At the crossroads of physics and computing: Chitambar research group explores quantum research through IBM partnership

Chitambar’s research blends physics, computer science, and engineering. “I am a quantum information theorist, so I work on the theoretical aspects of quantum computing, quantum communication—anything to do with information theory and encoding information into quantum systems,” he explained. Unlike classical information theory, which relies on the physics principles most students learn in high school, quantum information requires a fundamentally different approach. 

“Our main goal is to strengthen the way we process, store, and transmit information using the principles and behavior of quantum systems—systems that behave differently than the things we are accustomed to,” Chitambar said. His group focuses especially on communications and networks, as well as the theoretical limitations of quantum systems. 

That focus on computation helped draw Chitambar’s group to IIDAI. He and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign math professor Felix Leditzky discovered shared scientific interests with IBM researchers and decided to collaborate. “IBM has very strong quantum computing efforts. They’re one of the leading companies in their progress toward building a full, scalable quantum computer,” Chitambar said. Their joint work began with an effort to verify quantum systems. 

“If you build some quantum computer or communication device, you put the parts together and you turn it on—how do you know that your system is doing what you want it to do?” Chitambar asked. “This sounds like a trivial thing, but when you’re dealing with quantum systems, we are talking about very, very small things that you cannot directly observe.” His group has designed a series of tests to verify whether quantum properties are present in these systems, often using IBM’s quantum machines to run optimization problems. 

Another major research direction is quantum learning theory, which explores how to determine the state of a quantum system. “The question is, how difficult is this to do? How many different tests do I need to perform on my system to fully understand what’s going on under the hood?” Chitambar said. 

He likens it to learning the odds on a slot machine: you cannot know the probabilities at first glance, but by playing repeatedly and tracking outcomes, you infer its behavior. “Now, if you have a quantum computer, you can think of it like a glorified slot machine,” he said. “You try to learn the internal mechanisms as well. This is what quantum learning theory does.” 

Chitambar credited his former Ph.D. student, Dr. Louis Schatzki, with spearheading this line of inquiry. “It isn’t my expertise, but Prof. Leditzky and I have a colleague at IBM who is one of the leading researchers. So, we said, ‘Why don’t we start this collaboration?’” Together, Schatzki and IBM researchers advanced the field, even resolving several open problems. “That really captures the strength of what IIDAI can do. It brought together workforce development and scientific expertise. Louis had the local support he needed from us, plus the collaboration, and new papers came out of it. It was this beautiful synergy of interest and expertise.” 

Supporting students remains central to IIDAI’s mission. Chitambar highlighted the externship program, which places students at IBM to work directly with company researchers during the summer. “It allows them to gain work experience and put their foot in the door at IBM. Maybe that will benefit them when looking for jobs or when deciding whether to stay in academia versus entering industry. 

Chitambar’s work with IIDAI has advanced his pursuit of building more secure quantum computers while also expanding his reach as a mentor. By connecting disciplines, industries, and generations of researchers, he and his colleagues are helping to shape a field that is as much about curiosity as it is about innovation. At IIDAI, the future of quantum science isn’t just being imagined—it’s being built, one discovery at a time. 

Eric Chitambar is a faculty member of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is also an affiliate of