I was born and raised in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. I completed an undergraduate degree in Physics Education at Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas and then spent several years working for ICFES, developing physics tests for large-scale education assessments in Colombia. I combined this with my master's studies at Universidad de Los Andes, where I completed my MSc thesis in Quantum Coherence in Excitonic Bose-Einstein Condensates, under the supervision of Prof. Luis Quiroga.

In October 2002, I moved to the University of Oxford (Somerville College) to pursue my DPhil in Quantum Physics under the supervision of Prof. Neil Johnson. I was supported by a Clarendon Fund Scholarship, an Overseas Research Student Award, and a Somerville Senior Scholarship. Right after my doctoral studies, I was awarded a three-year Junior Research Fellowship at Trinity College, University of Oxford, to develop research on quantum processes in complex molecular systems.

In November 2008, I was awarded a five-year EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship, which allowed me to begin my independent research career at University College London. I was appointed as a permanent Lecturer in September 2011 and was promoted to Reader in September 2015, and to Professor of Physics in 2018.

Throughout my career, I have made scientific contributions to the understanding of quantum coherence and quantum correlations in a variety of many-body quantum systems, including exciton condensates in quantum wells, multi-qubit systems embedded in optical cavities, and photo-activated biomolecular systems. My main aim is to continue leading and developing team science that expands our understanding of quantum phenomena in complex systems, that bridges quantum science and technologies with biosciences, and that engages with the public. I also aim to continue practicing research-led education that provides an intellectually rich experience for all students.