Dr Stefano Scali

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Location: Physics 608

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in quantum algorithms with a focus on graph theory in the group of Oleksandr Kyriienko, QuDOS.

I have worked in quantum topological data analysis, entanglement measures, quantum master equations, graph theory in wave scattering, exceptional points in several settings, and spin dynamics. I always approach problems with an eye to interdisciplinarity by training.

Fedora and Vim user, Julia coder, audiophile. I have been a carpenter, CNC guru, and CAD/CAM dev. Into specialty coffee, I did skydiving, a 2000 Km bike trip across Europe, and piloted a wartime fighter aircraft. After I drink my coffee, I can also do other things, mainly playing tennis, climbing, motocross, and gaming. I am an adrenaline junkie in life and I strongly believe in hands-on experience.

Here a few lines of "CV". Find more here: website | scholar | github | linkedin | twitter

talks and posters

"Quantum topological data analysis: density of states and thermal state preparation" (talk) – APS March meeting, Minneapolis, Mar 2024
"Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (invited talk) – SIFS young seminars, Parma (online), Feb 2024
"Getting started doing quantum computing with IBM quantum composer" (outreach) – Exeter scholars program, Exeter, Feb 2024
"Using a quantum computer to topologically distinguish between a cow and a pretzel" (talk) – Exeter theory group, Exeter, Feb 2024
"Elevating your code development to a holy level: a Git primer" (workshop) – QuDOS group, Exeter, Jan 2024
"Getting started doing quantum computing with IBM quantum composer" (outreach) – Exeter scholars program, Exeter, Mar 2023
"Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (talk) – Windsor CCPQ+9 workshop, Cumberland Lodge, Jul 2022
"Simple guide to invisibility using graph theory" (talk) – Exeter theory group, Exeter, Feb 2022
"Energetics of information" (talk) - CEMPS Sustainability summer school, online, Jul 2021
"Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (talk) - EMPS PGR conference, online, Mar 2021
"Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (poster) - Quantum thermodynamics of non-equilibrium systems, online, Oct 2020
"Probing the geometry of open-system dynamics" (poster) - Quantum thermodynamics for young scientists, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, Feb 2020
"Maxwell's demon and the wedding between thermodynamics and information" (talk) – Christmas workshop (Organiser), Siena, Dec 2019
"Quantum Estimation of Entanglement Properties in Lattice Spin Systems" (talk) - 4th Italian conference of physics students (IAPS), Pisa, Apr 2018

main schools and conferences

APS, Minneapolis (USA), Mar 2024
QCTiP, Cambridge (UK), Apr 2023
Siena Christmas School (Organizer), Siena (Italy) - Dec 2023-2019
Dynamics of Complex Quantum Systems CCPQ+9, Cumberland Lodge (UK), Jul 2022
Quantum thermodynamics for young scientists, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef (Germany), Feb 2020
Frontiers of quantum thermodynamics, Exeter/Brixham (UK), Sep 2019
QuICC summer school, Leeds (UK), Aug 2019
Entanglement in quantum systems, Galileo Galilei Institute - Firenze (Italy), Jun 2018
CERN summer student, Geneva (Switzerland), Jun-Aug 2017

fundings

IBM quantum credits, $70k credits, Jan 2024
Microsoft Azure credits for quantum topological data analysis, $10k credits, Jul 2023

teaching

Scientific programming in Python (PHY2035), teaching assistant, University of Exeter 2022-2023
Quantum mechanics I (PHY2022), tutoring (2 classes), University of Exeter 2020-2022
- Developed my own website, with relative set of lectures based on integrating material and self-study packs, https://stefanoscali.xyz/teaching.html.
Scientific programming in C (PHY2027), teaching assistant, University of Exeter 2020-2022
- Built additional task and C code to add to final projects.
Mathematics with physical applications (PHY2025), teaching assistant (interrupted due max hours permitted), University of Exeter 2020-2021
IT and electronics skills (PHY1028), teaching assistant, University of Exeter 2020-2021
Thermal physics (PHY2023), tutoring, University of Exeter 2019-2020

education and employment

University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, Jan 2023 - ongoing
- Postdoctoral research fellow in “quantum topological data analysis” in the group of Oleksandr Kyriienko, QuDOS.
University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, Sep 2023
- PhD in Physics founded by the EPSRC.
- Project: “Opening the system to the environment: new theories and tools in classical and quantum settings”, supervised by Prof. Janet Anders and Prof. Simon Horsley.
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Jun 2019
- MASt in Physics founded by a scholarship for high-level master’s degree by Regione Toscana (European funds).
- Final year research project: “Analysis of exceptional points in microwave ring resonators”, supervised by Prof. Stafford Withington.
Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy, Apr 2018,
- BSc in Physics and Advanced Technologies founded by a scholarship DSU Toscana.
- Thesis: “Quantum estimation of entanglement properties in lattice spin systems”, supervised by Prof. Roberto Franzosi.
Koodi – Founder, UX/UI developer, Monteroni D’Arbia, Italy, Mar 2015 – May 2016
- Koodi was a company of web design and app development. We helped regional companies to build their presence on the internet while developing their intranet. We early-adopted emerging concepts like material design and div tiling.
Falegnameria Fosca – Head of CNC 5-axis pipeline/Carpenter, Monteroni D’Arbia, Italy, Sep 2013 – Jun 2015
- Head of the CNC 5-axis pipeline. I have developed the internal processes, tools, and programs for CAD/CAM routines. I worked on CAD design, CAM design, toolpath creation, and CNC machining for SCM Record 240 5-axis.
Fnac – Technical salesperson, Firenze, Italy, February 2010 – Apr 2013
- Computing and mobile area. I managed the HW/SW lab mainly focusing on Android devices when custom ROMs were still emerging.