Author Archives: mleifer

Doctoral Position

Funding is available for a Doctor of Science Studentship with Dr. Matthew Leifer at the Institute for Quantum Studies, Chapman University, California, USA.  It is in Chapman’s unique interdisciplinary Math, Physics, and Philosophy (MPP) program, which emphasizes research that encompasses two or more of the three core disciplines.  This is a 3-year program that focuses on research, and students are expected to have a terminal Masters degree before they start.

This position is part of the Southern California Quantum Foundations Hub, funded by the John Templeton Foundation.  The research project must be in quantum foundations, particularly in one of the three theme areas of the grant:

  1. The Nature of the Quantum State
  2. Past and Future Boundary Conditions
  3. Agency in Quantum Observers. 

The university also provides other scholarships for the MPP program.  Please apply before January 15, 2025, to receive full consideration for the available funding.

Please follow the “Graduate Application” link on the MPP website to apply.

For informal inquiries about the position and research projects, please get in touch with me.

Quantum Mechanics and Nonlocality

A Popular Physics Discussion

Travis Norsen in conversation with Matt Leifer

Wednesday October 21, 5pm PST (California Time)

The Institute for Quantum Studies at Chapman University presents an online discussion between Dr. Travis Norsen (Smith College) and Dr. Matthew Leifer (co-Director of the Institute for Quantum Studies at Chapman) on quantum mechanics and nonlocality.  After studying physics and philosophy as an undergraduate at Harvey Mudd College and then getting a PhD in theoretical nuclear astrophysics at the University of Washington, Travis Norsen returned to his two great passions:  teaching physics to undergraduates and working independently on the foundations of quantum mechanics.  He is currently a lecturer in the physics department  at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.   In addition to authoring the first systematic textbook on quantum foundations, Travis has written extensively on the EPR argument and Bell’s Theorem and has also worked on the de Broglie-Bohm pilot-wave theory.  One idiosyncratic theme of his thinking about foundational questions is a stress on the important role played by what Bell called “local beables” in making candidate theories empirically viable.  In addition to physics and philosophy, Travis (like Einstein) enjoys productive physical activities such as chopping wood; he loves gardening and cooking; and he plays, coaches, and has recently written a book about soccer.  The conversation will be broadcast live on YouTube at There will be an opportunity for audience Q&A after the event.

Do COVID 19 Research

I have started a wiki collecting links to places where you can volunteer to help with COVID 19 pandemic research.

Like many arrogant physicists, the temptation to become an armchair epidemiologists at the moment is sometimes overwhelming. I want to use my technical skills to help with research, but I recognize that it would be better to work with experts and contribute to projects already going on than to start my own thing. I started the wiki to organize the different ways of doing this. I am also including other ways to help with research, such as volunteering for clinical trials and donating money or equipment.

I hope you will distribute this link widely and help keep the wiki up to date.

Quantum Physics and Logic 2019: CALL FOR PAPERS

CALL FOR PAPERS

16th International Conference on
Quantum Physics and Logic
(QPL 2019)

June 10-14, 2019
Chapman University, Orange,
California, USA

https://qpl2019.org

* * *

The 16th International Conference on Quantum Physics and Logic
(QPL 2019) will take place at Chapman University June 10-14, 2019.

The conference brings together researchers working on mathematical
foundations of quantum physics, quantum computing, and related areas,
with a focus on structural perspectives and the use of logical tools,
ordered algebraic and category-theoretic structures, formal languages,
semantical methods, and other computer science techniques applied to
the study of physical behaviour in general. Work that applies
structures and methods inspired by quantum theory to other fields
(including computer science) is also welcome.

IMPORTANT DATES

April 1: abstract submission
April 7: paper submission
April 30: application for student support
May 12: notification of authors
May 17: early registration deadline
May 24: final papers ready
June 10-14: conference

INVITED SPEAKERS

John Baez (UC Riverside)
Anna Pappa (University College London)
Joel Wallman (University of Waterloo)

INVITED TUTORIALS

Ana Belen Sainz (Perimeter Institute)
Quanlong Wang (University of Oxford)

SUBMISSIONS

Prospective speakers are invited to submit one (or more) of the
following:

– Original contributions consist of a 5-12 page extended abstract
that provides sufficient evidence of results of genuine interest
and enough detail to allow the program committee to assess the
merits of the work. Submission of substantial albeit partial
results of work in progress is encouraged.

