When Hausi A. Müller began to carry out research on quantum computer science a decade ago, he was enthusiastic about the possibilities of technology for engineering and computer applications. Quantum IT uses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems that go beyond the capacities of conventional computers.
Although it’s been 100 years since the discovery of quantum mechanics, applications to use it now become a reality. Technology should advance the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, discovery of drugs, finance, etc.
Hausi A. Müller
Employer:
University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Title:
Computer teacher
Grade of members:
Senior Member of Life
ALMA COMPAUDE:
Eth Zurich and Rice University, in Houston
“I felt like a child in the candy store,” said Müller, a software engineering professor at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. “With quantum computer science, you can now simulate things that were not possible before. In the discovery of drugs, for example, you can play with molecules on your computer and explore new ideas without physically synthesizing compounds in a laboratory, saving time and resources.”
The senior member of the IEEE Life has always been convinced that quantum science would take off. Active volunteer for over 40 years, he persuaded the IEEE in 2019 to get more involved in the science and engineering of quantum IT technologies. This began as the IEEE Future Quantum Initiative Directions – with the support of a handful of organizational units of the IEEE – has evolved in the IEEE quantum technical community last year, with the support of 11 units.
In 2020, he helped found the IEEE International Conference on Quantum IT and Engineering (QCE), part of the IEEE Annual Quantum Week, which he also founded, to provide a multidisciplinary and open forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities for technology.
The efforts of Müller and IEEE to advance quantum computer science did not go unnoticed. In February, Müller, the president of the IEEE, Kathleen Kramer, and other dignitaries attended a UNESCO ceremony in Paris, where the agency designated 2025 as the international year of quantum science and technology.
Quantum software and computer researcher
Müller became interested in software halfway through his baccalaureate program in electrical engineering at Eth Zurich, he says. He was inspired by one of his teachers, Niklaus Wirth, a Swiss computer scientist who designed Modula, Oberon, Pascal and other programming languages.
“In electrical engineering, you have these pretty small parts to experiment in the laboratory. But in software, the experiences are made with paper and pencil, and you can build incredible machines quickly, ”explains Müller. “This is what really attracted me to software genius.”
After graduating in 1979, Müller joined ABB, a global electrification and automation technology company whose headquarters are in Zurich. He was responsible for building a PDP-11 computers’ database management system for central control systems. He was part of a team developing powers control systems and supervision for Colombia, Singapore and Sweden.
Müller says that he believed that a diploma of progression would more in -depth his career and that he wanted to carry out research on the evolution of software. In 1982, he signed up for Rice University, in Houston, to continue a master’s degree in computer science, which he won in 1984. He liked to be so there, he said, he stayed to win a doctorate. in the same subject in 1986.
It was during the teaching of Rice’s programming lessons that he decided to spend a career in the academic world, but he has always kept a foothold in the industry. He conducted research on high performance IT and worked a lot with IBM, a relationship he has maintained for over 30 years. He was a principal researcher for several collaborative research projects, including the development of hybrid quantum computer software and distributed using IBM Qiskit.
He left Rice in 1986 to join the University of Victoria as a computer teacher. During his almost 40 years, he has been a dean associate of research for a decade. He is the founding director of the accredited software engineering baccalaureate program.
His research has mainly focused on software engineering for self-adaptative systems, smart software systems, the Internet of Objects and Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems. Today, it focuses mainly on quantum computer science. More than 60 of his articles are in the IEEE XPLore digital library.
He is the main researcher of a major subsidy from the National Research and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The Council assembles a Cantum software consortium, an interdisciplinary research program which aims to develop methods and software for quantum IT distributed in Canada.
Market amount
Müller is very proud to have created Iee Quantum Week and the IEEE QCE conference. Now in its fifth year, the forum is more popular than ever. Last year, the quantum week of the IEEE took place in Montreal, attracting 1,600 participants from 52 countries, with 60% of the industry.
This year, the event is scheduled from August 31 to September 5 in Albuquerque. Müller is the chairman of the board of directors of the program. The IEEE Quantum Week 2025 will include stellar exhibitions, he says, with more than 250 technical articles, 150 posters, 35 tutorials and 40 workshops, including those of entrepreneurs and venture capital. Tutorials are designed to improve fundamental quantum IT skills necessary for scientists and engineers, he says, and workshops will present experts from quantum communities.
“Some workshops collaborate throughout the year, then come together again in Quantum Week,” he said. “I think the impact of these distinct communities that we started in quantum week is very powerful.
“The industry is very interested in speaking in the academic world and, of course, academics really want to speak to industry. From the start, we designed the quantum week of the IEEE to be a forum where this is possible. The activities fill the gap between the science of quantum computer science and the development of the surrounding industry. ”
Müller joined the IEEE in 1979 during a membership campaign for ETH students.
“The volunteer opportunities are what interested me, and I could see that it would benefit my career. “I think that the type of volunteer we do within the IEEE is super important for the next generation of engineers in universities, because the organization helps universities to connect to what is happening in industry.”
He is involved in the IEEE Computer Society and was president of his technical community in software engineering, as well as vice-president of his technical and conference advice. He was a member of his board of directors and the IEEE conference committee.
In recognition of the volunteering of his IT company, he received the distinction Award Leadership Award from last year for “an unshakable commitment and exceptional contributions to software engineering, quantum IT and the technical activities of the IEEE CS”.
“I think I had an impact on the profession by volunteering to organize events such as quantum week,” he said. “I like the conference sector because people meet, exchange ideas, collaborate and even work together on research subsidies. I have always been passionate about the creation and maintenance of communities. ”
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