Juan P. Garrahan

Professor Juan P. Garrahan is a distinguished academic in the School of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Nottingham, where he has served as Professor of Physics since 2007. His extensive academic career includes prestigious appointments as a Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford (2020), Pitzer Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley (2007), and EPSRC Advanced Fellow (2003-2008). He currently holds multiple leadership roles including Postgraduate Admissions Tutor, PGT Senior Tutor, and Director of the Machine Learning in Science (MLiS) MSc program.

Garrahan earned his Licenciado in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires in 1992, followed by his PhD from the same institution in 1997. His academic journey continued with postdoctoral work at Oxford (1998-2000), a Glasstone Fellowship (2000-2003), and lecturing positions at Oxford before joining Nottingham. His career progression at Nottingham includes Lecturer (2003-2006), Reader (2006-2007), and Professor (2007-present).

Professor Garrahan's research spans the intersection of statistical physics, quantum mechanics, and machine learning. His work focuses on statistical physics of supercooled liquids and glasses, glass transitions and dynamic arrest, quantum non-equilibrium systems, large deviation theory, and statistical mechanics of machine learning. His approach combines theoretical frameworks with practical applications, particularly in understanding complex systems that exhibit glassy behavior. His research has significant implications for materials science, quantum computing, and machine learning algorithms.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward quantum non-equilibrium phenomena, with particular emphasis on connections between glass physics and quantum information. His work increasingly bridges classical statistical mechanics with quantum systems, exploring how concepts like dynamical phase transitions and large deviation theory apply to both domains. The integration of machine learning techniques into traditional physics problems represents another significant trajectory in his recent research.

• EPSRC Advanced Fellow (2003-2008)
• Glasstone Fellow (2000-2003)
• Pitzer Visiting Professor, UC Berkeley (2007)
• Visiting Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford (2020)
• Leverhulme Trust Grant recipient (multiple awards)

Professor Garrahan has mentored over 15 PhD students to completion, with many now holding faculty positions or prestigious research fellowships. His current research is supported by multiple major grants including EPSRC Grant EP/V031201/1 (2021-2025) and EP/T022140/1 (2021-2024), reflecting the significance and impact of his work. He has successfully secured continuous funding since 2003 through various mechanisms including EPSRC, Leverhulme Trust, and international collaborations.

Garrahan leads the Centre for Quantum Non-Equilibrium Systems (CQNE) at Nottingham and has organized numerous high-profile workshops including the 2024 'Machine learning meets many-body physics' conference. His research group includes multiple postdoctoral researchers working on interdisciplinary projects that span statistical physics, quantum information, and machine learning applications. The group maintains strong collaborations with institutions worldwide and regularly hosts visiting scholars through programs like the Leeds-Loughborough-Nottingham Non-Equilibrium Seminars.