2019/20 Cohort

• Sahra Ahmed Kulmiya

  Ion Motion Control for the Realisation of a Logical Trapped Ion Qubit
  Sahra has completed an MSc. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Birmingham and graduated from the University of Greenwich with a BSc. in Mathematics in 2018. During the summer of 2017, she did a 6 week internship at Durham University working on simulating the Quantum Walk Algorithm in Maltab, which she wrote up in her Bachelors Thesis. Her Masters thesis focused on looking at the Rabi Frequencies of Rubidium Atoms under an electric field. Sahra is excited to learn more about quantum physics and implementing quantum technologies in all sciences. In her spare time she enjoys running, writing in her journal, and keeping a healthy mind and body

• Tom Bell
  Tom completed an MSci in physics at the University of Cambridge in 2017, where he focused on topics in applied quantum mechanics. His final year project involved work in the solid-state group, investigating thermoelectric properties of topological materials. Tom took a year out from Physics after graduating before working at a Quantum Computing start-up, which led to a renewed interest in Quantum Technologies and enrollment in the CDT. In his spare time, Tom is a keen mountain biker and footballer, and occasionally dabbles with a guitar.
• Marcus Clark

  Quantum Networks: Towards a Quantum Internet
  Marcus graduated from Swansea University in 2019 with a first class MPhys degree. His final year project was entitled “Needleless electrospun nanofiber mats of a co-spun PEO and Ubx solution”, which was grounded in materials physics. From his taught modules in his degree he chose to apply to the QE-CDT with a special interest in Quantum Communication and Cryptography.

• Sebastian Currie

  Realising scaleable systems for quantum photonics
  Sebastian graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2019 with a 1st class MSci in theoretical physics. His masters project was focussed on the topic of quantum communications. Specifically assessing the trade-off between security and efficiency within modified Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) schemes. Prior to this he had undertaken theory projects in a wide range of areas including theoretical biophysics and lattice QCD, before settling on pursuing research in quantum information. Seb is looking forward to getting back into the lab and putting some of the theory into practice before deciding upon his final project area. Outside of work he loves to play a range of sports, although mainly hockey and football. Where possible he loves getting back into the countryside and going hiking or biking. All this activity allows him to indulge a deep love of any and all food.

• Tasos Fasoulakis

  Hybrid light-matter interfaces for linking molecules and atoms with photons
  Tasos graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with an Engineering Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering. During his undergraduate studies he got specialised into microwave systems and his diploma thesis was about the simulation of Wireless Power Transfer Systems that use metamaterial lenses and Graphene sheets as emitter-receiver pairs. Trying to combine his love for both abstract physics and the art of engineering, he decided to get involved with quantum computing. So, after graduation, he fulfilled his 9-month military service (unfortunately it is compulsory) and then he completed the “Quantum Technologies” MSc program in UCL. Right now, he is part of the “Quantum Engineering” CDT program in the University of Bristol. When he is not bound by scientific commitments, he likes spending time on long walks, reading, playing music, partying, drinking (of course) and travelling.

• Ben Jones

  Entanglement and non-locality in quantum networks
  Ben received an integrated Masters in Mathematics from Durham University in 2018, which included a year studying abroad at the Université de Neuchâtel in Switzerland. His masters project was in Theoretical Physics, looking at how gauge transformations in the Standard Model can be described using the language of Differential Geometry. Ben then worked as a research assistant at the University of Sheffield, looking at overlaps in metaheuristics and quantum computing. This work led to a published paper on reducing the error in quantum simulation using evolutionary strategies. He joins the CDT following an internship in Singapore with Entropica Labs, a quantum machine learning startup. Aside from work, Ben enjoys music, the outdoors, and playing racket sports.

• Sam Mister

  Using Quantum Dots to Generate Spin Photon Entanglement
  Sam graduated from the University of Bristol in 2019 with a Msci in Maths and Physics where he was awarded the Sir Nevil Mott prize and the NormanThompson Project prize. His final year project focused on proving that the flow of probability in discrete-time Quantum walks is locally conserved. Sam is interested in Quantum error correction and the development of Quantum algorithms. In his spare time, Sam likes to learn and perform magic and was previously the president of the UoB Magic Society. His other interests also include table tennis and ukulele.

• Quinn Palmer

  Efficient sources and strong filters for silicon quantum photonics in the mid-infrared
  Quinn graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2019 with an MSci in Mathematics and Physics. His final year project investigated randomised benchmarking; a protocol used to characterise the average error rate on noisy Clifford gates. The project involved simulating this protocol on a single qubit for different Clifford decompositions using Mathematica. Before this Quinn had also completed a project on Grover’s algorithm; a quantum search algorithm. Coming from a more theoretical background Quinn is excited to try out some experimental work in quantum optics. His interests in quantum technologies lie in quantum computation and simulation of quantum systems. He also enjoys rock climbing, snooker, games and loves dogs.

• Naomi Solomons

  Boson sampling with single photon emitter input states
  Naomi graduated from Durham University in 2019 with an MSci in Natural Sciences (Maths and Physics). In 2018 she spent her summer in Hamburg as part of the DESY summer school programme, where she worked in the ATLAS group simulating the implementation of selection cuts to photons as part of the Future Circular Collider study. Her Masters project looked at model independent solutions for lepton flavour universality violation in the R(D) and R(D*) flavour anomalies studied at the Belle and LHCb experiments. She really enjoyed studying Quantum Information in her undergraduate courses, and how it is able to combine conceptually challenging fundamental concepts with practical applications, and is looking forward to getting some experience in the lab. In her free time she likes to play flute and sing in choirs.

• Matt Stafford

  Integrated Optics as a Platform for Continuous Variable Measurement Based Quantum Computing
  Matt graduated from both the University of York with a BSc in Maths and Physics in 2012 and an MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College in 2017. During his MSc dissertation, A Review of Soft Hair on Quantum Black Holes as a Potential Solution to the Information Paradox, he developed a keen interest in quantum information theory. In between studies Matt has spent several years in industry as a technical consultant for Microsoft. By joining the Quantum Engineering PhD Matt hopes to merge his experiences of academia and industry. Outside of work Matt is a keen traveller having spent 9 months in Latin America, a year in Canada and most recently a month-long solo cycle tour around Scotland.