Quantum Computing and Microelectronics Technology: Driving Innovation in Modern Industry Symposium

Position: Intel Alumni Endowed Faculty Scholar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director & Founder, Innovative COmpound semiconductoR LABoratory (ICORLAB)

Email: cbayram@illinois.edu

Talk: How will next-generation semiconductor and compound-material technologies shape the future of computing, energy, and communications, and where can Illinois–Mexico partnerships create the greatest impact in research, manufacturing, and talent development?

Prof. Can Bayram is a Professor and an Intel Alumni Endowed Faculty Scholar in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA. As a faculty, he was recognized as the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Young Scientist Medalist, the IEEE Nanotechnology Council Early Career Awardee, the IEEE Electron Devices Society Early Career Awardee, an NSF CAREER Awardee, an AFOSR Young Investigator Awardee, amongst others. Prior to (2014 - present) ECE Illinois, he was at the IBM Watson Research Center (2011 - 2014). He received the PhD’11 in EECS, Northwestern University, IL.

Position: Dean, College of Engineering Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering

Rashid Bashir is Professor of Bioengineering, the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, and is currently the 15th Dean of Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships Chicago overseeing Discovery Partners Institute and serving as the Vice Chair of the Board of Managers of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). He was on the founding team of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based college of medicine at UIUC, and the founding team and now on the executive committee of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago.

He is the Vice Chair of the Board of Managers of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and National Academy of Inventors and fellow of 8 professional societies. His research interests are in micro-fluidics and nanotechnology based diagnostic technologies for personalized medicine, and 3D bio-fabrication biohybrid soft robotics. He has published over 350 journal papers and has over 65 patents, and is academic co-founder of Prenosis, Inc. and VedaBio, Inc.

Position: Consul General of Mexico

Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, Consul General of Mexico in Chicago and Dean of the Chicago Consular Corps, assumed her position on July 14th, 2019. Over the course of her distinguished diplomatic career, she has held senior roles within the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served in key postings in the United States and Europe, including as Consul General in San Antonio, Texas.

Ambassador Torres Mendivil was a resident Fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, and participated in the Hemispheric Security Program at the Inter-American Defense College in Washington DC. She graduated from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) and holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Position: Professor at the Physics Department Coordinator of the Laboratory of Semiconductor Nanostructures (NanoSem)

Email: isaac.hernandez@cinvestav.mx

Talk: Development and Characterization of Semiconductor Heterostructures Based on Ultra-Thin Quantum Wells and Quantum Dots for Optoelectronic Applications

He has been a Professor at the Physics Department of Cinvestav since 1984 and was a pioneer in developing Mexico’s first quantum wells. His record includes ~160 peer‑reviewed publications, 10 edited books, and the supervision of 14 Ph.D. and 19 M.Sc. graduates. He founded the national journal Superficies y Vacío and serves on international editorial boards, including JVST A/B. He coordinates the Laboratory of Semiconductor Nanostructures. His research focuses on optical, electronic, electrical, and structural properties of II-VI semiconductor heterostructures; molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), atomic layer epitaxy (ALE), and pulsed sub‑monolayer epitaxy (SPBE); quantum wells, quantum dots, and surface/interface physics. He has delivered ~70 invited talks and organized major international conferences in semiconductor physics and epitaxial growth.

Position: Co-Founder and Executive Chairman PsiQuantum

Email: jeremy@psiquantum.com

Talk: What will it take to build a globally connected quantum ecosystem capable of delivering utility-scale quantum computing, and how can strategic partnerships between industry, academia, and governments in the U.S. and Mexico help realize that vision?

Prof. Jeremy O'Brien is co-founder and Executive Chairman of PsiQuantum, a quantum computing company soon to deliver the world’s first commercially useful quantum computers to tackle some of the greatest challenges we face, and to create profound new opportunities across healthcare, climate, finance, transportation, security and beyond. Prof.

O’Brien has dedicated 25 years to this mission and was previously a Professor of Physics & Electrical Engineering at Stanford and Bristol Universities, as well as a Founding Director of the Centre for Quantum Photonics and Quantum Engineering and Technology Labs.

Position: Executive Director and CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, and a Founder Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Professor

Email: htj@illinois.edu

Talk: How can the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park serve as a global innovation hub connecting industry, startups, researchers, and governments in Illinois and Mexico to accelerate quantum and semiconductor technologies from discovery to deployment?

Dr. Harley T. Johnson is Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and a Founder Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has been a faculty member since 2001. His research centers on electronic and quantum materials, with a particular emphasis on understanding how defects and deformation influence their functional properties.

In his role at IQMP, Harley collaborates with corporate engineers, industry leaders, startup innovators, Fortune 100 companies, state government, and economic development nonprofits to support a robust ecosystem dedicated to advancing and commercializing quantum technologies—including the development of the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum computer.

Position: Adjunct researcher, Professor of Computer Science, School of Engineering and Sciences, Campus Ciudad de Mexico, Tec. of Monterrey

Email: svenegas@tec.mx

Talk: As quantum technologies move from theory to practice, how can universities and industry collaborate to develop talent, research capacity, and innovation networks that position Mexico and Illinois as leaders in the quantum economy?

Dr. Venegas-Andraca is a scientist, consultant, and entrepreneur devoted to scientific research, technology development, technology transfer, and teaching. Salvador is the founder of quantum computing in Mexico. He is also the founder and principal investigator of the Unconventional Computing Lab (est. 2004), and a professor of computer science at Tec. of Monterrey. He is an associate editor of the Quantum Information Processing journal (Springer) and member of the quantum computing network of the World Economic Forum.

