Baoyu Zhou Wins 3-Year NSF Grant to Tackle Quantum Noise

1 articles · Updated · ASU News Now · Jul 24

Arizona State University’s Baoyu Zhou secured a three-year National Science Foundation grant to develop optimization algorithms that work reliably on today’s noisy quantum computers.
Quantum noise—random errors from fragile qubits and hardware imperfections—still blocks practical use, especially as larger problems make it harder to tell real improvements from distorted results.
Zhou and Lehigh University’s Xiu Yang plan scalable mathematical methods that build uncertainty into calculations from the start, then test them across applications including AI, molecular design and biotechnology.
The award will support Zhou’s doctoral students, expand interdisciplinary collaboration and feed Phoenix’s broader push to become a U.S. quantum technology hub through its Quantum Strategy initiative.
After 3 years, Zhou aims to release open-source software and stronger optimization tools that help imperfect quantum hardware solve more meaningful real-world problems.