Last week, The Quantum Insider published the piece 17 Extraordinary Quantum Chemists Working In Our Industry. This week, we’re set to focus on experts who make quantum algorithms their life’s work.
We’ll touch on fifteen of them, rather than seventeen, and at the end just mention a couple who deserve it in the Honourable Mention section.
*All data correct as of early January 2024
1. Marina Walt: Quantum Algorithms, HQS
A physicist with professional experience in research, software development, IT consulting and project management, Marina Walt is a Quantum Software Specialist focused on Quantum Algorithms at HQS, a German startup that provides software for materials scientists in the chemical industry, as well as in academia.
Prior to her employment at HQS, Walt was a Research Associate/Ph.D. student at the University of Tuebingen. She obtained a Ph.D. in Physics from the same university in 2020.
2. Minh-Thi Nguyen: Quantum Algorithms, QuEra
Minh-Thi Nguyen is a Specialist of Quantum Algorithms at QuEra, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based startup working towards building a neutral-atom quantum computer.
Nguyen graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Physics and a certificate in Computer Science, complemented with extensive coursework in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering.
She plans on attending MIT as a Ph.D. Candidate in AMO Physics starting in the Fall of this year. Nguyen’s current research interests involve quantum computing and quantum information processing in both theory and experiment.
3. Pooja Rao: Quantum Algorithms Researcher, Agnostiq
Pooja Roa is a Quantum Algorithms Researcher at Agnostiq. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Stony Brook University, specializing in computational fluid dynamics. Her most recent postdoc appointment was at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at Berkeley. As an applied mathematician who’s interested in applying mathematical tools and emerging technologies to real-world problems, a couple of years back she serendipitously found a perfect playground in quantum computing. She is also interested in science outreach and communication.
4. Iordanis Kerenidis: Head of Quantum Algorithms International, QC Ware
With a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, Iordanis Kerenidis is Head of Quantum Algorithms International at QC Ware, designing quantum algorithms for ML and optimization with provable speedups.
His research has included work on quantum algorithms for real-world applications, quantum ML, quantum optimization, quantum finance applications including Monte Carlo methods, quantum linear algebra and more. The main purpose of his research is to provide innovative solutions to challenging problems that can have a real impact on society.
5. Fangli Liu: Quantum Algorithms, QuEra
A Quantum Algorithms Specialist at QuEra, Fangli Liu received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maryland. Professionally, he is interested in quantum simulation and quantum dynamics in AMO systems.
6. Amir Naveh: Co-Founder and Head Of Algorithms, Classiq
Amir Naveh is a Co-Founder and Head Of Algorithms at Israeli startup, Classiq.
An engineer and entrepreneur striving to bring advanced technology to everyday life, prior to Classiq Naveh spent some time as a Satellite Engineer and Radar Algorithms Developer.
Naveh obtained a MA in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Tel Aviv University.
7. Łukasz Czerwiński: Algorithms Scaling Expert, BEIT
An Algorithms Scaling Expert at Polish QC startup BEIT, a company developing novel quantum algorithms and their implementations with the aim of pushing the boundary of what is possible on quantum hardware at any given time Łukasz Czerwiński is a passion-driven developer.
Before BEIT, he worked for Corvil, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, Sabre and Aldec. Always willing to write some fancy code, he serves as BEIT’s Quality Manager for the engineering team. The first non-ex-Googler onboard, he is not afraid of sharing best practices and experience from past employments, questioning the company’s attitude, introducing new order — not only to BEIT’s code — but also company management.
Czerwiński received an M.Eng. from the Czestochowa University of Technology, Poland.
8. Dominik Wild: Advisor in Quantum Algorithms, QuEra
Another employee at QuEra, Dominik Wild is an Advisor in Quantum Algorithms for the startup. Wild is a Harvard Theoretical Physicist working at the intersection of quantum optics, condensed matter physics, and quantum information theory.
He obtained a Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University.
9. Jack Baker: Quantum Algorithms Researcher, Agnostiq
Jack Baker is a Quantum Algorithms Researcher at Aqnostiq. Baker holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics from University College London, in partnership with the London Centre for Nanotechnology, supervised by David Bowler.
Baker specializes in electronic structure theory, phonon softening and their applications in ferroelectric and antiferroelectric materials.