Salvador holds a DPhil in Physics and an MSc by research in Computer Vision, awarded by the University of Oxford, and an MBA (Hon) and a BSc (Hon) in digital electronics and computer science, by Tec. of Monterrey. Salvador was a postdoctoral fellow at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University. He is a leading scientist in the field of quantum walks, co-founder of the field Quantum Image Processing, and his research interests include quantum algorithms, quantum walks, the analysis of biological information via quantum algorithms, quantum machine learning, quantum image processing, classical and quantum cybersecurity, and the analysis of NP-hard and NP-complete problems.

Position: Quantum Information Science Laboratory Center for Computing Research National Polytechnic Institute (IPN)

Email: gsun@ipn.mx

Talk: Advances of quantum computing in Mexico

Dr. Guohua Sun is a Professor and Researcher at the Computing Research Center, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico. She received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Dalian University, China, her Master's degree in Computer Science from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and her Ph.D. from IPN, where she received the Best Doctoral Thesis Award in 2012.

Her research focuses on Quantum Computing, Quantum Information, Quantum Machine Learning, and Applied Mathematics. She has published more than 100 papers in international journals, supervised numerous graduate students, and holds level III, the highest distinction of Mexico's National System of Researchers.

Position: Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy, Department Chairperson, University of Illinois Springfield

Email: hchan1@uis.edu

Dr. Hei-Chi Chan, Associate Professor of Mathematics, is teaming up with Dr. Neetu Singh to continue their work with the Artificial Intelligence campus learning community they successfully launched in 2023.

His goal is to continue to engage, educate, and equip stakeholders (faculty, staff, & students) on the application and implications of AI tools and techniques. He also hopes to build on this foundation by expanding their programs and continuing to foster a vibrant learning community on AI and related issues, committed to shared goals and values.

Position: University of Illinois System, I-MMÁS Founder & Executive Director

Email: ui-mexico@uillinois.edu

Dr. Elvira de Mejia is the University of Illinois System I-MMÁS Founder & Director of Institutional Relations-Mexico, Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University Scholar, former Presidential Fellow.

Dr. Elvira de Mejia is a Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Dr. de Mejia served as an Assistant Dean for Research, actively involved in mentoring undergraduate students in research, and junior faculty. Dr. de Mejia functioned as the Director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences, a prestigious University of Illinois interdisciplinary graduate and research program.

She is a University Scholar, a former UI System Presidential Fellow, and Institute of Food Technologists Fellow. She is considered a world leader in the health benefits of bioactive compounds from plant foods. She is a firm believer in providing the best learning experience to her students so they can excel in their educational experience, and in turn become more competitive in the job market and make a positive difference in society. She dedicates her research to reducing disease and promoting health and wellness as a global priority. Dr. de Mejia has an outstanding global academic reputation as evidenced by various tasks performed as an external referee for grant applications and member of grant review committees.

Position: Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation

Jay Walsh became the University of Illinois’ Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation in May 2020. He is a professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Dr. Walsh oversees the Illinois Innovation Network, a collaboration among the state’s 12 public universities that drives inclusive and integrated research, innovation, and economic development across Illinois; he also serves on the executive committee of the Great Lakes Higher Education Consortium, a collaboration among six universities in the U.S. and Canada that promotes academic excellence, innovation, research, and education to inclusively enhance the public good for all people and areas of the Great Lakes.

Dr. Walsh currently serves on the Board of Directors at MxD, the Board of Governors at Argonne National Laboratory, the Board of Directors for Current, the Board of Visitors for Vanderbilt’s Engineering School, and he chairs the Board of the Chicago Council on Science and Technology. Previously, Dr. Walsh was chair of the University Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP) Board and he served on the Board of Directors at Fermi National Laboratory, the Illinois Governor’s Innovation Council, the Naval Research Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Secretary of Navy Advisory Panel. He was the Northwestern University Vice President for Research from 2007 to 2019. During his tenure, the University’s external sponsored awards grew 91% from $417M in 2017 to $798M in 2019, one of the largest increases of any university in the US during that time period. In his dozen years as the VP for Research, Dr. Walsh grew the number of university-wide institutes and centers from fewer than 20 to more than 50 – each with significant external funding.

Position: Researcher Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CNyN-UNAM) and served as Director of CNyN National Autonomous University of Mexico

Email: frojas@ens.cnyn.unam.mx

Talk: Closing Remarks

Fernando Rojas Íñiguez holds a Physics degree from UABC, a Master's in Materials Physics (CICESE-UNAM), and a PhD in Theoretical Physics and an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Manchester, England. He is a Researcher at the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CNyN-UNAM) and served as Director of CNyN (2018–2026).

His research focuses on quantum information and computation: non-classical correlations, quantum gates, teleportation, and topological insulators, with high-quality publications in journals such as Physical Review A, Physical Review B, and Quantum Information Processing. He has driven the integration of quantum computing into university curricula, as well as training and outreach on the topic across Latin America, delivering courses and lectures at UABC, ANIEI, the National University of Engineering in Lima (Peru), and a conference in Panama.

Position: Head of Quantum Computing US Pasqal USA Inc.

Email: heejeong.jeong@pasqal.com

Talk: The Digitalization of Production Agriculture

Heejeong Jeong is Head of Quantum Computing at Pasqal US Inc. She earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Duke University in 2006, where she first observed optical precursors using cold ³⁹K atoms. After postdoctoral research at Dartmouth, she joined Samsung Electronics and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology to develop next-generation optoelectronic devices. She later held academic roles at HKUST, KAIST, and the University of Malaya, researching AMO physics, including Rydberg-atom quantum computing. Before joining Pasqal, she served as Vice Director of Q Center at SKKU and Head of R&D at QuNova Computing. Her career bridges fundamental science and quantum technologies.