Prof. Lewis Antill’s academic journey began with an exceptional performance in chemistry, leading him to pursue an MChem in Chemistry at the University of Leicester, UK, where he graduated with First-Class Honors. His passion for research took him to the University of Stuttgart, Germany, for a year abroad, where he contributed to innovative projects on liquid crystalline aryl guanidinium ions and atmospheric hydroxyl radical reactivity. Building upon this strong foundation, he pursued a PhD in Environmental Sciences at The University of Tokyo, where he specialized in spatially resolved microspectroscopy of flavin-based magnetosensitive photochemistry under the supervision of Prof. Jonathan R. Woodward. Graduating as valedictorian, he was also awarded The First National High School Memorial Award for his outstanding academic performance.
💼 Professional Endeavors
Prof. Antill’s career has spanned some of the most prestigious research institutions worldwide. His research career includes roles as a Research Associate in Laser Photochemistry and Spectroscopy at the University of Oxford, where he contributed to the Spin Chemistry collaboration under the ERC Synergy Grant QuantumBirds. His work there focused on developing sensitive optical spectroscopic techniques to investigate the kinetics of photochemical processes and their interaction with magnetic fields. Before his Oxford tenure, he was a Special Project Researcher at Saitama University/Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) PRESTO, where he led independent research on spatiotemporal measurement of cryptochromes for animal magnetoreception, securing 480 million KRW in grant funding. His current position as a Research Professor at Sungkyunkwan University and Visiting Academic at the University of Oxford highlights his ongoing influence in quantum biology.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Prof. Antill’s research has been at the forefront of quantum biology, particularly in understanding the role of flavins, flavoproteins, and cryptochromes in biological magnetoreception. His expertise spans high-sensitivity fluorescence and transient-absorption-based microspectroscopies, which he designed and developed to probe fundamental biological photochemical reactions. His work has significant implications for understanding how biological systems interact with magnetic fields at the quantum level, a topic that has intrigued the scientific community for decades. His pioneering research on quantum biology has contributed to a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of magnetoreception in animals, potentially paving the way for breakthroughs in bio-inspired quantum technologies.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Prof. Antill’s impact on the scientific community is evident through his numerous awards, including the Best Presentation Award at the Quantum Life Science Society Conference (2021), the Best Poster Prize at the Spin Chemistry Meeting (2017), and his recognition as valedictorian of his PhD cohort at The University of Tokyo. His work has been recognized not only through citations in top-tier journals but also through substantial funding and scholarships, such as the MEXT Scholarship for PhD, the EFEPR Scholarship from the International EPR Society, and the ERASMUS Scholarship for MChem. His involvement in multiple international collaborations and his role in developing cutting-edge spectroscopic methodologies further reinforce his standing as a thought leader in quantum biology.
🏆Academic Cites
Prof. Antill’s research has been extensively cited in leading journals, demonstrating the broad influence of his work in quantum biology and spin chemistry. His findings on magnetosensitive photochemistry and cryptochrome-based biological magnetoreception have been referenced by researchers across diverse fields, from biophysics to environmental sciences. His ability to bridge fundamental chemistry, physics, and biology has made his work invaluable to the scientific community.
🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions
Prof. Antill’s legacy lies in his contributions to quantum biology, where his pioneering research on cryptochromes and flavoproteins has reshaped our understanding of biological magnetoreception. His future contributions are expected to further expand the applications of quantum effects in biological systems, potentially leading to advancements in bio-inspired quantum computing, environmental sensing, and biomedical imaging. His ongoing research at Sungkyunkwan University and the University of Oxford ensures that he will continue to push the boundaries of interdisciplinary science, inspiring the next generation of researchers to explore the quantum mechanisms underlying life itself.
📝Notable Publication
📝Optical absorption and magnetic field effect based imaging of transient radicals
Authors: J. P. Beardmore, L. M. Antill, J. R. Woodward
Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Year: 2015
Citations: 36
📝Ionic liquid crystals derived from guanidinium salts: induction of columnar mesophases by bending of the cationic core
Authors: L. M. Antill, M. M. Neidhardt, J. Kirres, S. Beardsworth, M. Mansueto, A. Baro, ...
Journal: Liquid Crystals
Year: 2014
Citations: 26
📝Flavin adenine dinucleotide photochemistry is magnetic field sensitive at physiological pH
Authors: L. M. Antill, J. R. Woodward
Journal: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Year: 2018
Citations: 25
📝Time-resolved optical absorption microspectroscopy of magnetic field sensitive flavin photochemistry
Authors: L. M. Antill, J. P. Beardmore, J. R. Woodward
Journal: Review of Scientific Instruments
Year: 2018
Citations: 13
📝Dimerization of European robin cryptochrome 4a
Authors: M. Hanić, L. M. Antill, A. S. Gehrckens, J. Schmidt, K. Görtemaker, ...
Journal: The Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Year: 2023
Citations: 9
📝Photoinduced flavin-tryptophan electron transfer across vesicle membranes generates magnetic field sensitive radical pairs
Authors: L. M. Antill, S. Takizawa, S. Murata, J. R. Woodward
Journal: Molecular Physics
Year: 2019
Citations: 6
📝RadicalPy: A Tool for Spin Dynamics Simulation
Authors: L. M. Antill, E. Vatai
Journal: Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation
Year: 2024
Citations: 2