Quantum Computing Takes Center Stage with New Jumpstart Postdoctoral Fellow

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science is pleased to welcome Federica Fragomeno, Ph.D., as part of the 2026 cohort of Jumpstart Postdoctoral Fellows. Fragomeno, who began her new role on Sept. 1, joins the college’s Department of Physics and Department of Mathematics and Statistics to study quantum computing with supervisor Han Fu, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics, and co-supervisor Francesco Sica, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics. She also plans to collaborate with the university’s quantum gravity group, including Muxim Han, Ph.D., professor of physics.

“Quantum computing combines my passion for physics and quantum mechanics with my interest in technology,” stated Fragomeno. “Moreover, it serves as a powerful tool to explore complex physical systems that would otherwise be impossible to simulate.”

Fragomeno, a recent Ph.D. graduate of the University of Alberta, Canada, where she specialized in quantum gravity, black hole physics and quantum field theory, noted that Florida Atlantic provides an outstanding academic and research environment, and she is enthusiastic about starting these new collaborations. Additionally, she shared that Florida Atlantic’s recent partnership with D-Wave offers an incredible opportunity to get hands-on experience with a real quantum annealer.

“Broadly speaking, quantum computing will revolutionize research across physics, chemistry and biology by unlocking new possibilities for simulation and discovery,” explained Fragomeno. “For my specific project, I aim to develop an algorithm that determines exactly when quantum tools become advantageous, or even essential, compared to classical methods.”

To learn more about the Jumpstart Postdoctoral Program, visit: science.fau.edu/postdoc-program/.