Imagine a material where trillions of electrons are locked in an intricate, collective dance—so tightly choreographed that the tiniest nudge can send ripples across the entire system, transforming its behavior in dramatic ways. Now picture using light—especially the delicate touch of a single photon—to peek inside that dance, understand its hidden steps, and maybe even change the rhythm.

That’s the frontier Daniel Suárez-Forero is exploring at UMBC. He joined the Department of Physics as an assistant professor in August 2025 and leads the Quantum Optics of Correlated Materials group. His experimental approach sits at the intersection of two powerful fields: quantum optics, which studies how light behaves when quantum effects like entanglement come into play (the 2022 Nobel Prize recognized research in this area), and correlated materials, where electrons interact so intensely that they create physics impossible in ordinary conductors or insulators.

By shining quantum light into these strongly interacting systems, his lab aims to reveal quantum behaviors that existing tools can’t see, probe states that have so far been hidden, and help build the foundation for future technologies. His work, featured in two recent papers published in Science and Nature Materials, blends deep questions with real long-term promise, and he’s excited to build his lab here at UMBC.

Q: What will your research group at UMBC focus on, and how has your background prepared you for it?

A: At UMBC, my group will use single photons—the tiniest packets of light—to probe and even gently tweak materials where electrons interact extremely strongly. The exciting goal is to use one photon to affect about a trillion electrons at once: either to reveal hidden quantum details that ordinary tools miss, or to modify the whole material’s behavior with just one particle of light.

My path has been building toward this. In my Ph.D. in Italy, I worked on light-matter hybrids using entangled photons. Then, as a postdoc at the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland, I dived into these strongly interacting materials. Before joining UMBC, I spent a year in Geneva, Switzerland, learning new experimental techniques that I’m now bringing to campus. The fields of quantum optics and correlated materials had been developing separately, but technology is advancing so that the time is right to bridge them—and that’s what I’ll be doing at UMBC. 

What excites me most is the scale: Using one photon to influence a trillion particles could unlock mysteries in these materials and help solve real challenges, like using photons more effectively in quantum computing or creating ultra-sensitive detectors. It’s fundamental science with huge potential for real impact.

Q: How did you choose UMBC and how is your first year going?

A: UMBC made the decision easy. The startup support for my lab’s equipment was strong, and infrastructure from recently retired professors transferred to incoming experimentalists like Geoffrey Diederich, Alex Senichev, and me—creating an excellent setup to build experiments.

Also, the DMV area is a major quantum hub, and Maryland’s initiative to become the “capital of quantum” aligns with UMBC’s Quantum Science Institute, which connects departments across science and engineering to advance quantum from every angle.

My first year has been wonderful—I’ve gotten tremendous support from the administration, department, and students. I’ve taught graduate quantum mechanics, following the same cohort from their first to second semester. It’s rewarding to watch their understanding and independence grow. I now have one Ph.D. student from Colombia, another starting soon, and two enthusiastic undergrads helping set up the lab. It’s been a positive, exciting start.

Q: What were the key findings from your two recent papers, and how do they relate to your current work?

A: Both papers came from my time as a postdoc and looked at special layered materials where electrons interact very strongly with each other.

In the Science paper, we found something really surprising. Normally, when electrons get “stuck” in place because of their strong interactions (think of them crowding each other so much they can’t move easily), you’d expect other particles in the material to slow down too. But we saw the opposite: Certain particle pairs—made of an excited electron and the empty spot (or “hole”) it left behind—actually moved much faster, about 1,000 times faster than expected! The crowding actually helped these pairs zip around more freely by interfering with their usual tight pairing. It was a “wow” moment that showed how these interactions can lead to unexpected enhanced mobility.

The Nature Materials paper looked at the flip side: When we shined laser light on the material to create more of those electron-hole pairs, they started lining up neatly all in the same direction—like tiny magnets snapping into alignment. And we could control and reverse this alignment just by turning the light on and off. It’s a way to use light to change how the material behaves, almost like flipping a switch.

These discoveries help us better understand how light and super-strong electron interactions can work together. That’s exactly what sets the stage for my research at UMBC: using single photons to explore or even tweak these materials in new ways—probing hidden details or switching states with just one photon.

Q: What advice do you have for students who are interested in quantum science?

A: If you’re already curious about quantum physics, of course I think that’s a good choice—it’s an exciting field. A Ph.D. can be challenging and involve a lot of failure—like experiments that don’t work—but persistence pays off. Keep digging, stay curious, try different approaches, and don’t get stuck on one path.

If you’re ready to start doing research, choose a group carefully—look at their publications and the tools they use to make sure they match what you’re passionate about. Get hands-on experience early. Quantum is challenging but incredibly rewarding—keep going, and the breakthroughs will eventually come.

