cv
I promise to thou - stranger on the internet - that I will keep this up to date 🤞🏽
Basics
| Name | Sadman Ahmed Shanto |
| shanto@usc.edu | |
| Url | https://sadmanahmedshanto.com |
| Summary | Experimental physicist building superconducting quantum hardware and design automation tools. Physics PhD Candidate @ USC and Research Intern @ Google Quantum AI. |
Education
-
2021.08 - 2026.12 Los Angeles, CA
-
2017.08 - 2021.05 Lubbock, TX
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Applied Physics
- Minors: Computer Science & Mathematics
Work
-
2025.08 - Present Mountain View, CA, USA
-
2025.05 - 2025.08 Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Summer Research Intern
Quantum Elements Inc.
- Engineered a production-ready agentic AI framework with multi-agent coordination, evaluation, and tracing pipelines for autonomous calibration and diagnostics of superconducting quantum experiments.
- Architected and deployed full-stack backend infrastructure—custom APIs, scalable databases, and containerized microservices on AWS—integrating Quantum Elements’ ML models, simulators, and databases with the AI agent ecosystem.
- Built the infrastructure enabling autonomous execution of superconducting quantum experiments, allowing AI agents to calibrate, measure, diagnose, and analyze results through integrated MCP servers and ML-driven control workflows.
-
2022.01 - Present Los Angeles, CA, USA
Graduate Research Assistant
Levenson-Falk Lab (LFL), University of Southern California
- Lead developer of SQuADDS, an open-source platform accelerating quantum device design from weeks to minutes; widely adopted across research and industry labs for simulation, optimization, and fabrication-ready layout generation.
- Developed and validated high-yield nanofabrication processes for nanobridge-SQUID resonators with 15 nm features, scaling functional device yield from <2% to >90%.
- Designed and fabricated superconducting circuits including nanobridge-based resonators, offset-charge-sensitive transmons, and custom Josephson parametric amplifiers for probing quasiparticle dynamics and enhancing qubit readout.
- Engineered full-stack experimental infrastructure—from cryogenic systems (Oxford Instruments, BlueFors) and microwave chains to automated measurement platforms using QUA, Labber, and AlazarTech hardware—integrating parametric sweeps, calibration routines, and advanced packaging for superconducting quantum devices.
- Created a highly accurate Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based inference pipeline to extract real-time quasiparticle occupation states from I/Q trajectory data, enabling detailed dynamic modeling of QP trapping and release.
- Leading experiments on Andreev bound state spectroscopy and nanoSQUID-based QP traps to investigate and mitigate quasiparticle-induced decoherence in superconducting qubits.
- Extended SQuADDS to support interpretable ML workflows using Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) to learn mapping between device geometry and target Hamiltonians.
- Collaborating with NVIDIA and Fermilab to develop explainable AI methods for quantum device design workflows, enabling physics-driven interpretability to uncover design principles and accelerate optimization of superconducting circuits.
- Leading open-source integration of AWS Quantum's EM solver Palace with Quantum-Metal, enabling scalable cloud-based simulation pipelines for the quantum hardware community.
- Designed and maintain HPC-based simulation and analysis pipelines for TB-scale datasets, optimizing for throughput, fault tolerance, and operational stability.
- Mentored undergraduate researchers, master's students, and junior PhD students on quantum circuit design, measurement automation, and fabrication processes.
-
2020.06 - 2020.08 Nashville, TN, USA
Summer Research Intern
Institute for Software Integrated Systems (ISIS), Vanderbilt University
- Built a full-stack calibration pipeline for microscopic traffic models, addressing parameter identifiability and stochastic noise under multi-objective constraints.
- Parallelized simulation-optimization workflows using Ray; achieved 10x+ speedup in sweep-based calibration experiments.
- Designed tools to convert simulation output from the Intelligent Driver Model (IDM) into radar-style datasets for validation against real-world aggregate metrics.
- Contributed to the Flow RL framework, enabling closed-loop learning in calibrated traffic environments; supported end-to-end tuning and evaluation.
- Co-authored a peer-reviewed conference paper on microsimulation calibration using aggregate measurements.
- Supervisors: Daniel Work, PhD. & George Gunter, PhD.
-
2019.01 - 2020.06 Lubbock, TX, USA
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Texas Tech Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT)
- Developed an open-source simulator for heterogeneous AV/HV traffic using an extended Nagel-Schreckenberg CA model; supported both rule-based and learning agents.
