Abhi Rajagopala, an assistant professor in the U of A's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has earned a Best Paper Award at the 2025 IEEE Quantum Week International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering. 

Rajagopala's paper was one of just three recognized as Best Paper in the highly competitive Quantum Applications track, selected from 557 submissions across seven technical categories. The annual conference is regarded as one of the premier multidisciplinary gatherings in quantum computing. 

"IEEE Quantum Week is one of the premier multidisciplinary conferences in quantum computing, bringing together researchers, industry professionals and students," Rajagopala said. "The 2025 event was attended by over 1,600 participants from around the world, so it is a great honor to be recognized in such a competitive and high-impact forum." 

The award-winning paper builds on Rajagopala's earlier work on hardware-assisted parameterized circuit execution (PCE), a method designed to reduce the time traditional computers spend managing quantum programs.

"Today's quantum computers rely heavily on regular (classical) computers like our desktops to help run and manage quantum programs," Rajagopala said. "However, these classical systems can take up 80% to 90% of the total runtime, especially as quantum algorithms become more complex and large-scale. This creates a major bottleneck as we try to scale up quantum computing." 

His latest study applies PCE to time-evolution algorithms, which are essential for simulating molecular dynamics, magnetic materials and lattice models. The approach achieved up to a 250-fold reduction in compilation time and a 50% overall runtime reduction compared to current methods, making certain quantum algorithms significantly faster and more practical. 

"By speeding up the classical side, we can make much better use of today's quantum hardware and ultimately unlock the potential to solve problems in chemistry, materials science and optimization that are beyond the reach of classical systems," Rajagopala said. 

The project brought together experts from leading institutions, including Berkeley Lab's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), NASA Ames Research Center and the Department of Energy's Advanced Quantum Testbed. Rajagopala credits the breakthrough to interdisciplinary teamwork.

"This was a collaborative project that brought together expertise from multiple fields, including physics, quantum chemistry, quantum technology and computer engineering. This is a great example of how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive meaningful progress in quantum computing." 

Rajagopala joined the U of A in 2025 and has long been involved in developing specialized computing systems for aerospace and energy applications. He now focuses on advancing classical computing and control methods to better support quantum computing at scale and plans to involve more Arkansas students in hands-on research. 

"I hope this recognition helps show that quantum computing is deeply interdisciplinary and that there is space for people from many different backgrounds to contribute," he said. "For students, especially, I want them to see that whether their interest is in hardware, software, algorithms or systems, there is a place for them in this field."