Ana Maria Rey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ana Maria Rey
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Rey in 2014
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| Born | 1976/1977 (age 47–48) Bogotá, Colombia
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| Alma mater | Universidad de los Andes, University of Maryland |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | MacArthur Fellowship, Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award, Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award, Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Colorado Boulder, National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Thesis | Ultracold bosonic atoms loaded in optical lattices (2004) |
| Doctoral advisor | Charles Clark |
Ana Maria Rey is a brilliant scientist from Colombia. She is a theoretical physicist, which means she uses math and ideas to understand how the universe works, especially at a tiny, tiny level called the quantum world. She teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder and works with important science groups like JILA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
In 2019, she made history by becoming the first Hispanic woman to win the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, a really big award for young researchers. In 2023, she was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Sciences, which is a huge honor for scientists in the United States. She also leads a special part of the American Physical Society that focuses on Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) Physics.
Contents
Becoming a Scientist
Ana Maria Rey started her amazing journey in science in Bogotá, Colombia.
Her College Years
- In 1999, she earned her first degree in physics from the Universidad de los Andes.
- She graduated with magna cum laude honors, which means she did incredibly well!
Advanced Studies
- She then moved to the United States to continue her studies.
- In 2004, she earned her Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland.
- After getting her Ph.D., she worked as a special researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology for a year.
- From 2005 to 2008, she was a research fellow at ITAMP at Harvard University.
Her Amazing Research
After her time at Harvard, Ana Maria Rey joined the University of Colorado Boulder in 2008. She became a full JILA Fellow in 2012.
What She Studies
Ana Maria Rey is a theoretical quantum physicist. This means she uses math and computer models to figure out how tiny particles behave. She looks for new ways to control these tiny quantum systems.
Real-World Science
Her research helps with many cool things, like:
- Atomic clocks: These are the most accurate timekeepers in the world.
- Quantum computing: This is a new type of computer that could solve problems too hard for today's computers.
- Precision measurements: Making super-accurate measurements in science.
She has helped scientists understand how quantum systems act when they are not in a steady state. This has led to new ways to measure how quantum information gets mixed up, and how to create special quantum materials. Her work has been recognized by many other scientists around the world.
Awards and Honors
Ana Maria Rey has received many important awards for her groundbreaking work:
- 2013: MacArthur Fellowship (often called the "Genius Grant")
- 2013: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
- 2013: "Great Minds in STEM" Most Promising Scientist Award
- 2014: Early Career National Hispanic Scientist of the Year
- 2014: Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award from the American Physical Society
- 2014: Became a Fellow of the American Physical Society
- 2019: Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists (She was the first Hispanic woman to win this award!)
- 2023: Elected as a Member of the National Academy of Sciences
- 2023: Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship from the Department of Defense
Personal Life
Ana Maria Rey got married on July 29, 2000. Just two days later, she moved to the United States to start her new life and continue her scientific journey.
See also
In Spanish: Ana María Rey para niños
