Purdue University Northwest > Research > PNW Days of Discovery Research Symposium > Quantum Symposium

Quantum Symposium

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Noon to 4 p.m.

sulb 353

CAMPUS MAP

Logo for the Days of Discovery Quantum Symposium at PNW

Days of Discovery takes place during the week of World Quantum Day (April 14), a global initiative celebrating the importance of quantum science and its expanding impact on research, technology, and innovation.

As part of the event, Purdue University Northwest will host a Quantum Symposium, bringing together faculty, students, and industry leaders to explore the rapidly advancing field of quantum research and its applications across multiple scientific and technological domains. The symposium aims to highlight emerging research, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and showcase the growing importance of quantum science.

Keynote Presenter

Kate Waimey Timmerman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Quantum Exchange. Kate Waimey Timmerman Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Quantum Exchange

Quantum Symposium Schedule

12:00 PM – Introduction

  • Grace Yang, Ph.D. – Chair, Comp Sci, CES (PNW)
  • Zizwe Chase, Ph.D. – University of Illinois Chicago

12:05 PM – Welcome Remarks

  • Marie Mora, Ph.D. – PNW Provost (PNW)

12:10 PM – Keynote

  • Kate Timmerman, Ph.D. – CEO (Chicago Quantum Exchange)

12:40 PM – Break

12:45 PM – Quantum Education Hardware/Software Demos

  • Ivan Viti – Quantum Systems Engineer (QuantCAD LLC)

1:00 PM – Pathways into Quantum: Careers, Skills, and Opportunities

  • Reem Hussein – Program Manager, Quantum Education and Workforce Programs (Chicago Quantum Exchange)

1:15 PM – Intellectual Property and Quantum Computing

  • Aleksander Nosewicz – Patent Attorney (Hansen Reynolds)

1:30 PM – Markovian and Non-Markovian Dynamics in Open Quantum Systems

  • Ali Abu Nada, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, General Education Department (Sharjah Maritime Academy)

1:45 PM – Talking Quantum

  • Jenn Flatte – Founder & CEO (QuantCAD LLC)

2:00 PM – The Quantum AI Convergence

  • Shawn He Yuxun – Adjunct Faculty, CES (PNW)

2:15 PM – Quantum Cognition & Quantum Dynamics In Neuronal Systems

  • Mateusz Jan Wlodarczyk – Undergraduate Student, College of Arts + Science (Indiana University Bloomington)
  • Mentor: Dr. Jerome Busemeyer

2:30 PM – Break

2:45 PM – Simulation of WS₂/WSe₂ Moiré Excitonic Qubit

  • Aryan Reza – Undergraduate Student, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering (University of Illinois Chicago)

3:00 PM – Quality Assessment and Interface Optimization in CVD MoS₂ for Scalable Photodetectors

  • Christine McGinn, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering (University of Illinois Chicago)

3:15 PM – Quantum-Inspired Circuits as High-Entropy Sources for Cryptography

  • Pai-Yen Chen, Ph.D. – Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering (University of Illinois Chicago)

3:30 PM – Quantum Diagonalization as a Tool to Design and Validate Electrochemical Catalytic Pathways

  • Hessam Shahbazi – Graduate Student, Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engr. (UIC)
  • Mentor: Dr. Zizwe Chase

3:45 PM – Resource-Efficient Image Synthesis: A Hybrid Quantum-Classical Generative Adversarial Network

  • Nandhu Sreedevi Kumar – Graduate Student, College of Technology (PNW)
  • Mentor: Dr. Tae-Hoon Kim

4:00 PM – From Quantum Clustering to Practical Quantum Applications

  • Josh Srinivasan – Graduate Student, CES (PNW)

4:15 PM – Quantum Enhanced Clustering for Intrusion Detection Systems

  • Sudheer Barri – Graduate Student, CES (PNW)

4:30 PM – Quantum Education & Outreach

  • Russell Ceballos, Ph.D. – Faculty of Physics, Department of Natural Sciences, Olive-Harvey College (City Colleges of Chicago)