About the Project
EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award at the University of Sheffield.
Supervised by Dr Jake Iles-Smith and Prof Pieter Kok.
The University of Sheffield is one of the leading Russell Group universities in the UK. We carry out cutting-edge research with strong links to industry. When you enrol to do a PhD with us, you will be working with world-leading academics and have access to top of the range facilities. As a PhD student you will have the opportunity to gain skills not only to conduct research, but also to take your career to the next level, whether you want to stay in academia, go into industry or the public…
sector, or set up your own company. You will have access to a range of training and support services to help you excel in your studies and beyond.
Project Description
Understanding what happens inside a living cell—how it responds to mechanical stress, temperature changes, or structural strain—is a major frontier in modern biology and medicine. Traditional microscopic sensors struggle to operate inside cells without causing damage or losing precision.
An exciting solution lies at the intersection of biology and quantum technology. Researchers recently achieved a major milestone by demonstrating coherent quantum control and quantum oscillations in fluorescent proteins. These proteins can be genetically expressed by cells themselves, acting as non-invasive, site-specific quantum sensors. Because light can interact with specific magnetic properties (known as spin states) within these proteins, they can in principle measure microscopic changes in their immediate surroundings with high precision.
However, a fundamental challenge stands in the way: quantum states are notoriously fragile. Inside a living cell, a fluorescent protein is continuously buffeted by its surrounding environment, including molecular vibrations, solvent dynamics, and local structural fluctuations. This environmental noise rapidly destroys delicate quantum signals, a process known as decoherence. To turn fluorescent proteins into reliable biological sensors, we must understand how this environment interacts with the protein's quantum states and design ways to protect them.
Project Aims and Approach
This theoretical and computational PhD project will establish an advanced theoretical framework to model and overcome environmental noise in biological quantum sensors. Standard theoretical approaches often assume environmental noise is simple and memoryless. In reality, biological environments are highly structured and complex.
To model these realistic conditions, the project will apply open quantum systems theory—the study of quantum particles interacting with complex surroundings. You will use state-of-the-art computational algorithms known as tensor network methods. These techniques allow us to simulate complex quantum dynamics on modern computers without relying on oversimplified approximations.
Key research objectives include:
- Simulating how molecular vibrations and solvent environments disrupt spin states in fluorescent proteins.
- Quantifying how environmental noise impacts the precision of intracellular stress, strain, and temperature measurements.
- Designing tailored control protocols (using light or microwave pulses) to prepare quantum states that are naturally shielded against environmental noise.
Candidate Profile
This interdisciplinary project sits at the exciting frontier of quantum physics, computational science, and bio-nanotechnology. By bridging theoretical physics with biological applications, the project will pave the way for a new class of genetically encoded quantum sensors capable of probing cellular health and disease mechanisms.
We are seeking a motivated student with a strong background in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative discipline. Experience in quantum mechanics, scientific computing, or theoretical modeling is desirable, but enthusiastic candidates eager to learn these techniques are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the project supervisors to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application.
Please refer to the EPSRC DLA webpage for detailed information about the EPSRC DLA and how to apply.
Applicants must ensure that they use the correct application form linked to the EPSRC DLA webpage and must submit an application for October 2027 entry. The form is unique to the EPSRC DLA. It contains the list of advertised projects from which to select, and three questions specific to the DLA.
The application deadline is 17:00 GMT 13 January 2027.
The majority of our DLA studentships will be allocated to candidates who qualify for Home fee status, in accordance with EPSRC funding regulations which place strict limits on international recruitment.
Funding Notes
The award will fund the full tuition fee and a maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £21,805 per annum) for 3.5 years, as well as a research grant to support costs associated with the project.
