Posts
All interviews are edited for brevity and clarity.
Maria Schuld reflects on the open questions about quantum machine-learning algorithms by Katherine Wright, Senior Editor for Physics.
Becoming a physicist was not Maria Schuld’s life goal. As
an undergrad, she started out studying political science, taking physics
in parallel. Her plan was to work for a nonprofit organization in a
capacity that had a very clear benefit to society. For her, a career as a
physicist didn’t offer that possibility. But then, she says, “life
happened”—jobs fell through and other opportunities opened up—and she
found herself with a career in quantum machine learning.
Maria Schuld reflects on the open questions about quantum machine-learning algorithms.
Photo: Z. Giampietri
Today Schuld, who works for the Canadian quantum computing company Xanadu from her home in South Africa, says that she has matured in what she thinks it means for a person to benefit society. She says that all people can take actions to benefit others, regardless of their field. For example, any startup company can build a supportive culture with happy employees or a ruthless one that makes everyone miserable. In an interview with Physics, Schuld spoke about why she loves quantum machine learning, what she sees as the important unsolved problems in the field, and how she approaches career decisions.
Source: Physics
