Quantum Spintronics Pathway towards Scalability and Energy Efficiency | From Shear Stress to Spatial Apps- Everything I Needed To Know I Learned During my PhD

Taste of Tech Seminar Series

03/28/2025

Lunch will be provided during the seminar

Time

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM (EST)

Taste of Tech Seminar Details

Talk 1: Quantum spintronics pathway towards scalability and energy efficiency

Speaker: Yingying Wu
Assistant Professor, University of Florida

About the Speaker:

Dr. Yingying Wu has been an assistant professor in ECE at UF since August 2023. She worked as postdoctoral associate and a postdoctoral fellow in CIQM at Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2021 to 2023. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2020. Prior to that, she received her MPhil and a bachelor’s degree in Physics. Her research interests focus on exploring spintronics for quantum and neuromorphic computing through experiments and simulations. She has received some prestigious awards, including NSF CAREER 2025, UF ROSF Award 2024, IBM Pat Goldberg Memorial Best Paper Award 2023 and so on.

Abstract:

Quantum computing is an emerging field that shows great promise due to its ability to process large, complex datasets at exponentially higher speeds than conventional computers. However, it currently faces significant challenges, including relatively high error rates when handling systems with hundreds or thousands of qubits. To address this issue, topological protection has been proposed as a promising approach for achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing. One avenue of research focuses on topological qubits using Majorana zero modes, led by Microsoft, though the existence of these modes remains a topic of ongoing debate. In this talk, a real-space topology will be explored as a potential solution for fault-tolerant technology. Additionally, this approach demonstrates advantages in scalability and energy efficiency through the use of quantum spintronics.

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Talk 2: From Shear Stress to Spatial Apps- Everything I Needed To Know I Learned During my PhD

Speaker: Jessica Meloy
Hardware Engineering Manager, Apple

About the Speaker:

Jessica Meloy is a Hardware Engineering Manager in Vision Products Group at Apple in Seattle, Washington. She works across disciplines and phases of the product design cycle to bring next generation compute platforms into reality. Prior to Apple she worked at Pensar Development, a product design consultancy, and Boeing, in the Aero/Noise/Propulsion Laboratories. Most importantly, she is a graduate of the University of Florida (BS ’07, MS ’09, PhD ’12) and a former member of the Interdisciplinary Microsystems Group.

Abstract:

This session will explore how the technical foundation and connections built during Jessica’s time at UF enabled a unique career trajectory. Through the lens of her path to date she will discuss the fundamentals of product design as a discipline, how it maps to research, and how the things she learned as part of IMG have continued to influence her approach to engineering and leadership.

AGENDA