Postgraduate research opportunities Controlling quantum information scrambling for enhanced quantum computing
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Thursday 28 August 2025
- Deadline: Wednesday 15 October 2025
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 48 months
- Funding: Equipment costs, Home fee, Stipend, Travel costs
Overview
This project explores how quantum information scrambling - the spreading of quantum correlations through many-body systems - can be harnessed as a practical resource for quantum computing. You'll study scrambling dynamics in noisy quantum systems analytically and numerically, and develop new quantum control methods to manipulate chaotic features. The goal is to establish new frameworks for using quantum chaos to improve quantum algorithms, benchmarking, and error mitigation.Eligibility
We are looking for you to have:
- an upper second-class UK Honours degree or overseas equivalent in physics or a closely related subject
- a solid background in quantum theory
- programming skills (Python, Julia, or other)
- knowledge in quantum computing (desirable)
Please mention in your cover letter and / or CV any previous research experience (such as undergraduate projects) and relevant experience in the area of quantum.
Project Details
Quantum information scrambling describes how local quantum information spreads throughout many-body systems, creating complex entanglement patterns. This project explores the interface between fundamental scrambling theory, closely related to quantum chaos, and practical quantum technologies by investigating how scrambling manifests in quantum technologies like computing, simulation, and sensing.
You'll implement advanced numerical methods to simulate operator dynamics and analyse how various noise sources affect the balance between useful quantum correlations and harmful decoherence. The core work involves studying scrambling properties of foundational quantum algorithms (QFT, Phase Estimation, Quantum Annealing) and connecting these to cutting-edge developments like Pauli path algorithms, the resource theory of magic, and quantum optimal control. You'll explore how near-term quantum device constraints affect scrambling behaviour and develop benchmarking protocols for large-scale quantum circuits under realistic noise conditions.
What you'll gain
Novel insights into quantum algorithm design, practical experience with quantum simulation methods, expertise in quantum chaos theory, and skills in quantum benchmarking and error mitigation. This interdisciplinary project connects quantum many-body physics with quantum computing applications, positioning you at the forefront of quantum technology development.
This PhD project will take place in the context of the recently awarded Royal Society University Research Fellowship Project: “Controlling quantum chaos to exploit near-term quantum technologies”. This is an 8-year long project which will explore cutting edge research topics at the interface between quantum chaos, quantum control, and quantum technologies.
Examples of some of the previous work laying the foundation of the new group are:
- Scrambling and ergodicity in quantum annealers - arXiv:2411.12625
- Probing scrambling and operator size distributions - arXiv:2305.16992
- Universally robust quantum control - arXiv:2309.14437
- Phase space geometry and quantum sensing - arXiv:2211.01250
Further information
Funding details
Funding includes full home tuition fee plus an annual tax-free stipend of £20,034. Funds will also be available to support relevant equipment and travel.
Home Students
To be eligible for a fully funded UK home studentship you must:
- Be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and
- Have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and
- Have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/ EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
Number of places: 1
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Physics
Programme: Physics