– Extended abstracts describing work submitted/published elsewhere
will also be considered, provided the work is recent and relevant
to the conference. These consist of a 3 page description and should
include a link to a separate published paper or preprint.

The conference proceedings will be published in Electronic
Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science (EPTCS) after the
conference. Only “original contributions” are eligible to be
published in the proceedings.

Submissions should be prepared using LaTeX, and must be submitted in
PDF format. Use of the EPTCS style is encouraged. Submission is done
via EasyChair:

https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=qpl2019

There will be an award for the best student paper at the discretion
of the programme committee. Papers eligible for the award are those
where all the authors are students at the time of submission.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Bob Coecke (co-chair, University of Oxford)
Matthew Leifer (co-chair, Chapman University)
Miriam Backens (University of Oxford)
Giulio Chiribella (University of Oxford)
Stefano Gogioso (University of Oxford)
John Harding (New Mexico State University)
Chris Heunen (The University of Edinburgh)
Matthew Hoban (University of Oxford)
Dominic Horsman (University of Durham)
Kohei Kishida (Dalhousie University)
Aleks Kissinger (Radboud University)
Joachim Kock (UAB)
Ravi Kunjwal (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)
Martha Lewis (University of Amsterdam)
Dan Marsden (University of Oxford)
David Moore (Pictet Asset Management)
Michael Moortgat (Utrecht University)
Daniel Oi (University of Strathclyde)
Ognyan Oreshkov (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
Anna Pappa (University College London)
Dusko Pavlovic (University of Hawaii)
Simon Perdrix (CNRS, Laboratoire d’Informatique de Grenoble, University of Grenoble)
Neil Ross (Dalhousie University)
Mehrnoosh Sadrzadeh (Queen Mary University of London)
Ana Belén Sainz (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)
Peter Selinger (Dalhousie University)
Sonja Smets (University of Amsterdam)
Pawel Sobocinski (University of Southampton)
Robert Spekkens (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)
Isar Stubbe (Université du Littoral)
Benoît Valiron (LRI – CentraleSupelec, Univ. Paris Saclay)
Jamie Vicary (University of Oxford)
Alexander Wilce (Susquehanna University)
Mingsheng Ying (University of Technology, Sydney)
Margherita Zorzi (University of Verona)
Magdalena Anna Zych (The University of Queensland)

STEERING COMMITTEE

Bob Coecke (University of Oxford)
Prakash Panangaden (McGill University)
Peter Selinger (Dalhousie University)

LOCAL ORGANIZERS

Lorenzo Catani (Chapman University)
Justin Dressel (Chapman University)
Matthew Leifer (Chapman University)
Drew Moshier (Chapman University)

For further information, please contact qpl2019@easychair.org.

Conference Announcement QPL 2019

The 16th International Conference on Quantum Physics and Logic (QPL 2019)

June 10-14 2019

Chapman University, Orange, California

https://qpl2019.org

The 16th International Conference on Quantum Physics and Logic (QPL 2019) will take place at Chapman University June 10-14, 2019. The conference brings together researchers working on mathematical foundations of quantum physics, quantum computing, and related areas, with a focus on structural perspectives and the use of logical tools, ordered algebraic and category-theoretic structures, formal languages, semantical methods, and other computer science techniques applied to the study of physical behaviour in general. Work that applies structures and methods inspired by quantum theory to other fields (including computer science) is also welcome.

