Gongyu Ni is a PhD candidate in Computer Science at University College Cork, funded by Science Foundation Ireland. With an academic background spanning physics and quantum computation, her research focuses on machine-learning-driven scheduling, routing, and optimisation in quantum networks.

During her QIA internship, Gongyu’s work has concentrated on distributed quantum computing (DQC) as a key application of future quantum networks. She has been deeply involved in extending simulation and execution frameworks by integrating new scheduling mechanisms and traffic models. Her contributions include proposing novel schedulers for distributed quantum computing execution models, developing node-assignment strategies that account for heterogeneous quantum hardware, and implementing realistic Poisson traffic models to study network performance under varying loads. Through extensive simulations, she evaluated both newly proposed and benchmark scheduling strategies across different qubit configurations and job sizes.

Reflecting on the experience, Gongyu highlights the value of applying her doctoral research to a concrete and impactful use case. The internship has strengthened her quantum software development skills, supported the preparation of a final technical report and manuscript, and provided an opportunity to collaborate closely with a new group of quantum researchers. She describes the project as an important step in deepening both her technical expertise and her academic research trajectory.

Nadja Zoe Zaouri is a fourth-year Applied Physics student at the National Technical University of Athens, pursuing an integrated Master of Engineering with a focus on computational and theoretical physics and emerging quantum technologies. Her academic profile combines strong technical skills with interdisciplinary interests spanning machine learning, sustainability, and innovation.

Throughout her internship, Nadja focused on the study and characterisation of a compact, high-fidelity, telecom-wavelength multipartite entangled photon source, specifically a four-qubit GHZ source. Her work involved reviewing key research literature on the source’s operation and performance, as well as on quantum networking protocols such as anonymous communication and quantum sensing. In parallel, she gained direct exposure to experimental practice by shadowing laboratory measurement sessions and participating in the source alignment process.

Nadja emphasises that working directly with the experimental setup significantly accelerated her learning and strengthened her understanding of how theoretical concepts translate into real-world quantum systems. Collaborating with an experienced experimental research group confirmed her motivation to continue in the field of quantum technologies and to pursue further studies in this area.

Elena Bresta is an Electrical and Computer Engineering student at the National Technical University of Athens, currently completing an integrated MSc programme. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of computer engineering and quantum computing, with a particular focus on quantum machine learning and quantum neural networks.

During her QIA internship, Elena has been working on integrating support for Quantum Charge-Coupled Device (QCCD) architectures into the Qoala framework, an execution framework for end nodes in quantum networks. Her project addresses the practical challenges of controlling modular quantum hardware through software, contributing directly to ongoing research on scalable quantum computing and the quantum internet.

Elena describes the internship as an engaging and intellectually stimulating experience, highlighting the collaborative environment and strong connection between theory, software, and hardware. Her motivation for joining the programme stemmed from a desire to bridge her classical computer engineering background with the unique constraints of quantum processors. Looking ahead, the experience has reinforced her intention to pursue further research, potentially through PhD studies focused on quantum computing architectures and control systems.

Ionela Balint is a computer science graduate and Master’s student in Quantum Computing at the Polytechnic University of Timișoara. With prior professional experience in data management, enterprise IT systems, and engineering internships, she brings a versatile and applied perspective to quantum research.

Based in Lisbon during her internship, Ionela has been working on multipartite state distribution in quantum networks, with a particular focus on mitigating the effects of noise on entangled quantum states. Her project examines fidelity and related performance metrics under realistic noise conditions, exploring strategies to preserve entanglement quality across network nodes.

Ionela describes the internship as a transformative personal and professional experience, marking her first time abroad and her first involvement in an international research group. She highlights the supportive research environment, strong mentorship, and opportunities to develop scientific communication skills through presentations and journal club discussions. Exposure to a wide range of research topics and seminars further broadened her perspective on quantum technologies. The internship has strengthened her commitment to pursuing a PhD and an academic research career in quantum science.