PhD Scholarship: Advanced characterisation and error mitigation techniques for quantum devices | Macquarie University, Australia

The ARC Training Centre for Future Leaders in Quantum Computing (FLiQC), in partnership with Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) and participating universities, is pleased to announce a number of industry ready PhD Scholarships available to suitably qualified and successful applicants.

These scholarships are open to domestic and international students who will enrol full time in a PhD program at one of the participating universities: The University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, or Macquarie University.

Advanced characterisation and error mitigation techniques for quantum devices at Macquarie University

Noise is the biggest challenge of quantum computing. Quantum systems are highly sensitive and interact with their environment. For the execution of a quantum algorithm, we need to prepare qubits in a desired quantum state, apply several gates, and finally measure the qubits. This is the standard circuit model of quantum computing and is the most applicable to current quantum devices, such as superconducting qubits and neutral atoms. The environment affects every timestep of these circuits, both independently and in a correlated manner. This means that noise across the different stages of a quantum algorithm is correlated in time, leading to what we call non-Markovian, or correlated, noise. This type of noise is present in most current quantum devices and starts to be a limiting factor in scaling the technology.
Current estimation techniques for the quality of a quantum processor ignore this type of noise because they lack detection and mitigation strategies for correlated noise.

This project will address this problem. We have already developed protocols to detect correlated noise and have successfully used them on superconducting qubits at the University of Queensland and on IBM Quantum Cloud devices.

During the project, we will optimise correlated-noise detection protocols and create new ones to reduce noise by tuning experimental parameters.

The project will be conducted in partnership with Infleqtion, which is developing a quantum computing device using neutral atoms. Unlike superconducting circuits that operate in a solid-state chip environment and are strongly affected by electrical/material noise, neutral atoms are trapped in a vacuum and couple to their environment primarily via residual fields and control light, leading to different dominant noise pathways. We will focus on detecting and mitigating correlated noise in Infleqtion’s system, an area that has not previously been addressed in this way.

This project would suit: The project is ideal for candidates with a strong background and interest in quantum information and developing theoretical tools to advance current quantum technologies.

Project supervisor: Dr Christina Giarmatzi, Macquarie University. Industry placement at Infleqtion

Details of the Scholarship
The scholarship is for up to 4 years of full time study and includes:
• Student stipend: A$42,754 per annum (2026 rate, indexed annually)
• Substantive engagement with our industry partners as a core component of the PhD
• Access to an industry-ready skills training program provided by the ARC Training Centre
• Entry to the SQA PhD Experience Program events and workshops.

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships are open to domestic and international applicants.
• Domestic students include Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens, or persons entitled to remain in Australia without limitation.
• International students must hold, or be able to obtain, a valid visa for the duration of the scholarship.
Applicants must:
• Hold or be eligible for admission to a full time PhD program at an FLiQC partner university
• Have a PhD offer of admission before an FLiQC scholarship can be awarded
• Have the support of the proposed project supervisor prior to applying
• Not hold another primary PhD stipend scholarship (e.g. RTP or equivalent)
To find our more and apply visit: https://sydneyquantum.org/program/future-leaders-in-quantum-computing-sc…

About Macquarie University
Macquarie University hosts the Centre for Quantum Engineering (MQCQE) with eight core research groups designing second-generation quantum machines. This includes hardware for quantum simulators, quantum sensors and quantum computers, and quantum algorithms for these devices. The Quantum Materials and Applications (QMAPP) group runs three laboratories on campus and at CSIRO, focused on optomechanics and levitation, cavity electrodynamics, and solid-state quantum control. The centre maintains partnerships with Google and BTQ Technologies.