The Quantum Group
The Quantum Group explores the potential of quantum technologies, from near-term applications in computing, communications, and metrology, to understanding the foundations underpinning quantum advantage.
Research group focus
Building from our individual bases of applied quantum foundations and quantum optics and sensing (Dr Hance), noisy/near-term intermediate-scale quantum algorithms (Dr Chancellor), and quantum communication, cryptography, and quantum formal methods (Dr Puthoor), the Quantum Group aims to build a coherent programme covering theoretical quantum information and quantum technologies. This will ensure that when other research groups in the university are interested in exploring quantum solutions to a problem, there is always the research expertise to assist.
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Research impact
We are already building collaborations with colleagues in fields as diverse as paediatric oncology, electrification, psychology/neuroscience, and cyber security, and foresee key areas of external interest being quantum machine learning, quantum modelling, and quantum sensing – all areas of expertise for the Group. Dr Hance currently holds an EPSRC Quantum Technologies Career Acceleration Fellowship (worth £1.7 million fEC, plus £275k in-kind contributions from Project Partners), funding 50% of their time plus two Postdoctoral Research Assistants. Dr Hance has also recently joined the £12.8 million fEC EPSRC National Edge AI Hub as a Co-Investigator, to lead the new Quantum Machine Learning Research Theme, and are Co-Investigator on the £1.3 million fEC UKRI Cross Research Council Responsive Mode Grant Quantum Emotions: Using the Quantum Formalism to explain temporal order effects in memory for emotional events (2026-28).
Through Dr Chancellor, we are part of the UK Hub for Quantum Computers via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (QCI3), a network of 50 universities and over 200 PIs and CO-Is working to develop practical quantum computing. He is also PI of the £111k fEC EPSRC Mathematical Science Small Grant Using Quantum Weirdness to Solve (NP-)Hard Problems (2026), with Dr Hance as Co-I. Group members are regularly invited to contribute to journal and grant peer review. We regularly publish op-ed pieces and contribute to policy work. Group Members are on the editorial board or act as guest editors for key publications in quantum. Group members regularly chair or organise key conferences in the field, and have key committee roles for academic societies (American Physical Society, Institute of Physics).
Key collaborators
We engage widely in collaborative work with other groups within the University, and with academics and industry in the UK and internationally, including:
- The UK National Quantum Computing Centre,
- The UK Hub for Quantum Computers via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (QCI3), and the Quantum Imaging, Sensing and Timing (QUSIT) Research Hub.
- Academics at the University of Bristol, Heriot-Watt University, Northumbria University, Linkoping University, Kagawa University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Kyoto University, Hiroshima University, Nagoya University, Linnaeus University, Ritsumeikan University, and Japan’s National Institute for Quantum Science and Technology.