Note: Please pass word of this program on to anyone you think may be interested.
The theoretical Quantum Information Science group at the University of Queensland is inviting expressions of interest from graduate students and early career researchers (up to eight years out of PhD) interested in visiting the group for 3-5 weeks during 2005.
About the group: The Quantum Information Science group currently has four faculty members (Andrew Doherty, Gerard Milburn, Michael Nielsen, Tim Ralph), 5 postdocs, and 14 PhD students. Group members collaborate closely with the experimental groups of Andrew White (quantum technology lab) and Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop (BEC and quantum dots), the theoretical condensed matter group of Ross McKenzie, and the Queensland node of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum and Atom Optics. Fellows will be encouraged to interact broadly during their visit.
Duration: Fellowships will normally last for three to five weeks.
Background of Fellows
Graduate Students: Fellows will be currently working towards a PhD in quantum information science or a closely related field.
Early Career Researchers: Fellows should have a strong interest in quantum information science, but in some instances their background may be primarily in other areas of science, e.g., control theory, pure mathematics, theoretical computer science, condensed matter physics, quantum optics, high-energy physics, or other fields with a potential to contribute to the group.
We encourage applications from potential Fellows in all areas of science (computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry) relevant to quantum information science.
Time: We aim to spread the Fellows out during 2005. For this reason, we ask that applicants think seriously about what dates they would be available to take up the Fellowship, and indicate those dates on the expression of interest.
Number: Up to 20 Fellowships will be awarded in 2005, 10 to graduate students, and 10 to early career researchers. The initial round of applications will be due March 18; depending on the quality and number of applications a further round may be held later in the year.
Benefits: The Fellowship will cover: the cost of a return economy class airfare by the most direct route from the recipient’s home institution to Brisbane, Australia; the cost of accommodation while in Brisbane; and the cost of transport to and from the airport. Please note that no salary or stipend will be provided.
Research seminar: Fellows will be asked to present a 40 minute whiteboard seminar about their ongoing research.
Tutorial lectures: Fellows will be asked to present a series of 2-4 tutorial lectures on some topic they nominate, for presentation at an informal whiteboard seminar series. These could come from a very wide range of areas, and would not be restricted to quantum information science. The following list of examples is simply meant to be suggestive: applicants should ask themselves what specialist knowledge they have that might be of interest to others.
- Computer science: The status of the P versus NP problem; pseudorandom generators; derandomization; expander graphs; Markov chain Monte Carlo; PCP.
- Control theory: open loop control; feedback control; complete controllability; Pontryagin maximum principle; Bellman equation.
- Mathematics: topics in advanced linear algebra; Lie groups; Hopf algebras; quantum groups.
- Complex systems: small worlds; network theory; self-organized criticality; information markets.
- Condensed matter physics: quantum Hall effect; Bose-Einstein condensation; Mott insulater phase transition; superfluidity; superconductivity; high-temperature superconductivity; quantum phase transitions in general.
- Other areas: Virtually any well-presented topic in any area of fundamental interest in computer science, mathematics and physics will be well-received.
Expression of interest
Please cut and paste the following into email, fill it out, and send to Michael Nielsen at nielsen@physics.uq.edu.au with the subject “Visiting Fellowship application”. Applications must be received by March 18 to be eligible; late applications will not be accepted.
Name:
Current position:
Supervisor (for grad student):
Thesis topic (for grad student):
Institution:
Current interests:
Past interests:
List up to three papers you’ve published in the past three years:
Desired duration of visit (3-5 weeks):
Dates you would able to visit (between April 15 and December 31, 2005):
Examples of three topics you’d be willing to give a short series (2-4) of tutorial seminars on. Note that this list is not binding; it’s simply meant to indicate the range of your expertise.