Bio-inspired quantum-enhanced light harvesting

This is a PhD research project in Physics, in the field of the theory of open quantum systems. Harvesting and distributing energy are two of the major challenges faced by society. In Nature, these processes are crucial for all forms of life, and have been fine-tuned within living organisms for hundreds of millions of years. On the atomic scale, energy is quantised, e.g. as a photon of light, and its behaviour is governed by quantum mechanics. Taking inspiration from the ingenious solutions found in Nature, in this project you will explore novel ways of harnessing quantum effects in artificial, quantum-engineered molecular devices. This will involve deploying suitable open quantum systems approaches for modelling the properties of quantum many body systems in realistic condensed matter environments. This project aims to contribute to the quest of realising highly efficient energy harvesters to replace state-of-the-art photovoltaics and offer a versatile and sustainable platform for generating green energy.