Programming Quantum Computers

Eric Johnston (“EJ”) is the creator of the QCEngine quantum computation simulator, and also an acrobat and competitive gymnast. As an engineer, EJ values surprise and whimsy above all other things. He studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at U. C. Berkeley, and worked as a researcher in Quantum Engineering at the University of Bristol Centre for Quantum Photonics. EJ worked at Lucasfilm for two decades as a software engineer for video games and movie effects, along with occasional motion-capture stunt performance.Alongside developing strategies for encoding information within quantum computers, Nic has also worked extensively in the foundations of quantum mechanics. His time grappling with the fundamental meaning of quantum physics has uniquely equipped him to convey (and sometimes judiciously avoid) it’s finer details. He also has 10+ years experience working in science communication, having developed numerous public lectures, workshops and educational resources aimed at conveying complex physics topics to a general audience. Along with work in other media (eg: television, radio), his public engagement work has won various awards (eg: NESTA UK Famelab winner) and been recognized by a visit to 10 downing street. He also has a lifelong passion for more conventional computing and machine learning.Mercedes Gimeno-Segovia is a world-class researcher in quantum computing. She has a PhD in Quantum Computing Architectures from Imperial College London, and 7+ years of research experience in the field. Her PhD thesis has become a milestone in the field of linear optical quantum computing, as her design of a linear optical architecture overcame many challenges thought unsurmountable and proved to be feasible using current manufacturing techniques. Mercedes has expert knowledge on the limitations of quantum computing implementations, and is passionate about understanding every last detail of a physical system in her quest to find optimal quantum computing hardware. She enjoys science communication, writing a blog and giving public lectures to young students. She’s also an accomplished violinist, having finished qualifications in violin performance and winning an extraordinary award during her studies.