QUBIC recently brought researchers together from across the Centre for its Molecules Theme Workshop, focused on Molecular Qubits: Development and Applications.

The aim was straightforward: to better understand how molecular qubits could be developed into useful sensing technologies, particularly for challenges in the life sciences.

Protein molecular systems offer a unique opportunity in quantum sensing – they can be designed, tuned and collocated with their sensing target using establish protein engineering techniques. This opens up possibilities for detecting signals in complex environments, such as within biological systems or in targeted diagnostic settings.

But realising that potential is not straightforward. Decisions about how to engineer molecules with improved coherence properties, and what it is ultimately used for are tightly linked. Progress depends on working across these considerations together, rather than in isolation.

The workshop created space to do this by bringing together expertise in theory, experiment, and application. It helped connect areas of work that often run in parallel and refocus them around shared goals.

For QUBIC, this collaboration is critical, ensuring that development is guided not just by what is possible, but also by what is useful.