Ben works closely with the Quantum Software team at Xanadu and supports the many external collaborations and projects that Xanadu engages in. Before joining Xanadu, Ben completed his PhD in experimental condensed matter physics at the University of Toronto studying metallic systems with unconventional behaviours.

Korbinian is interested in quantum simulation and open source software. At Xanadu, he is doing software-driven research that feeds into our research-driven software PennyLane.

Andreea-Lulia is a researcher and doctoral candidate at Leibniz University Hannover, benchmarking and designing quantum algorithms for fault-tolerant quantum computers. She has a background in physics and maths, coupled with computer science. Andreea-lulia is also the founder & CEO of innovailia, a Germany-based company and spin-off from Leibniz Universität Hannover’s BMBF project QuBRA.

Dr. Pedro C. S. Costa is a quantum computing researcher with a background in physics and expertise in both classical and quantum algorithms. His research spans Hamiltonian simulation, differential equations, and optimization, with contributions to both classical and quantum approaches to complex computational problems—including best-known results for the quantum linear system problem. Pedro has collaborated with Google, Microsoft, and other institutions, and has held research positions at Macquarie University, UTS, and the NSW Government. Now at BQP, he focuses on developing efficient algorithms to advance quantum technologies and their real-world applications.

Nana Liu is an associate professor and PI of the Quantum Information and Technologies (QIT) group Shanghai Jiao Tong University She received her PhD from the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar and is a 2019 recipient of the MIT Technology Review’s 10 Innovators under 35 in the Asia-Pacific region. Her research focus is on employing quantum resources for quantum computation, with a current focus on quantum algorithms for scientific computing.

Dr. Amrit Chhetri is a seasoned technologist and thought leader with over 24 years of multidisciplinary experience across system design, cybersecurity, digital forensics, AI/ML, deep tech, and quantum computing. As a Digital Forensics Scientist and Senior Consultant & Architect, Dr. Chhetri is known for advancing cutting-edge technologies while championing security, ethics, and innovation. Specializing in quantum-safe security as a Quantum Cognition Scientist, Dr. Chhetri works at the forefront of one of today’s most critical digital frontiers. He is the recipient of the Cyber Defender Award 2022 from the Information Security Forum (ISF) and has been recognized for his contributions to digital forensics and as a CSOC Guest Speaker for the APAC region. Dr. Chhetri is the Founder of Quantum Research Labs and Digital Forensics Labs, where he leads pioneering research and development. He also plays a key role in global cybersecurity communities as an Executive Member of both the Internet Society (Kolkata Chapter) and the Cloud Security Alliance. In addition to his technical work, Dr. Chhetri is a dedicated mentor and educator, actively shaping the next generation of experts through his publications and course design. He contributes to QWorld initiatives, including QEducation and the Quantum Research & Curriculum Lab (QRCL), developing graduate and postgraduate programs that prepare learners for the future of secure, intelligent systems.

Michael is a researcher at Quantinuum, focusing on computational fluid dynamics and quantum algorithms for industry applications. Before joining Quantinuum, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford, where his work centered on quantum algorithms and tensor-network methods for solving nonlinear partial differential equations. He holds a PhD in Physics from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, where he conducted research within the Theory Division.

Wendy Lea is a leading expert in inclusive economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship. Recognized for work across industries and regions, Wendy creates vibrant startup innovation ecosystems that grow city, state, and regional economies. At a national level, Wendy serves on the Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) advisory board and as a member of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), helping develop strategies to strengthen America’s role as a global leader in emerging technologies. In Colorado, Wendy serves on the Governor’s Revenue Estimation Revenue Estimating Advisory Committee (GREAC) and on the board of Elevate Quantum, accelerating advanced technologies in the state with funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Innovation Hub (Tech Hub) program. A co-founder and Board Chair of Energize Colorado, she is dedicated to fostering a thriving small business ecosystem that promotes resilience and inclusivity for underserved entrepreneurs across the state. Wendy has received numerous awards for her work and was recently named among the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2024 by Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, she received a Women Who Light the Community Award from the Boulder Chamber of Commerce and an Outstanding Women in Business Award by Denver Business Journal for advancing innovative businesses in Colorado.

Andrew Childs is a professor in the Department of Computer Science and the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). He was a co-director of QuICS from 2014-2024, and is the director of the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation. Childs's research interests are in the theory of quantum information processing, especially quantum algorithms. He has explored the computational power of quantum walk, providing an example of exponential speedup, demonstrating computational universality, and constructing algorithms for problems including search and formula evaluation. Childs has also developed fast quantum algorithms for simulating Hamiltonian dynamics. His other areas of interest include quantum query complexity and quantum algorithms for algebraic problems. Before coming to UMD, Childs was a DuBridge Postdoctoral Scholar at Caltech from 2004-2007 and a faculty member in Combinatorics & Optimization and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo from 2007-2014. Childs received his doctorate in physics from MIT in 2004.

