UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Quantum Hub, housed under the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS), has awarded Quantum SuperSEED grants to three Penn State faculty research teams. The program, which invests in high-impact quantum research, is designed to bring together Penn State faculty from across different departments and disciplines to tackle complex research challenges and advance quantum science, engineering and computation.
The institute’s Quantum Hub is investing over $500,000 to support contributions from 16 faculty members from the Penn State College of Engineering and the Eberly College of Science across three funded projects. The funds will also go towards use of ICDS computational resources and research equipment, as well as supporting postdoctoral scholars and graduate students.
“This year, the Quantum SuperSEED Grant Program is funding three proposals that collectively showcase Penn State’s unique strengths in the quantum domain and its capacity to lead in emerging areas of national importance,” said Mahmut Kandemir, Quantum Hub director and professor of computer science and engineering. “Our hope in the Quantum Hub is that participating faculty will not only use this one-year seed support to launch novel research directions, but also build enduring partnerships, strengthen competitiveness for major external opportunities and contribute to positioning Penn State as a premier hub for quantum innovation.”
The collaborative research projects will apply methodologies used in quantum sciences — simulations, hybrid computing and artificial intelligence — to materials science, engineering and computational sciences.
“The newly established Quantum Hub is boosting ICDS' mission by investing in high-profile quantum research that spans across many scientific and engineering domains," said Guido Cervone, ICDS director. "The Quantum SuperSEED grant program is funding three teams of faculty that are tackling challenges in quantum computing, many-body systems and materials that could enhance the visibility of quantum research excellence at Penn State."
Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering, of physics and of engineering science and mechanics, leads one of the selected teams and said highlighting and enhancing quantum research at the University is critical.
“Our project brings a community of multi-disciplinary researchers across the University together, working towards the vision of making Penn State a world leader in electro-optic quantum transduction,” Gopalan said. “It is great to see Penn State investing in building a quantum community here from the grounds-up, leveraging our considerable strengths across various disciplines by connecting the dots in both quantum research and education. It is a timely investment and hopefully continues in the years ahead.”
Selected faculty and projects are:
- “Open Quantum Systems Beyond Markovianity: Building a Cross-Disciplinary Community for Quantum Simulation and Computing”
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Principal investigator (PI): Zhen Bi, assistant professor of physics
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Co-PIs: Thomas Iadecola, associate professor of physics; Xiantao Li, professor of physics; Sarah Shandera, professor of physics; and Chunhao Wang, assistant professor of computer science and engineering
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“Exceptional Cryogenic Electro-Optic Thin Films for Microwave-to-Optical Quantum Transduction”
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PI: Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering, of physics and of engineering science and mechanics
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Co-PIs: Yinming Shao, assistant professor of physics; Yang Yang, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics; Binghai Yan, professor of physics; and Long-Qing Chen, professor of materials science and engineering, of engineering science and mechanics and of mathematics
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“Coherent Rock Salt Josephson Junctions: A Gateway Material Platform to Propel Penn State Quantum Information Science Research”
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PI: Jon-Paul Maria, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
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Co-PIs: Stephanie Law, associate professor of materials science and engineering; Joan Redwing, professor of materials science and engineering; and Morteza Kayyalha, assistant professor of electrical engineering; Mingyo Park, assistant professor of electrical engineering; and Danielle Hickey, assistant professor of chemistry
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For more information, visit the Quantum Hub website.