- Designed AV control strategies for shared-lane mobility and dynamic lane switching; revealed emergent behaviors like intelligent herding and platoon formation.
- Integrated reinforcement learning for AVs to adapt to local density gradients; demonstrated benefits in flow stability and throughput in multi-lane networks.
- Analyzed macro-scale flow metrics derived from microscopic simulation rules; co-authored a journal paper identifying system-wide effects of AV/HV composition.
- Supervisor: Jia Li, PhD
-
2018.11 - 2021.08 Lubbock, TX, USA
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Advanced Particle Detector Laboratory (APDL), Texas Tech University
- Led end-to-end design of optical system upgrades for muon telescopes; developed custom Winston cones that improved signal efficiency from 20% to 78%.
- Co-designed and assembled both SiPM- and PMT-based muon telescopes; machined 50+ scintillator bars; engineered calibration and installation of 40 SiPMs and 44 PMTs.
- Built DAQ systems using Arduino, CAMAC crates, and custom PCBs with wireless synchronization; implemented multithreaded sync and FPGA logic to reduce channel deadtime by 300x.
- Wrote real-time data acquisition and analysis software, converting raw readout into muon flux maps; deployed automated pipelines on the university HPC, with cloud-style report generation.
- Built and validated full Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation of the experimental system, including physics modeling of photon scattering and muon interactions.
- Developed a custom ML architecture that uses TDC-based photon time-of-propagation measurements to infer depth information, enabling 3D tomographic reconstruction from 2D detector plane data.
- Implemented RNN/LSTM models to recover missing hit data, improving data efficiency and significantly enhancing image resolution from sparse muon events.
- Actively involved in multiple data-taking campaigns, including first experimental run; maintained 24/7 operations and emergency response support.
- Presented work at national conferences, winning multiple awards for technical talks and posters on detector design and reconstruction algorithms.
- Co-authored peer-reviewed publications on both the initial prototype and next-generation telescope design.
- Supervisors: Shuichi Kunori, PhD. & Nural Akchurin, PhD.
Talks
-
2026.05 - 2026.05 Urbana-Champaign, USA
Invited Talk at U of I Quantum Circuit Conference (UIQC 2026)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Towards Generalizable Machine Learning Models for Superconducting QPU Design
-
2026.02 - 2026.02 Online
Invited Talk at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
LBNL
- Integrating Superconducting Quantum Chip Design into ARTEMIS Solver
-
2026.01 - 2026.01 Online
-
2025.05 - 2025.05 Los Angeles, USA
Invited Lectures for Quantum Design Workshop @ UCLA
Quantum Design Workshop @ UCLA
- Learning Inverse Design Maps using ML for Physics DiscoveryDesigning Fabrication-Ready Superconducting Quantum Chips
-
2025.04 - 2025.04 USC and UMD
Intro to Superconducting Quantum Circuits Designs
Quantum Engineering and Ethics (QEE) Q^3 Hackathon
- Invited Lecture
-
2025.01 - 2025.01 Los Angeles, USA
Invited Lecture for QEE @ USC
Quantum Engineering and Ethics (QEE) @ USC
- Introduction to Quantum Device Design
-
2024.11 - 2024.11 Los Angeles
Invited Lecture for Quantum Device Course @ USC
Quantum Device Course @ USC
- Designing a 'fab-ready' chip with SQuADDS
-
2024.10 - 2024.10 Online
Qiskit Fall Fest 2024
Superconducting Quantum Hardware Research
- Invited Lectures
- Final Projects Judge
-
2024.07 - 2024.07 Lexington, USA
-
2024.06 - 2024.06 Online
-
2024.01 - 2024.01 Online
-
2022.01 - 2024.12 Los Angeles, USA
PHYS 593: Practicum in Teaching Physics and Astronomy, USC
How to be an Effective TA 101
- Invited Lectures
-
2021.01 - 2021.01 Lubbock, USA
-
2020.08 - 2020.08 Tennessee, USA
-
2020.01 - 2020.05 Lubbock, USA
Conferences
-
2025.03 - 2025.03 Anaheim, USA
