PEDLS William D. Oliver — Lecture
| Event Date: | January 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Speaker: | William D. Oliver, Henry Ellis Warren (1894) Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Professor of Physics
Director, Center for Quantum Engineering Associate Director, Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT |
| Location: | ARMS Atrium |
| Priority: | No |
| School or Program: | Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| College Calendar: | Show |
Hosted by the College of Engineering and Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Abstract
Quantum computers are fundamentally different from conventional computers. They promise to address certain problems that are practically prohibitive and even impossible to solve using today’s supercomputers. The challenge is building one that is large enough to be useful. In this talk, we will provide an overview of contemporary quantum computing at an intuitive level, including the technology, the promise, the hype and the challenges ahead associated with realizing useful quantum computers at scale.
Biography
William D. Oliver is jointly appointed the Henry Ellis Warren (1894) Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves as the director of the Center for Quantum Engineering, associate director of the Research Laboratory of Electronics and principal investigator with the Engineering Quantum Systems Group at MIT campus. Will’s research interests include the materials growth, fabrication, design and measurement of superconducting qubits, as well as the development of cryogenic packaging and control electronics.
From 2003-2023, Will also worked at MIT Lincoln Laboratory — most recently as Laboratory Fellow (2017-2023) — where he was instrumental in growing the quantum computing group to its present levels. Will stepped down from this position to co-found Atlantic Quantum, a quantum computing startup. Atlantic Quantum was acquired by Google in October 2025.
Will is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Physical Society, and a fellow of the IEEE. He serves on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee, the U.S. Committee for Superconducting Electronics, and as an IEEE Applied Superconductivity Conference lead editor.
Will received his PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University, his MS in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and a BS in electrical engineering and BA in Japanese from the University of Rochester (NY).