Sristy Agrawal cofounded Mesa Quantum, which is building chip-scale atomic clocks and quantum sensors that help them determine exactly where they are on Earth. This provides location services in areas where GPS signals are weak or unreliable. The company has raised $4 million in venture capital to date and received a grant from the U.S. Space Force.

Dr. Amit Surana is currently a Principal Technical Fellow at RTX Technology Research Center (RTRC) and has 16+ years of R&D experience in the areas of nonlinear dynamical systems and controls, machine learning, autonomy, and quantum computing with broad range of applications in aerospace and defense. He has authored 80+ peer reviewed publications and has 10 patents granted and 20+ patents pending. He has won several awards/honors including Padmakar P. Lele Outstanding Research and Thesis Award at MIT, RTRC’s Technical Excellence Award, and Grainger Grant by the Grainger Foundation and National Academy of Engineering. He is a member of Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering and IEEE Senior member. Dr. Surana received a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2000, his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.A. in Mathematics both from Pennsylvania State University in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2007.

Dong is an Assistant Professor at Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research (BICMR). He has worked as a Hartree Postdoctoral Fellow at Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS), University of Maryland, in 2021-2024, and received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from University of California, Berkeley in 2021.

Guillermo is a quantum scientist specializing in Quantum Machine Learning (QML) and Algorithms with experience as an educator in quantum computing.

Sara Marzella holds a bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics from La Sapienza University of Rome and a master's degree from Bicocca University of Milan, where she specialized in machine learning before transitioning to quantum computing. Today, Sara is part of the Quantum Computing Lab at CINECA, where she focuses on the integration, application, and outreach of hybrid HPC-QC (High-Performance Computing – Quantum Computing) systems. With a passion for making complex scientific concepts accessible, Sara is also deeply involved in science communication, helping to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and public understanding.

Hari Krovi is a Senior Research Staff Member and Manager at IBM, where he leads cutting-edge research in quantum computing and quantum algorithms. With a background in both academic and industrial research, Hari’s work has spanned foundational quantum theory and practical algorithm development. Prior to his role at IBM, Hari conducted research at Princeton University and Raytheon, contributing to advancements in quantum technologies that bridge the gap between theoretical physics and real-world applications.

Abeynaya is a research scientist at SRI. She holds a Ph.D. from the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME) at Stanford University, where her research focused on computational methods. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). With a background that spans fundamental engineering principles and high-performance computing, she is passionate about advancing the frontiers of computational science and applying it to solve challenging technological and scientific problems.

Herman Øie Kolden is the co-founder and CTO of Aviant, a drone delivery company transforming logistics in remote and underserved regions. Kolden holds a degree in applied physics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and completed the MIT Professional Education Advanced Study Program in 2019, deepening his expertise in applied physics and cutting-edge technology. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Kolden, along with co-founders Lars Fagernæs and Christian Græsdal, launched Aviant to address critical supply chain challenges. Their drones transported life-saving blood samples across Norway’s vast countryside, supporting remote hospitals with rapid diagnostics. Today, Aviant has expanded its mission, delivering groceries, over-the-counter medicines, and takeout food to populations outside city centers, reducing carbon emissions and redefining last-mile logistics.

Vardaan is a quantum computing researcher with a diverse background in theoretical atomic physics and experimental materials science. As the Software Solutions Head at Womanium, Vardaan leads the Womanium Quantum Solutions Launchpad, a program designed to help Fortune 500 companies explore the potential of quantum computing in fields like logistics, machine learning, drug discovery, and grid optimization.

Final-year PhD student in theoretical quantum physics within the Inria Quantic team (Paris) and Alice & Bob startup. My work focuses on superconducting circuits, Hamiltonian design/engineering, and simulations.

Dr. Jibran Rachid is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, where he has been teaching and conducting research since 2018. With a strong academic background, Jibran previously served as an Assistant Professor at Habib University in Karachi from 2014 to 2017.

Dr. Robert Ledoux is a former Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). His areas of interest include nuclear fission and fusion power, transportation modeling and sensor development and quantum computing. He is the program director of the ARPA-E ONWARDS program, which aims to reduce the disposal impact of advanced reactor waste, INTERMODAL program which models resiliency pathways for intermodal freight, LENR a study of low energy nuclear interactions for possible use as an energy source, H2SENSE a large area hydrogen quantification program and QC3 Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry for energy innovations. Prior to ARPA-E, Dr. Ledoux was the Founder and CEO of Passport Systems, where he co-developed non-intrusive cargo inspection technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He holds over 20 U.S. and international patents and previously served as Vice President of Pyramid Technical Consultants. Earlier in his career, he was an Associate Professor of Physics at MIT, specializing in high-energy nuclear interactions.

