Alexander Maloney, an international leader in quantum information science, joins the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) this fall as the inaugural Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Professor of Quantum Science.
Maloney, a researcher who investigates fundamental questions in theoretical physics and quantum information theory, comes to Syracuse from McGill University in Montreal.
Alexander Maloney
“I am delighted by the opportunity to work with the outstanding students and faculty at Syracuse University to help push the forefront of research in quantum science,” Maloney says.
The Walters Endowed Professorship was established by a $2.5 million gift from Syracuse University Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Kathy Walters ’73 and her husband, Stan ’72. Their gift was made as part of the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program, which supports the recruitment and retention of high-caliber faculty.
“The commitment of the Walters family has allowed us to recruit a world-class leader for Syracuse University’s quantum science program,” says Duncan Brown, vice president for research. “Professor Maloney will bring together outstanding faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Computer Science and provide new opportunities for our students to engage in cutting-edge research.”
Maloney’s research focuses on connections between quantum information theory, field theory, statistical mechanics and quantum gravity.
“Over the last century, advances in our understanding of the quantum world have underlain some of the most important scientific and technical advances that have changed both our society and our understanding of the universe,” Maloney says. “This includes deep questions ranging from elementary particle physics and black holes to materials science and engineering. Many of the most exciting current directions lie at the intersection of quantum science and information theory, where a new field of science is being created that may have profound implications, both for our understanding of fundamental physics and for the construction of quantum computers and precision devices.”
A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi notes that health care is another area of promise in quantum information science. “For example, we can imagine the potential for much earlier detection of diseases like cancer through quantum sensing, and the creation of highly personalized, more effective treatments for those diseases based on analysis of massive amounts of DNA data,” he says. “With Professor Maloney bringing his internationally recognized expertise to join the other top researchers in A&S physics, we are excited to be on the leading edge of this frontier.”
Maloney’s previous positions include James McGill Professor of Physics and Sir William Macdonald Chair in Physics at McGill University, where he was honored with the John David Jackson Award for excellence in teaching. He was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and a research associate at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. He was selected as a Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics in 2013. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University and an M.Sc. in mathematics and B.Sc. in physics from Stanford University.
At Syracuse, Maloney will work with four new researchers—now being recruited by the University with support from Invest Syracuse and Empire State Development—who will grow teaching and research in quantum science, providing opportunities for students to advance understanding of nature and design the next generation of quantum technologies.