A call for papers and registration details will follow in a few weeks and will also be posted on the conference website at https://qpl2019.org

STEERING COMMITTEE

  • Bob Coecke (University of Oxford)
  • Prakash Panangaden (McGill University)
  • Peter Selinger (Dalhousie University)

LOCAL ORGANIZERS

  • Matthew Leifer (Chapman University)
  • Lorenzo Catani (Chapman University)
  • Justin Dressel (Chapman University)
  • Drew Moshier (Chapman University)

For further information, please contact qpl2019@easychair.org.

Instructional Assistant Professor of Physics Position

Chapman is hiring an Instructional Assistant Professor of Physics. Although non Tenure Track, this is a full faculty position with the possibility of promotion to Associate and Full professor.  Please encourage all qualified candidates interested in a teaching career in physics to apply.  We are particularly interested in people who can help develop our lab curriculum and teach physics to life sciences majors.  See the job advert here.

AAV Anniversary Conference – Celebrating 30 Years of Weak Values

We cordially invite you to join us for a celebratory conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the first paper on weak values by Aharonov, Albert and Vaidman. The conference will be held at Chapman University from March 1st – 2nd, immediately to be followed by another Chapman conference on Quantum Simulation and Quantum Walks from March 3rd – 4th, which you are, of course, very welcome to attend.

Please visit our website to register, make hotel reservations, and find instructions for submitting a poster abstract: https://www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/quantum-studies/aav.aspx

Also, note that the March Meeting of the American Physical Society takes place the following week (March 5-9) in Los Angeles, CA, which is near Chapman University, providing you with a triple reason to come visit with us in sunny Southern California.

Further details about the aims of the conference follow below.

The concept of a weak value, first formulated by Aharonov, Albert and Vaidman in their 1988 PRL paper “How the result of a measurement of a component of a spin-1/2 particle can turn out to be 100” (PRL 60:1351, 1988) has attracted widespread attention, which has only increased in recent years. It has given rise to a lot of interesting thought experiments, many of which are now being implemented in the lab. The mathematical formalism of weak values has also given rise to the related concept of superoscillations, which have been of great interest to mathematical physicists.

In recent years anomalous weak values have been shown to be related to quantum contextuality, and have attracted increasing attention for their possible application to quantum metrology, known as “weak value amplification”.

This symposium will survey the development of weak values, and explore the current debates about their foundational significance and practical applications.

Conference Organizing Committee:

Jeff Tollaksen
Matthew Leifer
Justin Dressel
Cristian Bourgeois

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Quantum Foundations

General Information

The Institute for Quantum Studies within Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Foundations of Quantum Theory, beginning August 2018.

Chapman University, located in the heart of Orange County, California, is ranked in the top tier of western universities by U.S. News and World Report, and has gained national recognition for its commitment to excellence through innovative research and teaching. Schmid College of Science and Technology embodies Chapman’s commitment to interdisciplinarity, fostering an outstanding community of teacher-scholars across a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. More information on the College and its future 140,000 square foot home, the Keck Center for Science and Engineering, can be found here: www.chapman.edu/science.

Qualifications

Postdoctoral Fellow must hold a Ph.D. or an equivalent of a doctoral degree by the beginning of employment at Chapman University. The doctorate or equivalent must have been awarded within the last five years and candidate has not exceeded five years of prior postdoctoral experience.

A publication record showing a strong promise for future independent research is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

The postdoc will work in the group of Dr. Matthew Leifer on the project “Fine Tunings and the Nature of Quantum Reality”.

A “fine tuning” refers to a property of the operational predictions of quantum theory that cannot hold at the level of reality. Fine tunings are exposed by the various no-go theorems for realist accounts of quantum theory, such as Bell’s theorem, the Kochen-Specker theorem, and recent results on the reality of the quantum state. The project encompasses: rigorously defining the notion of a fine tuning, characterizing and quantifying fine-tunings in a resource theoretic framework, exploiting fine tunings for information processing advantages, developing ontological frameworks for quantum theory that are free of fine tunings, and explaining fine tunings as emergent.

The postdoc is expected to work with Dr. Leifer on this project, but may also pursue their own independent research.