APS Global Physics Summit 2025
SQuADDS: A validated design database and simulation workflow for superconducting qubit design
-
2024.04 - 2024.04 Minneapolis, USA
APS March Meeting 2024
Going from Hamiltonian to GDS File: An Open Source Package for Generating Qubit Designs
-
2023.01 - 2023.01 Las Vegas, USA
-
2021.09 - 2021.09 Virtual
-
2021.04 - 2021.04 Online
-
2020.11 - 2020.11 Virtual
-
2020.04 - 2020.04 Virtual
-
2020.04 - 2020.04 Virtual
-
2019.11 - 2019.11 Palo Alto, USA
-
2019.10 - 2019.10 Lubbock, USA
Texas Section of American Physical Society
Poster Presentation on Muon Tomography
- Best Presentation Award
Awards
- 2026
Peer Recognition Award
Google Quantum AI
- 2025
Peer Recognition Award
Google Quantum AI
- 2025
Best Presenter Award
Dornsife Industry Days
- 2022–2025
GSG Professional Development Fund Award
Graduate Student Government
- 2021 — 2026
USC Dornsife College Graduate Fellowship
University of Southern California
- 2017 — 2021
Texas Tech University Presidential Scholarship
Texas Tech University
- 2017 — 2021
Dean's Honor List
Texas Tech University
- 2021
Best Talk in Economic Impact
Undergraduate Research Conference, TTU
- 2021
Best Virtual Presentation in Economic Impact
Undergraduate Research Conference, TTU
- 2020
Certification of Quantum Excellence
IBM Qiskit
- 2020
TrUE Undergraduate Scholar Project Fund
Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences, TTU
- 2020
Second Place for Best Undergraduate Presenter
Department of Physics and Astronomy, TTU
- 2020
C.C. Schmidt and Alma K. Schmidt Award in Physics
Physics and Astronomy Department, TTU
- 2018 — 2019
Bucy Undergraduate Scholarship Physics Award
Physics and Astronomy Department, TTU
- 2018 — 2019
Raiders Who Rock: Pursuit of Excellence Award
Office of Engagement and Transition, TTU
- 2019
Outstanding Student Presenter
Texas Section of APS
- 2019
Best Poster Presenter
Department of Physics and Astronomy, TTU
- 2019
Certified Tutor, Level II
College Readiness and Learning Association (CRLA)
- 2019
Honorable Mention: Best Undergraduate Poster Presenter
Far West Section of APS, Stanford University
- 2019
TrUE Undergraduate Scholar Project Fund
Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences, TTU
- 2019
TrUE Travel Funds Award
Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences, TTU
- 2018
Silver Medal
University Physics Competition (UPhysC)
- 2017
Gangapadhaya Physics Scholarship Award
Department of Physics and Astronomy, TTU
- 2017
Glen Mann Physics Scholarship Award
Department of Physics and Astronomy, TTU
Skills
| Programming Languages | |
| Python | |
| C++ | |
| C | |
| Bash/ZSH | |
| Lua | |
| Java | |
| Matlab | |
| R | |
| Julia | |
| TeX | |
| Go | |
| Swift | |
| Mathematica | |
| Rust |
| Quantum Computing Software | |
| Qiskit | |
| Qiskit Metal | |
| Quantum-Metal | |
| QUA | |
| scqubits | |
| Cirq | |
| PennyLane | |
| Labber | |
| AlazarTech PCIe Digitizer | |
| OPX+ | |
| Zurich Instruments |
| Layout & Verification | |
| gdsfactory | |
| gdspy | |
| gplugins | |
| KLayout | |
| kfactory | |
| KQCircuits | |
| phidl | |
| Siemens nmDRC | |
| SiEPIC-Tools | |
| SQDMetal |
| Simulation and Modeling | |
| Ansys HFSS | |
| Ansys Q3D | |
| AWR Office | |
| COMSOL | |
| Elmer | |
| Keysight ADS | |
| meep | |
| Palace | |
| tidy3d |
| Quantum Computing Control Systems | |
| Quantum Machines OPX | |
| Zurich Instruments | |
| QICK |
| Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems | |
| Bluefors | |
| Oxford Instruments | |
| Turbo and Scroll Pumps | |
| Helium Compressors | |
| Leak Detectors |
| Packaging | |
| Wirebonding | |
| Soldering | |
| CPW and Microstrip Design | |
| RF Packaging | |
| Cavity Design | |
| Electroplating |
| Fabrication and Cleanroom | |
| EBL | |
| Laser Lithography | |
| Photolithography | |
| SEM | |
| FIB | |
| STM | |
| E-Beam Evaporation | |
| Thermal Evaporation | |
| ALD | |
| Sputtering | |
| RIE | |
| ICP Etching | |
| Dicing | |