The Division of Institutional Equity joins the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association, UMBC Hillel,  Chabad UMBC  and our campus community in recognizing and honoring Jewish American Heritage Month.

Celebrated each May in the United States, Jewish American Heritage Month is a time to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans. This observance highlights the enduring impact of Jewish individuals and communities in shaping the nation across fields such as education, science, arts, civil rights, and public service. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of Jewish communities, as well as the challenges they have faced and continue to navigate. This month, the Division of Institutional Equity invites you to engage through our “Read, Watch, Listen, Participate” series as we celebrate, connect, and learn together.

To request accommodation(s) or to inquire about event accessibility, please contact the respective program office. All sessions are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal and state laws, and the University’s nondiscrimination policy.

Events on campus

May 4 | 12 pm  - 1 pm | In-Person: RSVP
Spring Jewish Community Social
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/jfsa/events/153579

May 6 | 6 pm - 7:30 pm | The Commons: 327
Beit Midrash & Pickle Making with Alice
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbchillel/events/153789

Read

Explore stories that illuminate Jewish history, identity, and lived experiences across generations. From personal narratives to critical examinations of antisemitism and cultural resilience, these selections invite reflection and learning.

• The Cooking Gene and Kosher Soul by Michael Twitty 

• For Times Such as These by Rabbi Ariana Katz and Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg

• Beyond the Pale by Elana Dykewoman

• The Jewish South by Shari Rabin

• The Colors of Jews: Racial Politics and Racial Diasporism Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz

• Addressing Religious Discrimination

• Understanding Anti-Semtism: An Offering to our Movements by Jews for Racial and Economic Justice 

• Black Power, Jewish Politics by Marc Dollinger 

Watch

Engage with Jewish stories on screen through film and television that capture humor, history, tradition, and complexity. 

• Yentl

• Fiddler on the Roof

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

• Alex Edelman: Just For Us 

• Long Story Short (Netflix) 

• Marty Supreme 

• Avalon

Listen

Tune into conversations, storytelling, and cultural commentary that center Jewish voices and perspectives. These podcasts provide space to explore identity, community, and history.

• Ta Shma by Hadar

• Judaism Unbound

• The Light Lab Podcast

• 2 Queers, 4 Questions

• Gatecrashers - Season 1 Ep.8 - Harvard and the end of the Jewish Ivy League

SJP Merch is finally here for 2026! All proceeds are being donated to families in Gaza. The ordering period will be open until May 3rd. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTUCB_UiRo-xTnAl2hbVEZmsalv5IfijRnCXevfrSL8e3V_Q/viewform?pli=1

You can meet in-person with a TIAA rep to discuss your retirement outlook and any questions you may have!

Whether you are just getting started or planning to retire soon - a session with Ms. Jahleel Gordon (TIAA rep) can help you create a plan for your goals. It’s at no additional cost and included as a part of your retirement plan. 

You can discuss these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?

• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?

• How do I take income from my retirement account after I stop working?

Please use this link to schedule an in-person meeting with Ms. Jahleel Gordon. If you have issues scheduling via their website, try calling 1-800-732-8353. 

TIAA on campus dates: 

• Thursday, May 7th
• Thursday, June 11th

The one-on-one meetings are held in the HRSTM Conference Room, Administration Building, Room 529. 
Don't miss out! Schedule your appointment now: https://www.tiaa.org/public/login/schedule-meeting
Virtual meetings are also available with many more dates and appointment times. 

As we welcome May, the UMBC community joins the nation in honoring the rich histories, enduring resilience, and vibrant cultures of Asian Pacific Islander Desi/American (APID/A) communities.

The month of May carries profound significance, marking historical milestones that underscore the contributions of the APID/A community to the fabric of the United States, from the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in 1843 to the tireless work of the Chinese immigrants who built the transcontinental railroad in 1869. What began as a week-long commemoration in 1978 has evolved into a month-long celebration, officially recognized since 1992, to honor the diverse narratives that shape our history.

APID/A Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the entirety of our diaspora, including Asians, Southeast Asians, South Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Our strength lies in our breadth, encompassing the Asian continent, the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, and the vast Desi experience. Interested in learning more about this heritage month? Click here to learn more about legislation and history. 

While the month goes by many names, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM), Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month (APIDAHM), and Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPIHM), our mission remains unified: to honor the legacy of the more than 20 million Asian Americans who trace their roots to over 20 unique countries.

This month, we invite you to engage with the distinct histories, languages, and norms that define our community. Join us in honoring these legacies and, more importantly, in doing the work to build spaces of belonging, affirmation, and genuine community here at UMBC.

Join us at the following events as we honor our Asian diasporic community at UMBC.

