Monash strengthens research leadership with appointment of world-class quantum computing expert
Enhancing its research excellence, Monash University is pleased to welcome Professor Muhammad Usman, a globally-recognised leader in quantum computing, quantum algorithms and quantum software engineering, to its Faculty of Information Technology.
With a distinguished career spanning more than 15 years across industry and academia, Professor Usman joins the University from CSIRO’s Data61 where he was Head of Quantum Systems and Senior Principal Staff Scientist. There he established its Quantum Computing research program which attracted over $10M in competitive grants.
Also the lead of the QL2Q Lab, Professor Usman spearheaded the development of quantum algorithms and scalable quantum software for advancing quantum information science and its applications in the real world.
Notably, his research has driven multiple world-first breakthroughs including the largest classical simulation of a quantum system to date and the single-atom precision spin qubit metrology in silicon-based quantum devices. His pioneering work on quantum adversarial robustness in machine learning models discovered the possibility of a new kind of quantum advantage, namely trustworthy autonomous systems with applications in self-driving vehicles and defence systems.
Professor Usman’s work has also led to four patents and produced 135+ publications, 13 book chapters and four journal covers with over 6,000 citations attracting a h-index of 38. His esteemed knowledge has been further shared through more than 200 invited talks, panels, roundtables and presentations.
“We are delighted to welcome Professor Usman to Monash University," said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and Senior Vice-President, Professor Robyn Ward AM.
"His world-class expertise in quantum algorithms, software engineering and quantum machine learning, together with his record of driving multiple world-first breakthroughs, will be an incredible asset to our research community and capability. Monash continues to attract leading researchers from around the world who are shaping the future of critical technologies and advancing solutions to some of society’s greatest challenges.”
By bringing this pioneering expertise to Monash, Professor Usman will help strengthen its research excellence in quantum computing and quantum machine learning, expanding multidisciplinary collaborations with industry, government and international partners.
“Quantum computing is transformative, and exceptional researchers like Professor Usman are integral to Monash’s mission to lead this change. He is internationally recognised for novel contributions in the Quantum computing and software spaces, but also for his ability to build research capability, foster collaboration and translate the complexities of this exciting field. I am genuinely excited to see how Professor Usman can lead us and the broader community to breakthroughs and real-world impact. It is a pleasure to be welcoming him to the Faculty of IT.” said Professor Ian Burnett, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology.
Holding several strategic and policy-making positions within Australia's quantum ecosystem, Professor Usman is a Member of the National Committee for Physics with the Australian Academy of Science, a Member of the Executive Board of the Australian Institute of Physics and a Fellow of both the Institute of Physics UK and the Australian Institute of Physics.
He also serves on the Editorial Boards of ACM Computing Surveys, Nature Scientific Reports, Springer Nature Quantum Machine Intelligence and IOP Nano Future journals.
Professor Usman is the latest in Monash’s appointments of world-leading experts whose expertise will strengthen its global research leadership, reputation and impact.