10. Mattia Fiorentini: Head of Machine Learning and Quantum Algorithms, Cambridge Quantum Computing (now Quantinuum)
Mattia Fiorentini is Head of Machine Learning and Quantum Algorithms at Cambridge Quantum Computing, who after the merger with Honeywell Quantum Solutions is now an employee of Quantinuum.
An enthusiastic researcher leading in the areas of ML and Quantum Computing, in his classical computing activity, Fiorentini applies deep learning to algorithmic trading and financial time-series forecasting.
With his team, he has implemented many intra-day trading strategies in diverse financial markets. In regards to quantum computing, he researches high-impact applications of quantum algorithms in the fields of ML and optimization, specifically targeted at noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers.
During his studies towards his Ph.D. in Computational Physics, Fiorentini focused on first-principles electronic transport simulations for energy harvesting, conversion, and conservation. During this journey, he gained significant experience in Python, Bash, fortran2003 and parallel computation. He developed from scratch an HPC research software that runs on distributed memory clusters (MPI) and has been tested to scale on up to 1000s cores on UK national facility ARCHER.
Fiorentini obtained a Ph.D. in Physics from King’s College London.
11. Faiyaz Hasan: Quantum Algorithms Researcher, Agnostiq
Faiyaz Hasan is a Quantum Algorithms Researcher at Agnostiq, where his current focus is on the application of Qaoa to portfolio optimization.
Passionate about the application of mathematics in various domains, following his doctorate in Physics, Hasan joined Paper Education as a Machine Learning Engineer and eventually took on the role of Director of R&D. There, he worked on a variety of problems related to forecasting, recommendation systems and schedule optimization.
Hasan received a Ph.D. in Physics from McMaster University, Canada.
12. Keith Fratus: Quantum Algorithms, HQS
A Quantum Algorithms Specialist at HQS Quantum Simulations, Keith Fratus received a Ph.D. in Computational and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
With experience in quantum algorithms, computational physics, condensed matter and materials science, (machine learning) analysis of experimental data, software design, and university-level teaching, Fratus brings a lot to the table HQS’ goal of being the best of its kind in the industry.
13. Clark Alexander: Quantum Algorithms and Mathematics, Advisor, ODE
Clark Alexander is a Quantum Algorithms and Mathematics Advisor at ODE, a startup solving non-deterministic polynomial-time hardness chemistry problems with quantum algorithms running on any suitable computing platform including classic, hybrid classic-quantum, digital or analog hardware.
Alexander is principally a mathematician deploying modern mathematics into code to solve a wide range of problems and educators.
Alexander received his Ph.D. in Noncommutative Geometry, Mathematical Physics from Northwestern University.
14. Wim van Dam: Head of Quantum Algorithms US, QC Ware
With a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Amsterdam, Wim van Dam is an important cog in the machine at QC Ware as Head of Quantum Algorithms US.
At QC Ware, van Dam focuses on developing and analyzing quantum algorithms that significantly outperform classical algorithms.
15. Shengtao Wang: Quantum Algorithms, QuEra
Finally, we have Shengtao Wang, a Quantum Algorithms Specialist at QuEra. An expert in quantum computing and quantum information science, his aspiration is to make quantum computers practical and useful to the world.
Happy to be at the forefront in advancing one of the most transformative technologies of the century, at QuEra he is helping build a scalable quantum computer based on neutral-atom technology while leading the efforts to develop quantum algorithms and near-term applications that can be readily implemented on our hardware.
Wang obtained a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Michigan.
Honourable Mentions:
Juha Leppäkangas: Senior Expert — Open Quantum Systems
Giorgio Silvi: Quantum Algorithms HQS
Tal Goren: Quantum Software Engineer, Classiq
Nicolas Vogt: Team Leader — Quantum Algorithms, HQS
Alec White: Head of Algorithms, QSimulate
The Quantum Insider (TQI)
Just in case this list hasn’t satisfied your cravings for data on hardware specialists in the quantum space, you can pop on over to The Quantum Insider (TQI), TQD’s very own data platform. Here you can find deep and insightful information on all aspects of the QIS industry.
TQI is an invaluable resource for journalists, researchers, investors, companies, and government agencies looking to extend their knowledge of the growing quantum tech ecosystem!
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