Friday, May 1

Immigrant Appreciation Day 

Keynote with Anna Lapera | 11 AM - 12 PM | AOK Library Gallery 

Anna Lapera is a pushcart prize-nominated author and educator in the DC area. She comes from a Guatemalan mother and Hawaiian-Filipino-German father, and was raised all over the world. She teaches by day and writes stories about kids stepping into their power in the early hours of the morning. She is a member of Las Musas, a Tin House and Macondo Writers Workshop alum and Kweli Journal mentee, and has received financial support from Tin House, Kweli Journal and SCBWI. When she is not writing or teaching, you can find her visiting trails and coffee shops in DC and Maryland, where she lives with her family. 

"Share Your Story" Artwork Activity | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Commons Terrace

Contribute to our community storytelling project! Students, faculty, and staff are invited to showcase where they're from and reflect on their own or their family's journeys. Help us build a visual "global tapestry" of UMBC.

Monday, May 4

Global Asias Symposium & Celebration 

11 AM - 12:30 PM | Fine Arts 011
Welcome & Belonging and Community Luncheon: Conversations on Asian experiences at UMBC

Join us for our Belonging and Community luncheon to kick off the Global Asias Closing Symposium, which is dedicated to the power of storytelling, creative expression, and community. We will share personal stories through art and reflection to celebrate the joy, calm, and cultural heritage that sustain us. From these individual stories, we will build a shared vision of grounded community and understanding of Asian experiences at UMBC. Through a series of collaborative art activities and dialogue, we will turn our hopes for connection and belonging into a visual representation of our future at UMBC. Hosted in partnership with the Mosaic Center, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and the Office of Residential Life.
Lunch is Provided

Keynote Address with Dr. Anna Guevarra

1 PM - 2:15 PM| Fine Arts Recital Hall (Room 118)
Stories of Displacement: Unearthing Submerged Histories and Engaging Multiple Publics 

Join us for a presentation by Dr. Anna Guevarra (University of Illinois – Chicago). Dr. Guevarra will be discussing the “Dis/Placements”: A People’s History of Uptown Project and its connection to her Global Asias in Chicago course and will explore the politics and ethics of involving students in community-engaged projects.
Chai & Samosas Provided after the lecture in the recital hall lobby

Global Asias in Dialogue Roundtable

3 PM - 4:30 PM | Performing Arts & Humanities Building (PAHB) Room 216

Faculty roundtable focused on a discussion of research and teaching through a Global Asias lens. In addition to the panelists, the audience will have the opportunity to discuss pedagogy, curricular development, and research around the study of Asia, its diasporas, and other Global Asias themes. All are welcome.
Refreshments Provided

Global Asias Student Showcase & Reception

5 PM - 6:30 PM | AOK Library Gallery 

Join us for a student exhibition, interactive activities, and a celebration of the work of the grant! We will open the Global Asias Student Showcase Exhibition, which will feature mixed media work from students developed through a series of Global Asias workshops this spring. In partnership with the National Association of Asian American Professionals – Baltimore Chapter, we’ll also have art-making and other activities to interact with.
Food from Ekiben provided

*

Media Bytes: Dialogue and Meaning in Bollywood Lyrics

3 PM - 4:30 PM | Commons 2B23

Hosted by the Center for Social Justice Dialogue

Join us for an engaging and reflective afternoon centered on music, language, and cultural meaning. Dialogue and Meaning in Bollywood Lyrics invites participants to thoughtfully explore the depth behind popular Bollywood songs, examining how lyrics convey emotion, identity, and cultural narratives that often extend beyond direct translation.

Through a guided selection of songs, we will analyze key lyrical excerpts in both their original Hindi/Urdu and English translations. Participants will engage in facilitated dialogue to consider how meaning is shaped by language, context, and personal experience. What nuances are lost or transformed in translation? How do cultural references and poetic expression influence interpretation? This program creates space to critically reflect on these questions while learning from diverse perspectives.

Wednesday, May 6 

Hear Our Stories: Centering Asian, Pacific Islander, & Native Hawaiian Stories

11:30 AM - 1 PM | Commons Mainstreet

Join The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity & The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being as we read and highlight Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian stories through children’s literature.

Storytime begins at 12 PM! 

Monday, May 11 

“Stories We Carry”: AAPI Storytelling Circle

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Commons 004

Collaboration by the Women and Gender Equity Center (WGEC) and The Mosaic Center

Stories hold so much more than words; they carry identity, memory, and belonging!

Join us for “Stories We Carry,” an AAPI Storytelling Circle where we’ll gather in community to share and reflect on our experiences through guided conversation in a supportive space. 

Tea and snacks provided. 

Tuesday, May 12 

Celebrating & Honoring the Life of Alice Wong

12 PM - 1:30 PM |Commons 2B23

Collaboration by Critical Disability Studies & The Mosaic Center

Join us as we honor the life of Asian American disability rights activist, Alice Wong. Wong dedicated her life to challenging systemic ableism through community organizing, storytelling, and fought for disability rights and justice. Copies of her memoir, Year of the Tiger, will be raffled during the event. 

