Ana Asenjo Garcia

Ana Asenjo Garcia serves as Associate Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics at Columbia University, where she leads the Asenjo-Garcia Lab. Her research bridges theoretical quantum optics, quantum information science, and many-body physics, focusing on emergent phenomena in open quantum systems. She joined Columbia in January 2019 after completing her PhD at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and prestigious postdoctoral fellowships at ICFO Barcelona and Caltech.

• PhD: Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2014)
• Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
• IQIM Fellow: California Institute of Technology

Her research centers on theoretical quantum optics with emphasis on light-matter interactions in far-from-equilibrium quantum systems. Key interests include quantum many-body dynamics, superradiance, quantum simulation, and protocols for quantum information processing. Her work explores how collective quantum effects enable novel phenomena like self-organization and emergent order in atomic arrays, with applications in quantum metrology and quantum computing. The lab develops theoretical frameworks connecting fundamental quantum optics to experimental platforms in atomic physics and photonics.

Analysis of recent publications reveals strong focus on quantum entanglement engineering, dissipative state preparation, and topological aspects of light-matter interactions. Her group pioneers methods for controlling quantum dynamics in structured environments, with particular emphasis on correlated decay phenomena and quantum-enhanced sensing protocols. The research demonstrates consistent innovation in connecting abstract quantum theory to experimental implementations.

• Packard Fellowship
• NSF CAREER Award
• AFOSR Young Investigator Prize
• Sloan Fellowship

Professor Asenjo Garcia mentors four PhD students in the Asenjo-Garcia Lab, including Silvia Fernanda Cardenas Lopez, Edgar Guardiola Navarrete, Joseph T Lee, and Eric Sierra-Garzo. Her research is supported by multiple federal grants including NSF and AFOSR funding. The lab maintains active collaborations with experimental groups at UC Berkeley (Stamper-Kurn), Caltech, and international institutions including MPQ and the University of Copenhagen.

The Asenjo-Garcia Lab operates as a theoretical research group specializing in quantum optics and many-body physics. The team combines analytical methods with numerical simulations to investigate emergent phenomena in quantum systems, with particular focus on atom-photon interactions in structured environments. Current projects explore quantum information storage, non-linear quantum optics, and metrology applications using engineered atomic arrays and photonic structures.