Kübra works as a Lead Quantum Algorithms Specialist at MITRE, which is a Business Services company with an estimated 9,000 employees; and founded in 1958., their management level is Non-Manager. Kübra graduated from University of Tennessee, Knoxville and is currently based in United States.

Jerimiah is a Quantum Applications Engineer and Research Scientist specializing in the development and benchmarking of quantum algorithms for the physical sciences. His work focuses on translating theory into scalable, hybrid quantum-classical solutions for problems in chemistry and nuclear physics.

Madhava Syamlal is the CEO and founder of QubitSolve, a startup focused on developing quantum solutions for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). He earned a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) in Varanasi and an MS and Ph.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Dr. Syamlal has significantly contributed to CFD theory and numerical techniques in open-source and commercial software. He is renowned for creating MFIX, a widely used multiphase CFD software. He has also led initiatives at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop modeling tools for low-carbon energy technologies and a DOE mission-critical application code for the first exascale supercomputers. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Syamlal has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the R&D 100 Awards, the DOE Secretary’s Achievement Honor Award, the Illinois Institute of Technology Alumni Professional Achievement Award, and the AIChE’s 2020 Elsevier PTF Award for Lifetime Achievements.

Mario Szegedy is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. His research primarily focuses on quantum computing, computational complexity theory, and recently on AI. He was awarded the Gödel Prize twice, in 2001 and 2005, for his work on probabilistically checkable proofs and on the space complexity of approximating the frequency moments in streamed data.

Mah is a physicist specializing in quantum key distribution. She holds an MS in Physics from Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan. Currently, she serves as a lecturer in physics at the Higher Education Department in Punjab, where she combines her passion for teaching with ongoing research in quantum communication technologies.

Yancho is Manager of Emerging Technologies in IT at Nestlé Americas, where he leads innovation initiatives across AI, XR, blockchain, quantum computing, and transformative tech strategy. With over 15 years of international experience, he has held key roles in cybersecurity leadership in North America, global IT audit, and piloting emerging technologies across Nestlé’s operations. He holds a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and has completed executive programs at Harvard in business communication and cyber risk.

Dr. Travis L. Scholten works as the Technical Lead for Public Sector at IBM Quantum. He focuses on large, strategic activities with government entities to identify opportunities for leveraging quantum computers and advances in quantum computational science to drive technical, economic, and social impact. In prior roles, Travis developed and led research collaborations with startups and enterprises on topics related to quantum benchmarking and applications. Travis serves on the Board of Directors of the Unitary Foundation, as well as the Ecosystem Advisory Board of the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center at Fermilab. Previously, Travis was a Policy Hacker Fellow with the Foundation for American Innovation. He is the creator of The Quantum Stack, a Substack on quantum computing. Prior to joining IBM Quantum, he received a PhD in Physics from the University of New Mexico, and a BS in Physics from the California Institute of Technology.

Brian leads a diverse portfolio of zero-to-one R&D projects spanning quantum technologies, applied physics, and novel computing methods. His work bridges the gap between fundamental discovery and scalable, integrated applications. With nearly 15 years of experience engineering complex scientific instrumentation and high-performance software, Brian has contributed to breakthroughs across particle detection, nuclear fusion systems, quantum devices, and advanced multiphysics simulations. Passionate about collaboration, Brian is an active member of the deeptech community and enjoys connecting with fellow technology developers and technical leaders driving frontier innovation.

Nicole is a manager in the Quantum Solutions team at PsiQuantum, where she focuses on identifying viable fault-tolerant quantum computing use cases, particularly within the defense sector. In her previous role at Riverlane, she led a team dedicated to evaluating fault-tolerant quantum algorithms, their applications and feasibility. With over 10 years in academia, Nicole has extensive experience in quantum and computational chemistry, having researched topics ranging from electronic properties of small molecules to catalysis mechanisms, membrane proteins, and drug design.

Reuben is a research meteorologist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, California. He earned his PhD from the University of California, San Diego, where he developed and analyzed fluid dynamics and weather models using computational methods. During his time as a postdoctoral scholar, he began exploring the potential of quantum computers to solve nonlinear differential equations. His goal is to leverage these advancements to dramatically improve the capabilities of current fluid and weather models, which rely on solutions to these equations.

Fateme is a physicist interested in optoelectronics, optical design, device fabrication and characterization. Skilled in applying linear and non-linear optical techniques to advance the understanding of materials under diverse conditions.

