QTE | IMRE
Our group
We are interested in the development of quantum materials and devices towards a scalable quantum computer. Some of the key challenges are to obtain a long coherence time, low error rate and a scalable platform. We exploit the unique electrical and optical properties in atomically thin two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides (TMDCs), such as spin-valley interlocking, spin-orbit coupling and potential compatibility with standard CMOS processes to tackle these challenges.
What We Do
We are interested in the development of high-quality materials in a scalable device architecture which constitutes a current major bottleneck towards scalable quantum computing. We have developed a strong suite of capabilities in quantum material and solid-state device development to tackle these challenges.
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Our Approach
We seek to develop scalable processes such as chemical vapor deposition grown quantum materials and atomic layer deposition of high-k dielectric layers for planar electrically defined hybrid spin-valley qubits.
The Team
Meet the dedicated team working tirelessly at the advancing frontier of quantum technology.
Kuan Eng Johnson Goh
Principal Scientist
Kuan Eng Johnson Goh is Head of Department for Quantum Technologies for Engineering, and Principal Scientist at IMRE A*STAR (Singapore). Trained as a Physicist (VUW, New Zealand), Engineer (Sheffield, UK), and Educator (NIE/NTU, Singapore), he went on to obtain his Ph.D. in 2007 from the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology at the University of New South Wales (Sydney). He joined A*STAR in 2006 and contributed to materials science and engineering research ranging from atomic-scale 3D printing with silicon atoms, to highly conductive thermoplastics for 3D printable electronics, to 2D semiconductors and to quantum devices. His current endeavor is to meld his multidisciplinary research expertise in quantum information technologies, nanoelectronics, machine learning, and additive manufacturing towards disruptive quantum technologies.
Wong Pei Yu Calvin
Scientist
Calvin is currently a Research Scientist and Deputy Head at the Quantum Technologies for Engineering (QTE) Department of the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR where he is pursuing research in quantum materials and related fields. He obtained his B.Appl.Sc (Applied Chemistry) in 2013 and PhD (Integrative Sciences and Engineering) with a focus on Physics in 2018 at the National University of Singapore. He is well versed in the fabrication and electrical measurements of 2D material-based and Silicon-based devices and the characterization of these materials using a scanning tunneling microscope, where he pokes at atoms using a very sharp stick to make them tell their story. He hopes to synergize his advanced characterization techniques with quantum devices to better understand these materials to improve device performances.
Chit Siong (Aaron) Lau
Scientist
Aaron is an experimental quantum scientist who engineers and studies next-generation materials and devices to understand the physics of low-dimensional systems. He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science (Physics), first class honours, before receiving the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship to pursue his PhD at the University of Oxford. There, he frequented the Department of Materials and the Royal Oak Pub where he worked on quantum transport through single-molecule electronics. Having enjoyed his fill of Doom Bars, puntings and discussing about the weather, he successfully defended his thesis and returned to A*STAR IMRE in 2017, where he now works on atomically thin materials for quantum applications. In his spare time, he reads and partakes in the following subjects and activities: low-dimensional material and device physics, quantum technology, travelling, gardening, cycling and most sports involving teams chasing after a ball.
Fabio Bussolotti
Scientist
Fabio Bussolotti is an experimental physicist expert in photoelectron spectroscopy for materials analysis. After completing his PhD in Physics at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy (2006) he was awarded international fellowship by the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (2007) and moved to Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Asahidai, Japan) to investigate the electronic properties of organic single crystals and thin films by electron diffraction and angular resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) techniques. He expanded these studies as GCOE (Global Center of Excellence) research associate at the Department of Nanomaterial Science in Chiba University, Japan (2009-2014) and at Institute of Molecular Science at Okazaki, Japan (2015). In 2016 he moved to IMRE, A*STAR, Singapore where is in charge of Spin-ARPES system for the study of atomically thin materials for quantum-based applications. In the spare time, he likes running, eating, reading, travelling and watching movies.
Fu Wei
Scientist
Fu Wei is a material scientist in QTE@IMRE-A*STAR. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with PhD degree in Applied Chemistry, he joined Prof Liu Zheng’s group in MSE@NTU, as a research staff working on controllable growth of novel atomic 2D materials by chemical vapor deposition technique in the period of 2014 to 2016. After that, he came to NUS, working in Prof LOH Kian Ping’s team in 2016-2020, and in Prof Barbaros’s team in 2020-2021, and his research mainly focused on wafer-scale epitaxial growth of smart 2D atomic layers for fundamental scientific research as well as for industry-targeted applications. Currently, he is working on the development of new advanced material growth techniques for the scalable production of high quality 2D atomic single crystals for quantum information applications.
Lee Cheow Siong Rainer
Specialist
Prior to joining IMRE, Rainer was a process engineer at SERIS developing and fabricating P-type solar cells after graduation with a Bachelor from NTU’s School of Materials Science & Engineering. Moving forward, he will be contributing to the research in quantum materials through the development of fabrication process recipes for 2-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, topological insulators and conventional semiconductors among others.