During this event, Critical Disability Studies will be recognizing two of the first graduates of the CDS minor.  

Thursday, May 14

Asian Cultural Celebration & Awards

5:30 PM - 8 PM | UC Ballroom 

This celebration commemorates the achievements of graduating UMBC students while celebrating the vast cultural diversity of Asian communities and heritage on our campus. We recognize the difficulty of choosing just one identifier or term to capture the vast diversity of all people with heritage in the Asian continent, representing 49 countries and hundreds of cultures. We seek to honor the breadth of experience of people across Asia - East, South, Southwest, West, and Central Asia. 

During the gathering, we’ll enjoy food together, we’ll showcase keynote speakers, student musical and dance performances, and award presentations to honor student contributions, as well as the faculty and staff who’ve contributed to their success.

All of these events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy. 

A quick reminder that units/research administrators/PIs can check their training records in Kuali (including PIRATE records, CITI training, Kuali training, etc.).   The Office of Research Administrative Systems (ORAS) has a Quick Card Reference for this very feature. Please see the below link to access these instrucitons and use this function in Kuali Research.

https://umbc.app.box.com/s/95c49ykia3gz5d18ami7nqaqf8iz7cxg

In general, if you ever have questions regarding Kuali's overall functions, or a need for a quick refresher, please do not forget to check the Kuali website first. There are so many training videos, reference guides, quick-cards, and FAQs that are available for your perusal for BOTH Kuali Research AND Kuali Protocols. The  link to the website is below:

https://research.umbc.edu/kuali-research-at-umbc/

Hi! Currently looking for just one grad ticket for the 10am ceremony on May 21. Willing to pay. Please send me a message or email: 443-960-5114 or kbell6@umbc.edu

Thanks! 

The Division of Institutional Equity joins the Global Asias Initiative, The Mosaic and our many campus community members in recognizing and honoring Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Heritage Month.

Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Heritage Month is celebrated every May in the United States. It is a time dedicated to honoring the historical and cultural contributions of people with ancestry from across the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands. This observance also recognizes the rich histories, diverse cultures, and lasting impact of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who have helped shape the nation, while providing space to reflect on the challenges these communities have faced and continue to navigate.

This month, the Division of Institutional Equity invites you to engage through our “Read, Watch, Listen, Participate” list to celebrate, connect, and explore.

To request accommodation(s) or to inquire about event accessibility, please get in touch with each program office directly. All sessions are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Events on campus

May 4 |  Global Asias Symposium & Celebration

11 am - 12: 30 am | Fine arts 011 | Luncheon & Conversation on Asian experiences at UMBC
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/globalasias/events/153238

1 pm - 2:15 pm | Fine arts 118 | Stories of Displacement: Unearthing Submerged Histories and Engaging Multiple Publics
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/globalasias/events/153239

3 pm - 4:30 pm | Performing Arts & Humanities Building 216 | Global Asias in Dialogue
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/globalasias/events/153240

5 pm - 6:30 pm | Library and Gallery, Albin O Kuhn | Global Asias Student Showcase & Reception
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/globalasias/events/153241

May 13 | 11:30 am - 1 pm | Information Technology/Engineering

End-of-Year Lunch Meeting and Celebration
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/aaafsc/events/153363

May 14 | 5:30 pm - 8 pm |  University Center Ballroom 3rd Floor

Asian Cultural Celebration & Awards
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic/events/152056

May 11 | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Commons 004

“Stories we Carry”:  AAPI Storytelling Circle https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/womenscenter/events/153761

Explore

Visit Baltimore’s Chinatown in downtown Baltimore to experience local Asian businesses, food, and cultural presence in the city. 

Read

This reading list features powerful stories by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, reflecting the diversity of cultures, histories, and lived experiences across the Asian continent and Pacific Islands.

• The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri 

• Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner 

• On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

• America Is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo 

• Where We Once Belonged by Sia Figiel 

Watch

This collection highlights the richness and diversity of Asian and Pacific American stories across cultures, regions, and lived experiences.

• Minari 

• The Big Sick 

• The Farewell 

• Moana 

• Never Have I Ever 

Listen

Through storytelling, culture, and conversation, these podcasts highlight the diverse voices and experiences within Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

• Self Evident: Asian American Stories

• Asian Enough

• They Call Us Bruce

• Feeling Asian

• The Coconut Wireless Podcast

URAs provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research, scholarship, or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project1! UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Applications require a research proposal and mentor statement of support.

For more information and application link, visit UR.umbc.edu/ura

The May issue of Vital Signs, PreMedical and PreDental Advising's monthly newsletter, is now available! You'll find events from our office and other campus offices, reflection questions, opportunities, and updates in this resource. You can find a graphic version here and a text-only version here.