Consequences of Nontrivial Topology of Molecular Conical Intersections", arXiv:2608.24864 (2026)
P. Put, A. Pillai, X.H. Le, M.D. Lukin, and H. Park, "Quantum Sensors for Chemistry and Materials Science", arXiv:2607.07848 (2026)
Y. Wang, T. Madhavan, J.D. Schaefer, A. NewRingeisen, F. Fung, and M.D. Lukin, "Exploring Dynamics of Individual Vortices in a Superconductor Via a Levitated Magnetic Transducer", arXiv:2606.27297 (2026)
H. Park, M. Onizhuk, E. Lee, H. Lim, J. Park, J. Lee, S. Oh, G. Galli, and H. Seo, "Quantum Decoherence of Nitrogen-Vacancy Spin Ensembles in a Nitrogen Spin Bath in Diamond under Dynamical Decoupling", Advanced Optical Materials 14 (2026)
X. Yu, E.J. Villafranca, S. Wang, J.C. Jones, M. Xie, J. Nagura, I. Chi-Durán, N. Delegan, A.B.F. Martinson, M.E. Flatté, D.R. Candido, G. Galli, and P.C. Maurer, "Engineering Diamond Interfaces Free of Dark Spins", Phys Rev Applied 25 034006 (2026)
L.I.P. Torres, I. Avdic, A.O. Schouten, O.C. Wedig, G.S. Engel, and D.A. Mazziotti, "Entanglement Witnesses of Condensation for Enhanced Quantum Sensing", Physical Review Research 8 023126 (2026)
J. Nagura, M. Onizhuk, and G. Galli, "Understanding Surface-Induced Decoherence of NV Centers in Diamond", Physical Review Materials (2026)
Our Funding
