2021/22 Cohort

• Samuel Gears

  Integration, development and deployment of spatially multiplexed single photon sources
  Sam graduated from the University of Manchester with an Mphys, completing a year abroad studying in Illinois at UIUC. His masters project investigated Monte-Carlo simulations of optical electron phonon scattering mechanisms in semiconductors, for use in rapid prototyping of transistor gate timings and pulse analysis. During a summer internship at Curtiss-Wright, he developed a motor matching algorithm for parameter estimation in brushless electronic speed controllers. His interests are in quantum photonics and deep learning, also enjoying problem solving in the lab. In his spare time, Sam enjoys cross country running, cycling, long distance walking and playing the piano.

• Oliver Green

  On Chip Generation and Characterization of Non-Gaussian States of light
  Oliver graduated with an MPhys in 2021 from the University of Southampton, having spent his masters year working on quantum memories. He spent this final year working on an experiment to, by harnessing the Autler-Townes effect, facilitate the storage and retrieval of photonic quantum information in an atomic vapour. Having come from a heavily experimental background he is looking forward to diversifying his experiences through the CDT and explore everything quantum engineering has to offer. Although he comes into the CDT with an open mind, he has keen interests in QKD and more generally in quantum optics. Outside of physics Oliver enjoys playing Squash and singing in a choir.

• Aidan Higgins

  Scaleable integration of electronic and Photonic integrated circuits for quantum optics in silicon
  Aidan graduated from the University of Bristol in 2021 with an MEng in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. His final year thesis explored leveraging the behaviour of spin-lasers for increased modulation bandwidth for communications purposes. He has industrial work experience with various placements at Siemens and a 3-month placement at Renishaw where he worked at the Encoder Division in designing and manufacturing a modular power supply PCB for the next generation of absolute encoder. Aidan was the Bristol Electric Racing lead electrical engineer for the Formula Student competition in 2019. His main interests are in Quantum computation and in collaborating to find solutions to the complex engineering problems posed. In his spare time Aidan enjoys squash, skiing, baking and traveling.

• Brandon Horsley

  Bayesian Inference for Heterogeneous Integrated Photonic systems
  Brandon graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2021 with an MPhys. His primary research focus during his degree was in simulating the behaviour of open quantum systems with his Master’s year thesis exploring how changing parameters for a simple open quantum system affected photon anti-bunching. He is enthusiastic about moving his expertise towards quantum technology and finding a place he can best help. He has a wide range of interests and constantly seeks to improve and pick up new skills, such as going to the gym and trying to get back into learning the piano.

• Meagan Hough

  Machine learning for Robust control of Quantum systems
  Meagan graduated from Cardiff University with an MSc in Physics. Her MSc project compared semiclassical Hamiltonians to the Jaynes Cummings Hamiltonian to study where similarities in their applications broke down. Prior to this her BSc project focussed on using transfer matrices to solve the 1D Schrödinger equation for bound state energies in quantum wells. Her academic background leans into more theoretical elements and so during the CDT she hopes to gain more experimental experience. Her current research interests include quantum algorithms and simulations. Outside of academia Meagan enjoys outreach, archery and gaming.

• Harry Kendell

  Implementing optimal Control with principla Component Analysis
  Harry graduated from the University of Oxford in 2021 with an MPhys. He completed an internship with QET Labs at Bristol in 2019 working on developing a novel compact confocal microscope utilising a pair of diffractive micro-optical elements. This inspired a move to astrophysics instrumentation with a third-year project building a wavefront sensor in addition to a masters project focused on designing a frequency comb for calibrating the LSF of an Integral Field Spectrograph. However, having studied modules on Quantum Optics, Information, and Computation in his fourth year he is keen to explore this area further while focusing on experimental work at Bristol. Outside of physics he is keen to continue rowing, running and cycling despite the steep hills in Bristol.

• Beth Puzio

  An integrated photonic continuous-variable multimodal entangled sensor for quantum enhanced precision
  Beth graduated from the University of Bristol in 2021 with an MSci in Physics. Her master's project explored using continuous time quantum walks to estimate time as a parameter, focusing on how the precision and accuracy of the estimation could be maximised. Her project, and studying quantum information topics as a part of her degree, inspired her to undertake a PhD in this area of Physics. Having only conducted theoretical research, Beth is excited to develop her practical skills in the lab. Her main interests lie within Quantum metrology and Quantum computation. Outside of her studies, Beth enjoys running, and DJing and producing electronic music.

• Angela Stephen

  FIB ion implantation of photonic structures
  Angela is from India, and has been studying for an MSc in Optoelectronics and Quantum Technologies at the University of Bristol. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from SRM University, India. As part of her master’s project, she worked on an Industrial project with Airbus where she did most of her experimental project in the NV Center lab in the Department of Physics. She was introduced to Quantum Engineering through her master’s program which pushed her to want to study in the CDT program alongside established experts in this field. She is expecting to start working on a research project at Nu Quantum on Lumerical simulations of single photon detectors. Angela's main research interests lie in Quantum Photonics and Quantum Communications. She is hoping to learn as much exposure and practical aspects of quantum technologies through the CDT program.

• Benjamin Stratton

  Quantum Resource Theories and Their Application in Quantum Information Processing Tasks
  Ben graduated from the University of Bristol in 2020 with an MSci in Physics. During his masters year he focused on quantum information and quantum computation while under taking a research project to explore the definition of work within quantum thermodynamics using quantum batteries. His main interests are within quantum computing, in particular algorithms for real world applications and thermodynamic limitations of quantum computers. While predominantly a theorist, he is interested in exploring the experimental side of Quantum Engineering also.