The research group of Prof. Wenchao Ge (https://sites.google.com/view/wenchaoge) in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Missouri, Columbia (Mizzou), invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in theoretical quantum information science and engineering (QISE). The successful candidate will conduct theoretical research in hybrid quantum-classical algorithms on near-term quantum devices supported by National Science Foundations through the NSF ExpandQISE program (https://new.nsf.gov/news/quantum-science-engineering-expands-across-nati...). Topics of interest include but are not limited to, quantum entanglement and spin squeezing, quantum approximate optimization algorithms, and benchmarking protocols with different quantum platforms, such as neutral atoms, trapped ions, and superconducting qubits. The successful candidate will also collaborate with Prof. Ilya Safro at the University of Delaware on designing, analyzing, and implementing quantum algorithms.
Prof. Ge is a newly hired faculty member under the reputable MizzouForward Initiative (https://provost.missouri.edu/mizzou-forward/mizzouforward-faculty/). The group of Prof. Ge has collaborations with leading QISE research institutions, including NIST, Army Research Lab, Rice University, and QISE industry (IBM Quantum, QuEra, IonQ, and AWS). This research is also supported by the Mizzou Quantum Innovation Center (QIC) in partnership with the IBM Quantum Network (https://engineering.missouri.edu/quantum-innovation-center/). This is a major University Initiative involving the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of IT.
A Ph.D. in Physics or a closely related field is required to be considered for this position. The candidate should be experienced in Python, algorithms, and quantum computing-related software infrastructure such as Qiskit, Pennylane, Classiq, and CUDA-Quantum. The candidate needs to have excellent writing and oral communication skills in English. The initial appointment is for one year with possible extensions. The expected starting date is July 2026, but the actual date is negotiable. Competitive compensation for the position will be provided, and travel support is available.
To apply, please send the following information to Dr. Ge directly (email: wgcw9@missouri.edu): a CV with a list of publications, a cover letter describing your research experience and relevance to the position advertised, and the contact information of three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
