Near-Term Quantum Algorithms

Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC) is an Australian research and development company, working to make quantum computers a reality. 

We are looking for a hard working, enthusiastic and dedicated student to join our team of expert researchers.  

We are currently in a very exciting age of quantum computing, on the very precipice of observing a so-called quantum advantage, where a quantum device could solve a practical problem faster, more efficiently, or with greater accuracy than that possible with the most powerful classical supercomputers. 

Recent encouraging results have observed clear quantum supremacy for both superconducting and photonic physical systems, but the problems solved in these cases, while mathematically non-trivial, are contrived to emphasise the power of quantum circuits and have little practical use for real world problems. 

There are two fundamental issues that must first be resolved before a quantum advantage can be realised: what is the best physical architecture for encoding low noise, long coherent time qubits and operating high fidelity quantum gates; what algorithms can be implemented on low depth circuits before noise decoheres the quantum information. 

At SQC, we are developing the full stack platform for universal quantum computation based on high fidelity nuclear and electron spin qubit devices made from phosphorus donors in silicon. In this project we will focus on developing quantum algorithms in the silicon architecture from a bottom-up perspective, investigating the use of near-term heuristic quantum algorithms to observe a quantum advantage, such as the quantum approximate optimisation algorithm (QAOA), heuristic kernel methods and the variational eignensovler (VQE) along with its various generalisations. 

How to Apply

Express your interest by emailing Dr Casey Myers at Casey.Myers@unsw.edu.au. Include a copy of your CV and your academic transcript(s).