Dr. Josh Mutus currently serves as the Director of Quantum Materials at Rigetti Computing, a position he has held since April 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Alberta and an undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor. Before joining Rigetti Computing, Josh worked for Google as a Quantum Electronics Engineer, where he worked for over six years from 2014 to 2021. Prior to Google, he did post-doctoral work at UC Santa Barbara.

Stefan Kister is an experienced HPC/QC Solution Architect at ParTec AG since January 2024, focusing on creating solution offerings for Artificial Intelligence, High Performance Computing, and Quantum Computing in the pre-sales phase. Previously, Stefan Kister worked at IBM from May 1999 to December 2023 in various roles, including IBM Quantum Technical Ambassador and Qiskit Advocate, where responsibilities involved client engagement and collaboration in quantum computing. As a Quantum Client Delivery Lead, Stefan Kister managed delivery for quantum computing projects and built long-term client relationships. Additional roles included technical leadership in accounts and support in hybrid cloud solutions, with expertise in IT architecture for the banking sector. Education includes a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry and a Master's Degree in Chemistry from TU Dortmund University.

Abhishek Chopra is the Founder and CEO of BQP, a pioneering quantum computing startup. A recognized leader in computational sciences and quantum innovation, he has secured over $4.7M in venture and government funding and built strategic partnerships with IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and TCS. Abhishek holds a master’s in aerospace engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has published extensively on high-fidelity CFD for aerospace applications. His accolades include the Vertical Flight Society’s eVTOL Design Award and the Purdue SURF fellowship. A sought-after keynote speaker, he has spoken at events including the Asian CFD Conference, ISDSI-Global, and the Quantum Computing Summit.

Juan José Mendoza Arenas is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science of the University of Pittsburgh. He is also an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics & Astronomy. He obtained his B.Sc. (2008) and M.Sc. (2010) at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in Bogotá. Then he received his PhD in Physics at the University of Oxford (2015). He joined the University of Pittsburgh in 2023.

Hessam Babaee is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Applied Mathematics, both from Louisiana State University, in 2013. He then joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT for his postdoctoral research before moving to the University of Pittsburgh in January 2017. His research focuses on developing low-rank approximation techniques for high-dimensional dynamical systems. His work has been funded by many organizations, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

Bimal Mehta is the Head of AI and ML Engineering within Centre of Analytics & Insights at Vanguard. His primary role is to lead the AI and ML pipelines for Vanguard’s Personal Investor Business. Bimal is also part of Vanguard’s Enterprise Quantum Group that is responsible for exploring and advocating Quantum Computing use cases and applications at Vanguard. He actively leads a team that is exploring quantum algorithms in the Machine Learning and Optimization space

Isabella is a fifth-year Ph.D. student in the physics department at Duke. She studies quantum networking of trapped ion quantum computers in Christopher Monroe’s lab. Along with her research, Isabella values science communication and increasing diversity and equity within the physics and the broader STEM communities. Outside of physics, she enjoys powerlifting and spending time with friends and her dog, Dakota.

Dr. Pascal Halffmann holds a PhD in mathematics and is the research coordinator for the quantum computing activities of Fraunhofer ITWM in Kaiserslautern, Germany. His research is focused on both quantum computing and optimization with applications ranging from finance to energy. In particular, he has conducted substantial research in the intersection of these two research areas and provided substantial results on quantum algorithms for application-oriented optimization problems.

​Ricky is the COO of qBraid, a quantum computing startup building a one-stop shop for quantum computing software and hardware. Before joining qBraid, Ricky contributed to the LIGO A+ upgrade project, developed machine learning models for splitting instrumentals at Audioshake AI, and worked as a software engineer for the travel division of LINE, Japan’s largest social media platform. Ricky grew up in Michigan and graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Engineering Physics with a focus on Quantum Science.

Aoife spent almost a decade as a researcher in theoretical cosmology before developing an interest in quantum computing and joining the research and development team at ColibriTD. Her work involves the development of quantum algorithms, with a particular focus on potential applications in climate modelling.

Travis Humble is director of the Department of Energy’s Quantum Science Center, a Distinguished Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and director of the lab’s Quantum Computing Institute. Travis leads the development of new quantum technologies and infrastructure to impact the DOE mission of scientific discovery. Travis is also editor-in-chief for ACM Transactions on Quantum Computing and co-chair of the IEEE Quantum Initiative. Travis holds a joint faculty appointment with the University of Tennessee Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education to work with students in developing energy-efficient computing solutions. Travis received a doctorate in theoretical chemistry from the University of Oregon before joining ORNL in 2005.

With Bachelors in Chemistry and Astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Leiden Kirstin's research has focused on molecular spectroscopy and astrochemistry. Quantum chemical calculations have been an integral part of her research to identify and understand molecular energy levels and structure.