Categories: Uncategorized

Sidebar: Quantum roots

Rahul Sahay’s quantum mechanics research started at his undergraduate school, the University of California, Berkeley. For his final project, working with DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship alumnus Norman Yao, he worked on the interface between many-body physics —the interactions of lots of particles with one another — and the theories underpinning quantum computing.

Sahay likes quantum physics because its conceptually rich ideas offer depth. “There’s a lot of work involved in the subject that sort of just involves your perspective,” he says, which guides his problem solving. The creativity and fun involved in the process of using science as a means of informing and developing his own viewpoint was something he fell in love with.

Sahay shares his excitement for the quantum world by mentoring younger students in his physics department, an effort he has continued since his undergraduate years.

Outside his research, he’s an avid guitar player. He finds music therapeutic and a creativity-booster. He also likes watching films and playing basketball.

Andrew Meissen

Share
Published by
Andrew Meissen

Recent Posts

Interview: The nuts and bolts of blood flow

Notable program alum Amanda Randles models blood circulation — and is a role model for… Read More

July, 2025

Computing on the fly

Fruit flies, algorithms and light offer lessons in how complex organisms learn. Read More

July, 2025

Problems inverse

An NYU fellow accelerates algorithms that run vital processes backward. Read More

June, 2025

Quantum designer

Models of semiconductor defects point to improved qubit reliability. Read More

May, 2025

Knowing the unknowns

A Georgia Tech fellow models renewable energy and other problems with ever-changing unknowns. Read More

April, 2025

Unpacking snow

A UC Berkeley fellow applies machine learning to snowpack monitoring and more. Read More

March, 2025