John Preskill

John Preskill
Name	John Preskill
Birth date	1953
Birth place	United States
Fields	Theoretical physics, quantum information science, quantum computing
Alma mater	California Institute of Technology, Harvard University
Doctoral advisor	Steven Weinberg
Known for	topological quantum computation, quantum error correction, fault-tolerant quantum computation, Hamiltonian complexity

John Preskill John Preskill is an American theoretical physicist known for foundational contributions to quantum information science, quantum computing, and high-energy physics. He has combined ideas from condensed matter physics, particle physics, and mathematics to develop theoretical frameworks influencing research at institutions such as Institute for Advanced Study, California Institute of Technology, and national laboratories. Preskill is widely recognized for coining and popularizing terms and for mentoring generations of researchers who later joined faculties at universities and research centers worldwide.

Early life and education

Preskill completed undergraduate studies at California Institute of Technology and pursued graduate studies at Harvard University under the supervision of Steven Weinberg. During his doctoral work he interacted with researchers from Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and collaborators at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. His early exposure included seminars and collaborations connected to conferences such as the Solvay Conference and workshops at the Santa Fe Institute.

Academic career and positions

Preskill joined the faculty of California Institute of Technology and held appointments in departments connected to physics and interdisciplinary initiatives tied to quantum information. He served as director of the Institute for Quantum Information at Caltech, interacting with centers like the Institute for Advanced Study, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and national laboratories including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. He has given invited lectures at venues including Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Stanford University, University of Oxford, Princeton University, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. Preskill has participated in advisory roles for agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and collaborations with industrial research groups at IBM Research, Google, and Microsoft Research.

Research contributions and impact

Preskill made seminal contributions to quantum error correction, fault-tolerant quantum computation, and the theory of topological quantum computation. He collaborated with researchers from Peter Shor, Alexei Kitaev, Michael Nielsen, Isaac Chuang, and Andrew Yao on topics linking quantum complexity theory and condensed matter physics. His work on Hamiltonian complexity connects to problems studied at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bell Labs, and in programs at Simons Center for Geometry and Physics. Preskill introduced conceptual frameworks influencing experiments at laboratories such as National Institute of Standards and Technology, Joint Quantum Institute, and industry groups at Google Quantum AI and IBM Q. He organized the series of "Quantum Information Science" lectures and workshops that fostered collaborations among researchers affiliated with Perimeter Institute, NIST, CERN, and the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Preskill’s perspectives on quantum supremacy were engaged by teams at Google, University of Science and Technology of China, and projects supported by agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the European Research Council.

Awards and honors

Preskill’s recognitions include fellowships and prizes associated with organizations such as the American Physical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and memberships linked to academies including the National Academy of Sciences and international honors connected to institutes like the Royal Society and the Perimeter Institute. He has been invited to deliver named lectureships at Princeton University, Harvard University, MIT, Cambridge University, Oxford University, and at conferences including the International Congress of Mathematicians and the Dirac Medal lecture series. Professional societies such as the Institute of Physics and the American Association for the Advancement of Science have recognized his contributions through awards and fellowships. He received distinctions from foundations including the Simons Foundation and was named in lists assembled by organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences and international bodies.

Teaching and mentoring

At California Institute of Technology Preskill taught courses drawing students from departments linked to physics, computer science, and interdisciplinary programs associated with quantum information science. His mentees have taken faculty positions at institutions including MIT, Stanford University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Yale University, Imperial College London, and research roles at IBM Research, Google, Microsoft Research, and national laboratories such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Preskill organized summer schools and graduate workshops in partnership with organizations like the Simons Foundation, Kavli Foundation, and the Perimeter Institute, influencing pedagogy adopted at universities including University of Toronto and ETH Zurich.

Selected publications

- "Fault-tolerant quantum computation," co-authored works appearing in proceedings and journals read by scholars at Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, and Princeton University. - Papers on topological quantum computation citing connections to work by Alexei Kitaev and collaborations with authors affiliated to Perimeter Institute and Institute for Quantum Computing. - Reviews on quantum error correction and surveys for audiences at American Physical Society meetings and volumes edited by organizers from SIAM and the American Mathematical Society. - Lecture notes and expository articles used in courses at California Institute of Technology, circulated to departments at Stanford University and MIT.

Category:American physicists Category:Theoretical physicists Category:Quantum information scientists