Contact Us

Thomas E. Roth

Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Email: rothte@purdue.edu

Phone: 765-496-5308

Office: WANG 3063

Preferred contact method is email.

Open Position: Postdoctoral Researcher

Join a team that is working to improve computational modeling tools to design and optimize quantum information technologies, with a current focus on superconducting quantum computers and sensors. Ongoing projects involve collaborations with engineers, experimental physicists, and applied mathematicians in industry, national laboratories, and academia working on problems ranging from building large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers to engineering dark matter detectors. The successful candidate will be actively involved in these collaborations, supporting activities related to the following.

  • Developing advanced finite element method solvers in the frequency and time domains for large and highly multiscale systems that commercial tools struggle to model reliably. Activities include researching new PDEs that lead to better conditioned systems, advancing goal-oriented adaptive mesh refinement, and developing domain decomposition methods for targeted applications.
  • Research novel multiphysics methods to model the interactions of electromagnetic control pulses with many-qubit quantum processors leveraging tensor network compression techniques.
  • Integrating these multiphysics methods into control optimization frameworks to improve the speed and fidelity of qubit state control and readout.
  • Use advanced uncertainty quantification methods to accelerate the modeling effects of quantum noise and decoherence in large-scale quantum dynamics simulations.

This is a full-time position and provides exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary research and career development. This position will be primarily mentored by Prof. Thomas E. Roth with input from other faculty and collaborators spanning various fields including physics, engineering, and mathematics, providing exposure to both industry and academic research perspectives. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to support the mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students in their research.

A PhD in electrical engineering, physics, math, or related fields with a strong background in scientific computing is required, as are excellent communication skills. Previous experience in one (or more) of these areas: computational electromagnetics, optimal control, microwave engineering, uncertainty quantification, or high-performance computing is desired. For consideration submit a CV and the names and contact information of three professional references as a .pdf file attachment to: Prof. Thomas E. Roth (rothte@purdue.edu), Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Opportunities for Graduate Students

We have multiple project opportunities available for graduate students in the areas of computational electromagnetics and quantum electromagnetics research. Project topics are primarily aimed at developing advanced modeling methodologies for analyzing quantum information processing devices, especially circuit quantum electrodynamics architectures. However, there are also opportunities to apply the computational electromagnetics methods being developed to a variety of classical applied electromagnetics technologies that are challenging to model efficiently.

Interested PhD/MS students should contact Professor Roth directly and include a copy of their CV/resume.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

We are always interested in working with highly motivated undergraduate students that want to gain research experience. We have a number of projects that are appropriate for various levels of experience and research interests, ranging from supporting graduate students by developing meshing and visualization tools to developing numerical models for simple quantum systems. We are typically looking for ECE and physics students, but mathematics and computer science students who are interested in modeling physical systems are also encouraged to work with us. 

Currently, undergraduate research will be coordinated through the VIP program at Purdue to support an active NSF grant on developing large-scale quantum information preserving computational electromagnetics methods to improve the design/optimization process of a wide range of quantum technologies. We usually have ~10 students working on the team each semester. This team will be in operation from at least Fall 2023 -- Spring 2026. Students are able to enroll in this course-based research opportunity during any of these semesters, and can participate for multiple semesters if they wish. More information on the VIP team and how to enroll in the course can be found by navigating through the VIP website.