‘Quantum computing is at an inflection point’

We spoke to Si-Hui Tan about recent advancements in the quantum sector and what motivates her to keep innovating.

Chief science officer at software development platform Horizon Quantum, Si-Hui Tan is a veteran of the industry with more than 15 years of experience under her belt. She regularly shares her insights at key sector events and frequently contributes to high-profile STEM journals. 

With a BSc in physics from Caltech and a PhD in physics from MIT, she excelled at her studies in university, but her love for science and all things technical began in school where her favourite subjects were maths and science and she thrived under the support of teachers and mentors. 

“I would spend a lot of time after classes to find and work on extra credit questions,” Tan told SiliconRepublic.com. “I had a great math teacher who was really supportive and pointed me to the possibility of doing a project with a university professor. 

“With her encouragement, I reached out to a professor working on high energy physics and with his help, learnt to code, attended some university-level physics classes and met students who were pursuing a career in science. I felt challenged and inspired. That was the first time I seriously thought about pursuing scientific research as a career and eventually I did.”

Where no one has gone before

Tan’s role involves making sure that R&D efforts at the company match the organisation’s strategy, with the end goal ensuring that the programming of quantum computers is accessible to all, including non-quantum experts. An aspect that greatly appeals to her as she is incredibly excited by the “high potential to be the first to find something new”.  

“We are building next-generation programming tools and software infrastructure to simplify and expedite the process of developing software for quantum computers. What we are building will increase our capability to code, compile and deploy programs to quantum computers and also eventually remove the need for prior quantum computing experience so that every software developer can deploy quantum-enhanced applications,” she said.

She explained that “quantum computing as a field is at an inflection point”, in that there have been a number of exciting innovations in recent times. For example, the success of new qubit platforms such as Atom Computing which recently used neutral atoms to build a quantum chip that exceeded 1,000 qubits (a unit of information in quantum computing).  

“Google achieved a two-times improvement over the best physical qubit, with error correction sustained over many rounds with real time decoding. This is the first full demonstration of quantum error correction, achieving a 25-year goal for the field.” 

As the industry advances, Tan said that quantum chips are getting larger and the overhead for quantum error is reducing. In line with the acceleration of development from a hardware point of view, she noted industry leaders are making important advancements with software. 

“We are rapidly moving beyond the limitations of a circuit-based model for quantum programming. To make quantum computers really useful, we need to allow conventional developers to code for quantum devices. The implementation of control flow or C/C++ functions is an important step towards this goal. 

“Our recent launch of the dynamic memory allocation capabilities laid the foundations of a quantum operating system. There are still many barriers on the path to widespread adoption of quantum computing, but with recent developments, the future of quantum looks rosy.”

Looking for a quantum career?

As we become increasingly confident in the creation, maintenance and use of quantum technologies, for people such as Tan, with aspirations to innovate the next phase of the industrial revolution, there are a number of opportunities awaiting in a wide range of careers. 

“Given the interdisciplinary nature of quantum computing and its widespread impact, we are likely to see a growth in quantum-related STEM careers, both in basic and applied sciences.”

For anyone looking to embark upon a career in this space, she suggests developing a broad skillset that can include an education in quantum mechanics, linear algebra and computer science. However, there is more than one way to find yourself working in quantum and professionals should also consider roles in product management, software engineering and design, as you can always work towards your end goal step-by-step.

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