Author: Jodie Watson

Francois Conradie

Written by Jodie Watson on 12 March 2026. Posted in Uncategorised.

Biography

I am a curious experimentalist specialising in biophysics and photonics, with a strong passion for interdisciplinary research and the integration of knowledge across fields to address scientific questions from new perspectives. During my Master’s and Doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria, I have explored and expanded the capabilities of single-molecule spectroscopy (SMS).

My work combines SMS with time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) to implement multi-timescale fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), spanning systems from ensembles of emitters to single-photon emitters.

Research

My PhD research in Biophysics and Photonics focuses on developing experimental techniques within the field of quantum metrology. The main samples of interest are photosynthetic light-harvesting aggregates, which are biologically important and exhibit similarities to quantum dots.

These aggregates involve fast energy transfer processes that are known to involve non-trivial quantum superpositions. I probe these dynamics by distinguishing interactions between singlet and triplet spin states from mfrom more enigmatic energy trapping processes using single photon counting and correlations. This work is opening quantum metrology capabilities for the first time in South Africa, with direct applicability to highly sensitive biological samples.

Awards & presentations

Conference presentation, SAIP 2024.
“Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of the main plant light-harvesting complex“

Poster presentation, ICO-26, 2026.

Contact

Patrick Kinsey

Written by Jodie Watson on 12 March 2026. Posted in Uncategorised.

Biography

I am currently completing the second year of my Master’s degree at the University of Pretoria (UP). My interest in science, particularly physics, developed during high school, inspired by exceptional teachers who encouraged me to pursue the subject further. This led me to study Physics at UP, where I obtained my undergraduate and Honours degrees.

As part of my Honours project, I prototyped a multispectral camera using a Raspberry Pi (HyperPi) under Prof. Kruger in the Biophysics research group. The project aimed to develop a functional, lower-cost alternative to commercial hyperspectral cameras. Through this work, I was introduced to experimental optical systems and scientific instrumentation, which motivated me to continue with Master’s studies at UP and to pursue research in quantum technologies.

Research

My current research, titled “Using Entangled Photons for Plasmonic Sensing for Early Disease Detection in Plants,” aims to develop a quantum-enhanced biosensing setup based on surface plasmon resonance. By exploiting quantum light generated from a nonlinear crystal, I hope to produce plasmonic measurements that characterise plant biomarkers with improved sensitivity compared to classical surface plasmon resonance techniques (SPR).

This work involves the design and alignment of a precision optical setup to generate and measure surface plasmons at a metal–dielectric interface where biomarker binding occurs. The research lies at the intersection of quantum sensing, optics, and biophysics, with potential applications in plant disease detection.

Awards & presentations

Conference Presentation, Frontiers in Quantum Technologies Workshop: Current Applications, State of Development and Commercialisation of Quantum Technologies, CSIR, 2025.
“Quantum Mechanics for Understanding and Developing Spectroscopy” co-authorship.

Golden Key International Honour Society, 2020.