# Samantha Barron (@samantha.wiki)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/samantha.wiki
Headline: IBM Quantum, Physics PhD

## Experience

- **Quantum Software Developer at IBM** (2023 – present)
- **Quantum Computing Research Intern at IBM** (2021 – 2021)
- **Quantum Computing Research Intern at IBM** (2020 – 2020)
- **Grader at Art of Problem Solving** (2016 – 2017)
  Graded problems for students gifted in mathematics at various skill levels. Topics graded include introductory and intermediate algebra, counting and probability, pre-algebra, and others. Provided meaningful feedback to students on homework problems with the imperative to guide students to solutions rather than giving the answer.
- **Undergraduate Research Assistant at University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences** (2015 – 2015)
  Research was primarily concerned with the implementation of the Quantum Fourier Transform in an architecture of fully connected collection of superconducting qubits. This implementation has potential benefits for benchmarking quantum devices.
- **Graduate Research Assistant at Virginia Tech** (2018 – 2022)
  Researching performance of variational quantum algorithms on Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices. Researching methods of producing fast, high fidelity entangling and single-qubit gates in superconducting systems via all microwave control. Researching efficient ansatze for Variational Quantum Eigensolvers (VQEs) and their applications in quantum chemistry problems.
- **Graduate Teaching Assistant at Virginia Tech** (2017 – 2018)
  Teaching physics labs at the introductory level, specifically focusing on guiding students to more accurate ways of thinking rather than giving them the answer. Focusing on methods of solving problems that will help them in class as well as give a physical intuition that relates to everyday life. Responsible for grading labs and entering grades in a timely manner, as well as proctoring exams.
- **Algorithms R&D Intern at Wolfram** (2017 – 2017)
  Updated documentation for about 80 existing number theory functions in Mathematica. Developed Mathematica package that uses information from FactorDB.com to gather information about integer factorization and primality. Created Wolfram University course that teaches the user about computational number theory, starting with modular arithmetic and progressing to higher topics such as pseudoprimes, sieving, and primality testing algorithms. Developed Mathematica package that gathers about 70 computational number theory functions from an external source for use in Mathematica, allowing users to directly view the code and learn more about the algorithms being used.

## Education

- **Virginia Tech** — Doctor of Philosophy - PhD (2017 – 2022)
- **The University of Georgia** — Bachelor of Science (B.S.) (2013 – 2017)

## Skills

- Research
- Physics
- Quantum Computing
- Quantum Information
- Mathematica
- Wolfram language
- Public Speaking
- Leadership
- OS X
- Computer Repair
- Computer Hardware
- Customer Service
- Microsoft Word
- PowerPoint
- Windows 7
- Troubleshooting
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office

## Honors and awards

- Ted L. Simons Memorial Scholarship Award
- Clayton D. Williams Fellowship in Theoretical Physics

## Languages

- English (native)