NCSU picks faculty members to lead IBM Quantum Computing Hub

RALEIGH – IBM’s first quantum computing hub on a US college campus will be led by two faculty members at N.C. State.

Executive director is Daniel Stancil, Alcoa Distinguished Professor and head of NC State’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Chief scientist is Patrick Dreher, research professor in the Department of Computer Science and associate faculty member in the Department of Physics.

Daniel Stancil

IBM and NCSU announced last year that the IBM Quantum Computing Hub would be located at NCSU’s Centennial Campus as part of IBM’s Q Network.

Stancil will oversee the hub’s strategic operations, including partnerships with industry, government and other universities, NCSU says.

“Dr. Stancil has vast experience leading complex interdisciplinary initiatives within research universities,” said Dennis Kekas, associate vice chancellor for partnerships and economic development, and Q Hub steering committee member. “He is a great fit to oversee the development of the IBM Q Hub at NC State.”

The university notes that Stancil “has spent many years as a professor of electrical and computer engineering at both Carnegie Mellon University and NC State. While at Carnegie Mellon, he served as associate head of the electrical and computer engineering department, and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering. He has been department head at NC State since 2009. Stancil received his doctorate and master’s degree in engineering from MIT.”

Dheher will identify strategic research opportunities for quantum computing at NC State and guide the development of curriculum and education programs, NCSU notes.

Patrick Dreher

“Dr. Dreher brings decades of experience from industry, government and academia,” added Mladen Vouk, vice chancellor for research and innovation, and Q Hub steering committee member. “His leadership will advance NC State’s quantum computing research and education initiatives.”

The university points out that Dreher “has more than 25 years of research experience in the applications of computer technologies to science and engineering research problems. Prior to joining NC State, he held senior scientific and R&D management positions at MIT, and served in similar roles in both government research labs and industry. Dreher’s scientific interests range from potential quantum computing applications for fundamental physics to interfaces with computer science and areas of quantitative finance. Dreher received his doctorate in physics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.”

The Q hub went online last fall.

Quantum computers use qubits rather than the binary code of 1s and 0s of classic computers. IBM offers access to the latest and largest quantum computing technology, as indicated by the number of functioning qubits.

Researchers at NCSU can have access to IBM’s current 20 qubit system. A 5o qubit system is planned.