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Ding Huang
Scientist
Ding is an experimental physicist interested in quantum science and engineering. His research aims at understanding and controlling the properties of quantum systems at small length scale. He joined IMRE A*STAR in 2021, where he is now exploring quantum devices based on 2D materials. Ding received his PhD from Princeton University in 2021. His PhD work focuses on the spectroscopy of atomic defects in diamond and coupling them to nanophotonic cavities for quantum network applications. Prior to that, he received his master and bachelor’s degrees from Imperial College London in 2014, where he graduated with First Class Honours. In his spare time, he likes to hike, ski and play video games.
Jiang Zhuojun
Specialist
Before joining IMRE, Zhuojun graduated from NUS with master’s degree in chemistry. Her bachelor’s degree in Engineering was completed from College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University. Her previous research experiences mainly focused on electrochemistry and photocatalysis study of layered materials including LDH and Bismuth Oxyhalides, the fabrication of noble nanoparticles as well as preparation of heterojunction of nanoparticles and 2D materials. Currently, she is helping with exfoliation and transfer of TMDCs for devices. In the spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and watching sci-fi movies.
Dasari Venkatakrishnarao (Krishna)
Scientist
Dasari Venkatakrishnarao (Krishna)
Dasari Venkatakrishnarao (Krishna)
Dasari is an experimental scientist who works on 2D dielectric metal oxides for 2D TMD devices by liquid metal printing or transfer process. He was awarded the doctorate from the University of Hyderabad, India (2018) in the field of nano-photonics, where he synthesizes molecules to generate lasing. While pursuing his studies, he was selected to participate in the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureates Meetings held in Lindau, Germany (2017). He moved to Singapore for his first post-doctoral studies to work on molecular electronics at the Centre for Advanced 2D materials (CA2DM), the National University of Singapore, where he worked on liquid metals to probe as a top electrode for smooth contact for molecular junctions. Later, he was awarded by the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS-2021) and moved to Japan to investigate the self-assembly process of organic molecules for lasing and device applications. In the middle of 2022, he joined IMRE, A* STAR, Singapore, where he is working on the fabrication of high k-dielectric metal oxides and their integration into 2D semiconductors for Qubit applications. In his free time, he is into cooking, playing cricket, watching movies, and jogging.
Zhang Yiyu
Scientist
Zhang Yiyu is an experimental scientist interested in semiconductor science and engineering. His research interest is exploring the application of semiconductor electronics in quantum engineering. After graduating from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China with PhD degree (2019), Yiyu joined EEE, NTU as a research fellow working on printable electronics and optoelectronics development based on the
III-V and wide bandgap semiconductors (2019-2022). He joined IMRE A*STAR in 2022, where he is now developing the cryogenic amplify system for quantum information processing. In his spare time, he likes to play tennis and video games.
John Wellington
Scientist
John Wellington is working in QTE, IMRE as Scientist I from July 2022. He received his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 2022. His PhD work focuses on Infrared detectors based on Group-IV semiconductor nanostructures and its heterojunction with Layered materials. In A*STAR, he works on topological qubits based on 2D materials. He is also working on the quantification of interface defects between 2D materials and High-K dielectrics. In his free time, he listens to music, play cricket and football.
Ivan Verzhbitskiy
Scientist
Dr Ivan Verzhbitskiy received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Physics from Saint Petersburg State University, and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Angers (CNRS, France), in 2011. Later, he was appointed a postdoctoral associate position at the Free University of Berlin, where he studied electronic and optical properties of graphene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene nanoribbons. He then moved to the National University of Singapore as a Senior Research Fellow in 2013 and later joined the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR) in Singapore. His main research interests are focused on the electronic and optical properties of quantum materials and their application to quantum logic hardware.
Thathsara D. Maddumapatabandi
Scientist
Thathsara joined Quantum Technologies for Engineering (QTE) Department of the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR as a scientist in 2022 where her research focuses on 2D material growth and photoelectron spectroscopy characterization for 2D materials-based quantum devices. She received B.Sc. (Hons) special degree in Chemistry from Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2013, and she obtained her PhD in Physical Chemistry from Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina in 2019. Her PhD work focused on surface science and synthesis and reactions of model catalysts, nanomaterials, and catalyst characterization using ultra high vacuum surface science characterization techniques. Before starting at A*STAR, she worked as a Senior Lecturer at Sri Lanka Technological Campus. Apart from her research, she enjoys photography, hiking, travelling, cooking, and baking as interests and hobbies.
Kee Qian Ling
Specialist
Qian Ling graduated from the Engineering Science Programme at the National University of Singapore in 2022, where she received her B.Eng with First Class Honours. In her past life, she was designing antennas for CubeSats. After joining research, she has since worked on the electroless deposition of FeCo thin films on graphene and explored using 2D materials for 5G applications. Her research work at QMD involves fabricating 2D material-based devices and electrical measurements. She hopes to continue developing herself through further studies in the field of quantum transport. In her free time, she enjoys chilling with friends and family, rock climbing, travelling to obscure places, and all things adventurous.
