Northeastern Physicist Receives Air Force Funding to Advance Research on Quantum Sensing and Electron Spin in Biomolecules

Insider Brief:

• Physicist Paul Stevenson of Northeastern University is investigating whether biomolecules like proteins and DNA naturally enable spin-based electron transfer, a key interest in the field of spintronics.

• His research, funded by a Young Investigator Research Program grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, focuses on using quantum sensing techniques to detect spin-dependent processes in proteins.

• Stevenson proposes that biological systems may offer a scalable and efficient platform for spintronic materials, potentially bypassing the need for decades of synthetic materials development.

• The project aims to uncover the mechanisms—possibly linked to molecular chirality—that allow biological systems to influence electron spin, with implications for future quantum and energy-efficient technologies.

• Image Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

PRESS RELEASE — The field of spintronics has gradually emerged as a potential alternative to traditional charge-based technology. While most modern electronics rely on the movement of electrons to carry charge, researchers are exploring how to lean into another intrinsic property of electrons, that of spin. According to a news release from Northeastern University, physicist Paul Stevenson is investigating whether nature already holds the key to advancing this technology.

Understanding Electron Spin

Electron spin, while deceptively not a literal rotation, refers to a quantum property that gives rise to magnetic moments and allows electrons to exist in either a “spin-up” or “spin-down” state. These two states can serve as binary indicators, similar to the 0s and 1s in classical computing. Spintronics research is interested in using this property to transfer information without requiring the physical movement of electrons, which could reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency in future computing devices.

Biomolecules and Natural Spin Capabilities

“People have tried to find ways to make new materials that can manipulate this spin property as well as the charge property,” Stevenson said in the Northeastern release. He noted that researchers in spintronics have historically focused on synthetic materials and engineered systems, but biological molecules may already possess the capabilities scientists are trying to build.

Recent research seems to suggest that biomolecules, including proteins and DNA, naturally demonstrate spin-dependent electron transfer, potentially performing spin-based operations at room temperature and without external magnetic fields. “Biological systems are naturally capable of performing many of the tasks required for spin-based electronics at room temperature and without external magnetic fields,” Stevenson said.

New Research Supported by Air Force Grant

Stevenson was recently awarded a Young Investigator Research Program grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The three-year award will support his research on quantum sensing techniques for detecting spin-dependent electron transfer in proteins. His goal is to better understand how spin properties emerge in biomolecular systems and whether these properties can be used in quantum information processing or next-generation electronics.

As noted in the release, Stevenson’s research focuses on how biological systems may serve as a scalable and efficient platform for spin-based materials. “It may be the most scalable manufacturing system, if you think about it,” he said. “There are so many proteins being synthesized every second just in living things that we could sort of hijack that machinery to make new organic-based compounds.”

According to Stevenson, understanding why spin effects occur in biological systems remains an open question. The mechanisms likely stem from the chiral structure of biomolecules, which lack mirror symmetry and can influence electron spin during transport. The project will seek out to identify these mechanisms and assess whether they can be reproduced or optimized for practical applications.

Exploring Nature’s Toolkit

By turning to nature’s own toolkit, the research could shorten the timeline for developing functional spintronic materials. While the path to real-world devices remains uncertain, the project exemplifies the value of exploring naturally occurring systems for insights into quantum and spin-based technologies.