New York University (NYU) is teaming up with IBM in a new postdoctoral program for quantum computer science research that is aimed at accelerating quantum algorithms and applications development.
The collaboration is under the IBM Quantum Network, a consortium of academia, industry and government labs working to advance quantum computing, the university announced Monday. Research will focus on quantum chemistry, computer science, engineering, materials science, physics, and optimization.
The move comes as federal and industry leaders push for more quantum technology-related advancements. U.S. Chief Technology Officer Ethan Klein has said the transition of quantum research to early-stage development and deployment is a top priority of his office.
According to NYU, the postdoctoral program will support today’s quantum-centric supercomputer architectures, which combine quantum and classical high-powered computing workloads, as well as the large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers of the future.
“Quantum computing’s potential to understand and address engineering, mathematical, and scientific barriers is unmatched,” NYU Professor Javad Shabani, director of NYU’s Quantum Institute, said in a statement. “But maximizing its contributions requires developing a network of quantum pioneers across academia and industry who can reach beyond today’s technological boundaries.”
Researchers that are selected for the program will conduct quantum-related projects that are sponsored and supported by IBM’s quantum researchers. The program itself will be held at NYU’s Quantum Institute and at IBM Research headquarters in Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
NYU’s Quantum Institute was established last fall to advance work in quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum sensing.
Jamie Garcia, IBM’s director of growth and strategic partnerships, said that the program will enable NYU’s top talent to “push IBM’s quantum-centric supercomputing architecture not just for immediate application development, but to lay the groundwork for the algorithms that will power tomorrow’s fault-tolerant quantum computers – all while engaging with the broader quantum community of students, researchers, and industry professionals.”