Yau Yong Sean
Specialist
Sean is a mechanical engineer by training, who worked in R&D with a focus on product and mechanism design. He is experienced with prototyping, additive manufacturing as well as various fabrication processes. In 2010, he stumbled into the world of quantum at the Centre for Quantum Technologies in National University of Singapore (CQT, NUS) where he helped built a quantum light source housed in a CubeSat that was successfully launched and operated in space. In his recent endeavour, he supported the pioneers of topological qubits development at Microsoft Quantum Material lab in Copenhagen, Denmark. There he designed and integrated UHV and cryogenics systems for material research and growth. Apart from work, Sean participates in cycling, swimming and hiking, dragging his mischievous children along.
Abhishek Mishra
Scientist
Abhishek is a material-device enthusiast with background in semiconductor device characterization, simulation and fabrication. His research interests include material-device co-design for next generation semiconductor devices, and solving the reliability-performance conundrum involved. He did his PhD at Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (2019), investigating operational reliability of graphene and MWCNT-based devices. He was also involved in CVD growth of graphene, which helped him appreciate the role of materials in dictating functionality, performance and reliability of the devices. Previously, he was a part of research team at Center for Device Thermography and Reliability, University of Bristol, UK, where he explored ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor based devices using various characterization techniques, and was also involved in designing heterostructures to improve reliability and performance of the devices. He spends his leisure time enjoying audio books and podcasts. He is always available for long walks/hikes and brainstorming devices over a cup of coffee.
Alumni
Jae Hyun Kwon
Scientist
Jae Hyun is an experimentalist in physics. To get his career trained as a scientist, he first pursued M.S. at the University of Science and Technology of KIST campus, South Korea (2008). For a master’s degree, he studied spin polarized transport by spin-orbit interaction in a 2-DEG quantum well. Then, he moved to Singapore, and graduated with Ph.D. at the National University of Singapore (2013). During a doctorate and post-doctorate, his research was focused on spintronics including magnetization/spin dynamics such as spin wave, ferromagnetic resonance, and spin-orbit torque. Before joining A*STAR, he had been working on TD for 22nm spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) in GlobalFoundries (2016-2023). Currently, his research interest is spin-valley coupled physics, and quantum transport/electron transport in low-dimensional materials for developing qubit and quantum device. He believes that quantum-based applications will bring mankind a revolutionary breakthrough against crises being faced at present. In spare time, he enjoys playing soccer and cooking.
Sarthak Das
Scientist
Sarthak hails from West Bengal, India and is currently working as a Scientist-I with the QTE family in IMRE, A*Star since January 2022. He completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Kalyani Government Engineering College and Jadavpur University, respectively, in 2014 and 2016 before pursuing his PhD at the Indian Institute of Science. During his doctoral studies, he gained extensive experience in spectroscopic analysis of the optical properties of layered materials, exploring the interplay between light and matter, and investigating the effects of many-body interactions in the realm of quantum dimensions, with a particular focus on semiconducting TMD materials. Currently, at QTE, he is applying his prior research experience to the realization of qubit operations with low-dimensional materials, working in tandem with his research team. When he is not immersed in research, he likes to follow politics, listens to music, or spend time in theatres to enjoy the latest movies. He has a keen interest in travel, and he relishes the chance to sit and observe the hustle and bustle of Singapore's city life from the quaint corners of various cafés, amongst the throngs of strangers from all walks of life.
Years | Name | Current Position | Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|
2021 - 2022 | Arramel | N/A | N/A |
2020 | Tong WANG | Scientist | IMRE, A*STAR |
2019 - 2020 | Yvonne GAO | NRF Fellow, Asst. Professor | NUS |
2019 - 2020 | Henry MEDINA | Research And Development Engineer | IMEC |
2018 - 2021 | Jing Yee CHEE | Scientist | IMRE, A*STAR |
2018 - 2020 | Dharmraj KOTEKAR PATIL | Scientist | IMRE, A*STAR |
2018 | Dickson THIAN | Scientist | IMRE, A*STAR |
2017 - 2021 | Zi En OOI | Scientist | IMRE, A*STAR |
2017 - 2018 | Swee Liang WONG | Researcher | HTX (Home Team Science & Technology Agency) |
2017 - 2018 | Yee Fun LIM | Deputy HoD, Senior Scientist | IMRE, A*STAR |
2017 - 2018 | Christina Ai Ling PANG | Assistant Manager, Strategy Management | ICES, A*STAR |
Students
Year | Name | Level | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Afsana FERDOUSI | SGUT | IMRE |
2021 | Sarthak Bhatnagar | Undergraduate | National University of Singapore |
2021 | Yaoju TARN | Undergraduate | Cornell University |
2019 - | Thasneem ALIYAR | PhD | Nanyang Technological University |
2020 - 2021 | Zhongming Zhang | Undergraduate | National University of Singapore |
2021 - | Daria Magdalena KIECZKA | PhD | University College London |
2021 | Wenhao CHU | MSc | National University of Singapore |
2021 | Zizhou XU | MSc | National University of Singapore |
2021 | Tingjing XING | Undergraduate | Cambridge |
2020 - | Chun Siong NEO | Undergraduate | Nanyang Technological University |