The postdoc is expected to publish their findings in academic journals and present their work at academic conferences and workshops. The postdoc is also expected to contribute to the research culture of the institute and university. Examples of ways of doing this include: giving seminars, helping to organize conferences and workshops, helping to organize seminars and talks, and discussing research with undergraduate and graduate students who are working on research projects.

Contact Information

Applicants should send electronic copies of their CV, research statement, list of publications, and three references to Dr. Matthew Leifer at leifer@chapman.edu.

Applications should be received before December 7, 2017 in order to receive full consideration, but the position will remain open until filled.

Fellows are offered a competitive salary, benefits, research support, and personalized professional development in research.
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866 Human Resources Department

Quantum Foundations at the APS March Meeting

The March Meeting of the American Physical Society is taking place March 5-9 2017 in Los Angeles. There will be sessions on Quantum Foundations, Quantum Resource Theories, and Quantum Thermodynamics. You can submit an abstract for a contributed talk at http://www.aps.org/meetings/march/. The deadline is November 3 at 11:59pm EST.

The APS March Meeting is a great opportunity to advertise recent work in quantum foundations to the wider physics community. I hope you will consider contributing a talk so that we can showcase our research in the strongest possible way.

Schmid College Teaching/Research Postdocs

The Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University is advertising teaching/research postdoctoral fellowships (see the advert below). The teaching portion is in our new Grand Challenges Initiative. The research component can be in any group within Schmid College, which includes the Institute for Quantum Studies (http://www.chapman.edu/research-and-institutions/quantum-studies/). The institute is led by Yakir Aharonov and Jeff Tollaksen, and includes faculty members Matt Leifer and Justin Dressel. Applicants interested in working in the Institute for Quantum Studies should contact one of us to discuss your research plan before applying, since you will have to select a faculty mentor within the institute. You may contact me in the first instance to register your interest.

Schmid College Teaching and Research Fellows

The Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University invites applications for its new postdoctoral teaching and research fellows program. Appointments will begin in summer 2017 for two years with a third year extension possible. Schmid College Fellows are outstanding early-career scientists who provide innovative teaching and mentorship to undergraduate students in our Grand Challenges Initiative (http://www.chapman.edu/GCI), as well as advance independent research in collaboration with a member of the faculty. Fellows are offered a competitive salary, benefits, research support, and personalized professional development in teaching and research.

Chapman University, located in the heart of Orange County, California, is ranked in the top tier of western universities by U.S. News and World Report, and has gained national recognition for its commitment to excellence through innovative research and teaching. Schmid College of Science and Technology embodies Chapman’s commitment to interdisciplinarity, fostering an outstanding community of teacher-scholars across a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. More information on the College and its future 140,000 square foot home, the Center for Science and Technology, can be found here:
http://www.chapman.edu/scst/index.aspx.

Schmid College Fellows will be responsible for teaching foundational coursework on scientific problem solving and critical thinking in the Grand Challenges Initiative. Fellows will then serve as mentors for student teams immersed in the process of solving problems of global importance. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact prospective mentors to discuss shared research interests and to learn more about the Grand Challenges Initiative.

Candidates should submit the following electronically via https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/8460

• cover letter
• curriculum vitae
• teaching philosophy statement
• research statement
• names and contact information for three references

In the cover letter, the applicant should discuss their personal motivations and goals as they pertain to serving as a teacher and mentor in the Grand Challenges Initiative. The applicant should also identify their prospective faculty collaborator/mentor and briefly outline the proposed research collaboration.

Postdoctoral Fellows must hold a Ph.D. or an equivalent of a doctoral degree by the beginning of employment at Chapman University. The doctorate or equivalent must have been awarded within the last five years and candidate has not exceeded five years of prior postdoctoral experience. Schmid College will provide visa and immigration-related support for postdoctoral fellows. Citizenship is not a selection criterion.

File review will commence on January 2, 2017 and will continue until all positions are filled.

Chapman University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The university is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The university is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented
groups to apply. More information on diversity and inclusion at Chapman can be found at http://www.chapman.edu/diversity/. Questions can be addressed to: SchmidGCI@chapman.edu