Caltech Postdocs Launch – October 11, 2024

Lunch will be served at 11:45 AM

Dr. Pallavi Panda

Engineering Stem Cells into Embryo Models & their Promises

Research into stem cell-based embryo models has grown rapidly in the recent years. This has enabled the emergence of embryo models with an ever-increasing similarity to the natural embryo in both mouse and human systems. The first groundbreaking advances saw the development of stem cell-derived mouse embryo models with an early brain, a beating heart, and the foundations of other organs in the body. But what's next? In this talk, I will touch upon the promises that these embryo models hold in providing a snapshot into understanding early mammalian development and pregnancy failures, as a potential for organ development and how artificial intelligence may facilitate these advances.

Dr. Erica Sutcliffe

Ultrafast, all-optical coherence of molecular electron spins for quantum sensing

Quantum sensing seeks to use inherently quantum properties for advanced sensors. The tunability and spatial precision of paramagnetic molecules makes them attractive for this end. However, usual microwave-based detection methods have poor temporal and spatial resolution, and optical methods compatible with room-temperature solutions have remained elusive. Here, we utilized femtosecond pump-probe polarization spectroscopy to initialize and track electron spin coherence in a molecule for the first time. This five-order-of-magnitude increase in time-resolution compared to traditional techniques has opened up a wholly new class of room-temperature quantum bits.