Ms Leerin Perumal, Enlightening medicine with quantum-enriched isotopes скачать в хорошем качестве

Ms Leerin Perumal, Enlightening medicine with quantum-enriched isotopes

Ms Leerin Perumal is a physicist driven by a passion for using light, science, and innovation to improve the future for South Africa and the world. Her journey began at Wits, where she earned her BSc in Physics and Chemistry, followed by her Honours and Master’s degrees in Physics. Leerin completed her Masters at the acclaimed Structured Light Laboratory, at Wits under the supervision of Distinguished Prof Andrew Forbes and Dr Angela Dudley, in collaboration with mining powerhouse, De Beers, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Her research focused on simultaneously manipulating and tailoring many colours of light—so called “broadband beam shaping”—using digital holography and customised 3D-printed optics. This work led to publications in leading international journals, including Nature Nanotechnology; Journal of Optics; and Advanced Optical Materials, where her research was selected as both an Editor’s Pick and a journal inside-cover feature. She has presented her scientific contributions locally and internationally and is a recipient of the prestigious 2023 SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship. After graduating cum laude in 2023, Leerin stepped into a new challenge: applying laser physics to real world challenges. In 2024 Leerin joined ASP Isotopes as a consultant alongside Prof Forbes and Dr Dudley, contributing to the development of advanced optical systems for the company’s newly established medical isotope enrichment division, Enlightened Isotopes. Her dedication and expertise soon earned her a full-time position as a laser physicist, where she worked alongside multidisciplinary teams of engineers, chemists, technologists, and fellow physicists to refine every detail of the company’s quantum-enabled enrichment process. Today, just over a year later, Leerin serves as the Head of Enlightened Isotopes. In this role, she leads the teams pioneering the enrichment of lifesaving medical isotopes that power modern diagnostics and treatments and carry the potential to transform healthcare across the globe. Through the power of lasers, quantum science, and dedicated teamwork, she is helping build a future in which advanced medical isotopes are more accessible, more impactful, and capable of improving, and extending, the lives of countless patients. Background: In support of the UN’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IQY2025), the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) hosted a discussion forum on 27-28 August 2025 that focused on how quantum science and technology could help address major global and national challenges. The event brought researchers, engineers, and industry professionals together to explore South Africa’s progress in quantum research, the opportunities created by the second quantum revolution, and the skills and collaborations needed for future development. The discussions focused on the practical applications of Quantum Science and Technology across various sectors. Key themes included, among others, the use of quantum computing, quantum biosensing, the commercialisation and industry uptake of quantum technologies, as well as cybersecurity challenges and opportunities in the quantum era. These topics aim to highlight both the transformative potential and real-world impact of emerging quantum innovations.