Meet John Grace – Top 10 Student in the Perimeter Institute START Satellite Program at Bishop’s University

John Grace, a recent graduate of McGill University, was selected as one of the top 10 students in the prestigious Perimeter Institute START Satellite (PSI) Program hosted at Bishop’s University. His excitement for the program is rooted in its focus on in-depth, personalized teaching and the opportunity to explore advanced physics topics in a collaborative setting. Coming from a demanding undergraduate experience that balanced coursework, extracurriculars, and research, John found the PSI-START program to be a refreshing change. It allows him to engage with physics beyond the formal curriculum and dive deeper into subjects like quantum information and symmetries—areas that are both personally exciting and relevant to his future academic goals.

He is excited to be part of this two-week intensive program, learning alongside fellow motivated students and guided by leading researchers from the Perimeter Institute and Bishop’s University. It’s an experience he sees as a valuable step toward his future in graduate research and beyond.

John’s passion for physics began with an early interest in science and mathematics, but it was quantum mechanics that truly sparked his curiosity. His first research experience in a quantum optics lab brought the abstract concepts of quantum physics to life and gave him a hands-on appreciation for the mysteries of the field. He believes that anyone with a natural curiosity about how the universe works will find a home in physics. “The more you learn, the more fascinated you become by what you still don’t know,” he says. That ongoing sense of discovery continues to motivate his academic journey.

When asked about his dream research focus, John points to the measurement problem in quantum mechanics—a fundamental issue that questions how and why systems appear to change when observed. For him, solving this problem could transform our understanding of physics and potentially provide insights into consciousness itself.

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Joannie St-Germain M.Sc. (she/her/elle)
RESEARCH OFFICER
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES
819-822-9600 x 2242