"Quantum technology can be applied in exciting industries, in example for detecting the voltage from brain activity as magnetoencephalography. This will shape the future of MRI in healthcare."
What is your role in QuantumDiamonds?
I am handing the production and diamond engineering, embedding pristine diamonds with quantum sensors.
Why did you decide to continue your studies in Germany?
I did my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Berkeley (Go Bears!) and hopped over the Bay Bridge to UCSF for my master’s in Biomedical Imaging. I was full of ideals and wanted to do research that have real world impacts. This led me to appreciate that impactful research doesn’t just end with medical applications, but that there are a great many possibilities! There was an opportunity to pursue a doctorate with now Professor Dominik Bucher when he first started his lab. I was part of a new lab culture and really enjoyed being able to have focused mentorship from him before the lab grew larger!
You worked with NV centers in diamond that can have various applications. What exactly were you researching?
My PhD work involved using magnetic resonance technology at the nanoscale. Many surface processes are important to characterize, which nanoscale magnetic resonance using NV centers is perfect for. I was able to study a chemical reaction as it occurs on an aluminum oxide surface. I also used a porous material to confine liquid molecules within the nanoscale sensing volumes of a NV and making them detectable for the first time! Finally, I studied a membrane model on the diamond and how it diffuses/moves.
What do you like about working at QuantumDiamonds?
I am very happy that I can use the technical knowledge I gained during my studies. People who do research really enjoy pushing working at the border of what is established and making innovations. At QuantumDiamonds I can accomplish both. I’m looking forward to see applications of quantum sensing in the medical field such as digital pathology, but especially for detecting the voltage from brain activity as magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology
Selected works
Orientation-independent room temperature optical 13C hyperpolarization in powdered diamond
Ajoy, A., Liu, K., Nazaryan, R., Lv, X., Zangara, P. R., Safvati, B., Wang, G., Arnold, D., Li, G., Lin, A., Raghavan, P., Druga, E., Dhomkar, S., Pagliero, D., Reimer, J. A., Suter, D., Meriles, C. A., & Pines, A. (2018). Orientation-independent room temperature optical 13 C hyperpolarization in powdered diamond. Science Advances, 4(5), eaar5492. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aar5492
Hyperpolarized in vivo pH imaging reveals grade-dependent acidification in prostate cancer
Korenchan, D. E., Bok, R., Sriram, R., Liu, K., Santos, R. D., Qin, H., Lobach, I., Korn, N., Wilson, D. M., Kurhanewicz, J., & Flavell, R. R. (2019). Hyperpolarized in vivo pH imaging reveals grade-dependent acidification in prostate cancer. Oncotarget, 10(58), 6096–6110. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.27225
Surface NMR using quantum sensors in diamond
Liu, K. S., Henning, A., Heindl, M. W., Allert, R. D., Bartl, J. D., Sharp, I. D., Rizzato, R., & Bucher, D. B. (2022). Surface NMR using quantum sensors in diamond. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(5), e2111607119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111607119
