Published: June 26, 2019

Ana Maria Rey

Ana Maria Rey,a theoretical physicist and a fellow of JILA, a joint institute of the 鶹ӰԺ and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (Photo by Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado)

Faculty Spotlight

Ana Maria Rey:JILA Fellow; NIST Fellow;Associate Professor Adjoint of Physics; CUbit Quantum Initiative

Ana Maria Rey joined the 鶹ӰԺ in 2008 and became a JILA Fellow in 2012.As a theoretical physicist, she works across the disciplines of atomic, molecular, optical and condensed-matter physics. With the goal of using mathematical models to describe the complex behavior of nature, Professor Rey’s research on ultracold optical-lattice systems (a crisscrossing set of laser beams) is contributing to advances in quantum simulation, quantum metrologyand quantum information.

Widely respected as a mentor for young scientists, Professor Rey leads a.

Research interests and the Rey Laboratory

Rey’s research is focused on controlling and manipulating atomic and molecular systems and using them to engineer correlated quantum phases such as superfluids, insulators, quantum magnets, and topological matter via equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes. Additionally, she is interested in studying how to generate and manipulate entanglement in quantum systems for use in quantum information processing and precision measurements.

Education

Rey earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. She earned her PhD from the University of Maryland in College Park.

Quotable and notable

In 2013, she received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their research careers. That year, she also won a MacArthur Fellowship, or “Genius Grant.” She is one of only nine faculty members on campus to be so honored.

BREAKING: In June 2019,the Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists, which aim to help young scientists solve the world’s “greatest scientific and technological challenges.”

“All my research has been inspired by a close collaboration with experimental groups,”Rey said. “In particular, the work done at Jun Ye's, James Thompson's and John Bollinger's labs have been the driving force for my research. Also all the successful developments in my group have been possible thanks to the fantastic group of postdocs and graduate students who have worked very hard to accomplish our research goals. They are responsible for all the milestones achieved in my group. I owe all of them so much. I am really grateful and hope that they consider this award as a recognition to their work.”