Andrea Morello, PhD, a Scientia Professor of quantum engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), was selected as one of the Cell Press 50 Scientists that Inspire, opens in a new window for his work in quantum computing in silicon.

Dr. Morello began his career with an undergraduate degree in electronics engineering at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy. His growing passion for experimental quantum science led him to complete his PhD in physics in 2004 at the Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, in the Netherlands, followed by a 2-year postdoc at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. His studies there focused on nuclear spin dynamics in molecular magnets, their coherence properties, and applications of molecular magnets to quantum computing.

He started at UNSW as a senior postdoc, before rising up the ranks to his current position. His work has focused on developing spin-based quantum hardware in silicon, culminating in the world’s first demonstration of a spin qubit in silicon in 2012. Since then, his team has remained at the forefront of semiconductor quantum hardware research. Dr. Morello is also passionate about “inspiring younger generations to take the challenge of working in this exciting field.” He has helped establish the Bachelor of Quantum Engineering program at UNSW and has contributed to multiple YouTube videos to demystify quantum technology.

Read the full Q&A with Dr. Morello here