Dr Stefano Scali

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in quantum algorithms focusing on graph theory problems in the group of Prof. Oleksandr Kyriienko, QuDOS.

I have worked in quantum topological data analysis, entanglement measures, quantum master equations, graph theory in wave scattering, exceptional points in several settings, and spin dynamics. I always approach problems with an eye to interdisciplinarity by training.

Fedora and Vim user, Julia coder, audiophile. I have been a carpenter, CNC guru, and CAD/CAM dev. Into specialty coffee, I did skydiving, a 2000 Km bike trip across Europe, and piloted a wartime fighter aircraft. After I drink my coffee, I can also do other things, mainly playing tennis, climbing, motocross, and gaming. I am an adrenaline junkie in life and I strongly believe in hands-on experience.

Here are a few lines of "CV". Find more here: website | scholar | github | linkedin

talks and posters

• "Quantum topological data analysis: density of states and thermal state preparation" (talk) – APS March meeting, Minneapolis, Mar 2024
• "Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (invited talk) – SIFS young seminars, Parma (online), Feb 2024
• "Getting started doing quantum computing with IBM quantum composer" (outreach) – Exeter scholars program, Exeter, Feb 2024
• "Using a quantum computer to topologically distinguish between a cow and a pretzel" (talk) – Exeter theory group, Exeter, Feb 2024
• "Elevating your code development to a holy level: a Git primer" (workshop) – QuDOS group, Exeter, Jan 2024
• "Getting started doing quantum computing with IBM quantum composer" (outreach) – Exeter scholars program, Exeter, Mar 2023
• "Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (talk) – Windsor CCPQ+9 workshop, Cumberland Lodge, Jul 2022
• "Simple guide to invisibility using graph theory" (talk) – Exeter theory group, Exeter, Feb 2022
• "Energetics of information" (talk) - CEMPS Sustainability summer school, online, Jul 2021
• "Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (talk) - EMPS PGR conference, online, Mar 2021
• "Local master equations bypass the secular approximation" (poster) - Quantum thermodynamics of non-equilibrium systems, online, Oct 2020
• "Probing the geometry of open-system dynamics" (poster) - Quantum thermodynamics for young scientists, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, Feb 2020
• "Maxwell's demon and the wedding between thermodynamics and information" (talk) – Christmas workshop (Organiser), Siena, Dec 2019
• "Quantum Estimation of Entanglement Properties in Lattice Spin Systems" (talk) - 4th Italian Conference of Physics Students (IAPS), Pisa, Apr 2018

main schools and conferences

• APS, Minneapolis (USA), Mar 2024
• QCTiP, Cambridge (UK), Apr 2023
• Siena Christmas School (Organizer), Siena (Italy) - Dec 2023-2019
• Dynamics of Complex Quantum Systems CCPQ+9, Cumberland Lodge (UK), Jul 2022
• Quantum thermodynamics for young scientists, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef (Germany), Feb 2020
• Frontiers of quantum thermodynamics, Exeter/Brixham (UK), Sep 2019
• QuICC summer school, Leeds (UK), Aug 2019
• Entanglement in quantum systems, Galileo Galilei Institute - Firenze (Italy), Jun 2018
• CERN summer student, Geneva (Switzerland), Jun-Aug 2017

fundings

• IBM quantum credits, $70k credits, Jan 2024
• Microsoft Azure credits for quantum topological data analysis, $10k credits, Jul 2023

teaching

• Scientific programming in Python (PHY2035), teaching assistant, University of Exeter 2022-2023
• Quantum mechanics I (PHY2022), tutoring (2 classes), University of Exeter 2020-2022
  • Developed my own website, with relative set of lectures based on integrating material and self-study packs, https://stefanoscali.xyz/teaching.html.
• Scientific programming in C (PHY2027), teaching assistant, University of Exeter 2020-2022
  • Built additional task and C code to add to final projects.
• Mathematics with physical applications (PHY2025), teaching assistant (interrupted due max hours permitted), University of Exeter 2020-2021
• IT and electronics skills (PHY1028), teaching assistant, University of Exeter 2020-2021
• Thermal physics (PHY2023), tutoring, University of Exeter 2019-2020

education and employment

• University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, Jan 2023 - ongoing
  • Postdoctoral research fellow in “quantum topological data analysis” in the group of Oleksandr Kyriienko, QuDOS.
• University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, Sep 2023
  • PhD in Physics founded by the EPSRC.
  • Project: “Opening the system to the environment: new theories and tools in classical and quantum settings”, supervised by Prof. Janet Anders and Prof. Simon Horsley.
• University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Jun 2019
  • MASt in Physics founded by a scholarship for high-level master’s degree by Regione Toscana (European funds).
  • Final year research project: “Analysis of exceptional points in microwave ring resonators”, supervised by Prof. Stafford Withington.
• Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy, Apr 2018,
  • BSc in Physics and Advanced Technologies founded by a scholarship DSU Toscana.
  • Thesis: “Quantum estimation of entanglement properties in lattice spin systems”, supervised by Prof. Roberto Franzosi.
• Koodi – Founder, UX/UI developer, Monteroni D’Arbia, Italy, Mar 2015 – May 2016
  • Koodi was a company of web design and app development. We helped regional companies to build their presence on the internet while developing their intranet. We early-adopted emerging concepts like material design and div tiling.
• Falegnameria Fosca – Head of CNC 5-axis pipeline/Carpenter, Monteroni D’Arbia, Italy, Sep 2013 – Jun 2015
  • Head of the CNC 5-axis pipeline. I have developed the internal processes, tools, and programs for CAD/CAM routines. I worked on CAD design, CAM design, toolpath creation, and CNC machining for SCM Record 240 5-axis.
• Fnac – Technical salesperson, Firenze, Italy, February 2010 – Apr 2013
  • Computing and mobile area. I managed the HW/SW lab mainly focusing on Android devices when custom ROMs were still emerging.