| Lift-off | |
| Wet Etching | |
| Dry Etching | |
| CMP | |
| Class 100/1000 Cleanroom | |
| Profilometry | |
| Process Optimization | |
| Metrology | |
| Recipe Calibration |
| Machine Learning and AI | |
| TensorFlow | |
| PyTorch | |
| Keras | |
| Scikit-learn | |
| XGBoost | |
| HuggingFace | |
| Transformers | |
| Ray | |
| AutoML | |
| JAX | |
| LightGBM | |
| Hyperopt | |
| HMMLearn | |
| pyKAN | |
| interpret | |
| TFX |
| Data Analysis | |
| Numpy | |
| Pandas | |
| Vaex | |
| Matplotlib | |
| Seaborn | |
| Plotly | |
| Dask | |
| Apache Spark | |
| SQL | |
| Dash | |
| StatsModels | |
| SymPy |
| High-Performance Computing & Cloud Platforms | |
| AWS | |
| GCP | |
| Azure | |
| Docker | |
| Kubernetes | |
| OpenMPI | |
| SLURM | |
| Ray | |
| Dask | |
| TensorFlow Extended (TFX) |
| Database and Big Data | |
| PostgreSQL | |
| MongoDB | |
| Apache Hadoop | |
| Apache Spark | |
| AWS RDS |
| DevOps and Version Control | |
| Git | |
| GitHub | |
| GitLab | |
| CI/CD Pipelines | |
| Docker | |
| Kubernetes |
| Digital Electronics & Embedded Systems | |
| FPGA Design | |
| Verilog | |
| Vivado Design Suite | |
| KiCad | |
| LTspice | |
| Arduino | |
| Raspberry Pi | |
| PCB Design | |
| Siemens nmDRC |
| Web Development and APIs | |
| HTML | |
| CSS | |
| JavaScript | |
| Node.js | |
| Flask | |
| FastAPI | |
| Django | |
| REST APIs | |
| GraphQL | |
| WebSockets |
Languages
| Bengali | |
| Native speaker |
| English | |
| Bilingual |
| Hindi | |
| Intermediate |
| Urdu | |
| Intermediate |
Publications
-
2026 Universal Hamiltonian Control in a Planar Trimon Circuit
Under Review at PRX Quantum
Demonstration of universal Hamiltonian control in a planar trimon circuit, under review at PRX Quantum (2026).
-
2026 AgentQ: An LLM-Agentic Framework for Time-Domain Superconducting Quantum Chip Simulation
In Preparation
An LLM-agentic framework for automated time-domain simulation of superconducting quantum chips, in preparation (2026).
-
2026 Component-Level Inverse Design of Transmon Qubits Using Neural Networks
In Preparation
Neural-network-based component-level inverse design framework for transmon qubits, in preparation (2026).
-
2025 A Review of Design Concerns in Superconducting Quantum Circuits
Materials for Quantum Technology
An invited review paper on design concerns in superconducting quantum circuits, to be published in Materials for Quantum Technology.
-
2024.09.09 SQuADDS: A validated design database and simulation workflow for superconducting qubit design
Quantum
A validated design database and simulation workflow for superconducting qubit design, published in Quantum.
-
2024.04.01 On-demand driven dissipation for cavity reset and cooling
PRX Quantum
Research on cavity reset and cooling through on-demand driven dissipation, published in PRX Quantum.
-
2023.09.01 Quasiparticle Dynamics in Epitaxial Al-In-As Planar Josephson Junctions
PRX Quantum
A study of quasiparticle dynamics in Josephson junctions, published in PRX Quantum.
-
2023.04.01 Electron-phonon interactions in the Andreev bound states of aluminum nanobridge Josephson junctions
Phys. Rev. B
Investigation of electron-phonon interactions in Andreev bound states of Josephson junctions, published in Physical Review B.
-
2021.01.01 Challenges of Microsimulation Calibration with Traffic Waves using Aggregate Measurements
Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
Research on microsimulation calibration challenges with traffic wave modeling, presented at the TRB Annual Meeting.
-
2020.01.01 High-Resolution Muography Using a Prototype Portable Muon Telescope
Journal of Undergraduate Reports in Physics
Development and application of a portable muon telescope for high-resolution muography, published in JURP.
References
| Professor Eli Levenson-Falk | |
| Email: elevenso@usc.edu, Office: SSC 222 Phone: (213) 740-0163 |
| Professor Nural Akchurin | |
| Email: Nural.Akchurin@ttu.edu Office: 39 Science Building Phone: (806) 834-8838 |