Monday, January 26, 2026, 6.00pm to 8.00pm PST
Join us on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:00pm (PDT) for a special evening talk and panel discussion on quantum computing with Florian Neukart (Terra Quantum), Eleanor Rieffel (NASA, Ames’ Quantum AI Lab), Camille Stavrakas (Selwyn, 2014), (PsiQuantum), and Alex Weber-Bargioni (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory).
Once confined to theory, quantum computing is now moving from the lab toward real-world applications. This discussion will explore where the field stands today, what challenges remain, and how quantum technologies could transform areas such as materials and drug discovery, energy storage, and climate modeling — with potentially far-reaching implications for science and society.
Following the talk, you're invited to connect with other alumni over refreshments.
The event is jointly organised by Cambridge Alumni of Northern California and the UK Science & Technology Network and will take place at the British Consulate in San Francisco
We look forward to seeing you there!
Florian Neukart
Florian Neukart is the Chief Product Officer at Terra Quantum AG, and a Professor of Quantum Computing at Leiden University. His research spans quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and theoretical physics, culminating in information-centric models of spacetime. Florian holds key positions at Terra Quantum AG, the Quantum Economy Institute, and several advisory boards, including the World Economic Forum's Future Council on Quantum Computing. His previous experience at Volkswagen Group and contributions to Germany's National Roadmap for Quantum Computing highlight his significant influence in shaping the future of technology. Florian is also committed to education and research as an assistant professor and author, focusing on the nexus of AI and quantum computing.
Eleanor G. Rieffel
Eleanor G. Rieffel leads NASA’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) and serves as Senior Researcher for Advanced Computing and Data Analytics. She joined NASA Ames in 2012 and is also Chief Computational Scientist for the SQMS Center. Her research focuses on quantum algorithms, near-term hardware, error mitigation, and distributed quantum computing. Eleanor holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from UCLA and is coauthor of Quantum Computing: A Gentle Introduction (MIT Press, 2011).
Camille Stavrakas
Camille Stavrakas is a Research and Development engineer at PsiQuantum, a photonics-based quantum computing startup company. Since joining the company in 2021 she has been working at the interface between materials science and integrated quantum photonics, to develop materials and designs of high-purity single photon sources for error-corrected linear quantum computing. She earned her degrees in different fields of physics from universities in Paris, Singapore, Uppsala and Cambridge. She completed her PhD in Physics in 2019 at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. She then carried out postdoctoral research at the Molecular Foundry (Berkeley, California). While pursuing her PhD research, she worked as a free-lance consultant in emerging technologies with clients such as BAE Systems and the British Ministry of Defense. Outside of the lab she is an amateur violin-maker, beekeeper, scuba-diver, traveler, glider pilot, motorcyclist and more recently circus aerialist.
Alex Weber-Bargioni
Dr Alexander Weber-Bargioni is a prominent physicist and Staff Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Alex was previously the director of the Imaging Facility at the Molecular Foundry. He specializes in Nanoscale Imaging, Quantum Materials and Atomic Precision.
Booking information
Register (bkansara@yahoo.com)
