PhD Position in Quantum Computing for Applications in Life Sciences

Position: PhD consultancy with Zapata Computing

Duration: 3 Years

Location: DTU campus, Denmark

About the position

The department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at DTU (Technical University of Denmark) is looking for highly motivated candidates to pursue its ambitions and collaboration within the domain of quantum computing for optimization in life science applications in collaboration with Zapata Computing. The department has a very strong pilot-scale infrastructure for chemical and biochemical processes. The positions will encompass use case research and pilot application development in collaboration with Zapata Computing.

You will work with the research team to use Zapata’s Orquestra® platform, including Zapata proprietary methods and open-source libraries, to develop hybrid quantum-classical computing techniques to develop algorithms to solve problems with applications in biotechnology, (bio)pharma, renewable materials/chemicals, among others. The methods will be validated through experimentation to produce a novel, state-of-the-art, cost-effective and accurate solution. In this regard, the research will engage with stakeholders from Danish and Nordic biotech and biopharma sectors to identify strategic near-term use cases and demonstrate proof of concept of QC technologies as key applications in these areas using Zapata’s proprietary technology.

The expected outcome of the project is to identify potential use cases that are validated and benchmarked at pilot-scale for bio-manufacturing processes at DTU Chemical Engineering. A couple of applications of QC currently being investigated include mathematical programming optimization and quantum Monte-Carlo simulations, which are required for fields such as process/systems design, process operation/optimization, risk assessment in chemical and biological project design, and environmental modeling.

About DTU

DTU develops technology for people. With our elite international research and study programs, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

About Zapata

Zapata Computing, Inc. builds solutions to enterprises’ most computationally complex problems. We have pioneered proprietary methods in generative AI, machine learning, and quantum techniques that run on classical hardware. Our software platform, Orquestra®, combines these methods and our algorithm libraries to deliver real-world solutions that outperform our customers' existing solutions. We are fast-paced, highly collaborative, and cross-disciplinary. Our world-class team is creative, curious, and has a revolutionary mindset.

Responsibilities

Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s competencies chemical and biochemical process development, with specific focus on applications of emerging computational technologies, i.e., quantum computing and artificial intelligence. You will be responsible for:

• Identification of potential use cases, building on a list from Zapata experts
• Developing novel algorithms using a hybrid classical computing/QC (QC methods will be used strategically with a hybrid approach using Orquestra)
• Identifying appropriate computational technologies (QC, AI, Classical) to be integrated for domain applications.
• Validation of the solution strategy in lab- and pilot-scale for applications in life sciences

Qualifications

• MSc in Engineering (chemical, computer science, biotechnology), Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, or a related discipline
• Experience programming with scientific software such as Python, C/C++, or Julia
• Passion and curiosity to plan, execute and deliver computer-aided solutions
• Motivation to integrate various computational tools and software, e.g. QC, AI/ML
• Ability to disseminate and communicate scientific results to academic and industrial partners

Desired qualifications and skills

• Domain knowledge in process systems engineering
• Familiarity with quantum computing concepts and quantum algorithms
• Experience in Machine Learning techniques

Application procedure

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than May 10, 2023 (Danish time - CEST/UTC+2). To be given consideration, all materials in English must be submitted:

1. Application (cover letter)
2. CV
3. Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)
4. List of publications