Postdoc Spotlight – Yanzhu Chen
January 24, 2022
By Diana Murphy, C2QA OWED Leader
Tell us about your educational background and interests.
I finished up my Ph.D. in physics at Stony Brook University in 2021 before joining Sophia Economou’s team at Virginia Tech as a postdoctoral associate. The general focus of my work during my Ph.D. was how to utilize quantum computing. On the practical side, I have worked on quantum error characterization and quantum error mitigation. In the more theoretical aspect, I am interested in how topology can assist quantum computing and how to design near-term quantum algorithms. Aside from quantum computing, I am also interested in classification and characterization of topological crystalline phases in condensed matter physics.
What is your current research focus?
I am currently working on variational quantum algorithms, in particular ADAPT-QAOA (adaptive derivative-assembled problem-tailored quantum approximate optimization algorithm).
What is an accomplishment that you are most proud of?
At this point in my career, my favorite accomplishment may sound like a cliché, but it is coming out of graduate school in one piece!
What is one thing that most people may not know about you?
A fun fact about me is that among my friends in graduate school, I am unofficially the one with the greatest tolerance for spicy food.
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