Scott Aaronson is David J. Bruton Centennial Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. He received his bachelor’s from Cornell University and his PhD from UC Berkeley. Before coming to UT Austin, he spent nine years as a professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. Aaronson’s research in theoretical computer science has focused mainly on the capabilities and limits of quantum computers. His first book, Quantum Computing Since Democritus, was published in 2013 by Cambridge University Press. He received the National Science Foundation’s Alan T. Waterman Award, the United States PECASE Award, the Vannevar Bush Fellowship, the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics, and MIT’s Junior Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Jim Clarke is the director of the Quantum Hardware research group within Intel’s Components Research Organization. Jim launched Intel’s Quantum Computing effort in 2015, as well as a research partnership with QuTech(TU Delft and TNO). His group’s primary focus is to use Intel’s process expertise to develop scalable qubit arrays. In 2018, Jim worked with industry leaders and the Intel policy group to influence the National Quantum Initiative Act. Prior to his current role, Jim managed a group focused on interconnect research at advanced technology nodes as well as evaluating new materials and paradigms for interconnect performance. He has co-authored more than 90 papers and has 36 patents. Prior to joining Intel in2001, Jim completed a B.S. in chemistry at Indiana University, a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Harvard University, and a post-doctoral fellowship in physical organic chemistry at ETH, Zürich.

Jennifer Elliott is VP Business Development and co-founder of QEYnet. QEYnet is a startup working on Quantum Key Distribution using satellites. Jennifer’s background is in aerospace engineering, specializing in the development of micro and nano satellites. During her time working at the UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory, she contributed to the development of five cutting-edge satellite missions that are currently in orbit. At QEYnet, Jennifer’s focus is on sales and business development

Dr. Harriet Kung is the Deputy Director for Science Programs in the Office of Science (SC) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The SC mission is to deliver the scientific discoveries and major scientific tools that transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. SC accomplishes its mission and advances national goals by supporting the frontiers of basic research, the world’s largest suite of major scientific user facilities, and science for energy and the environment.

As Deputy Director for Science Programs, Dr. Kung is the senior career official providing scientific and management direction and oversight for the SC research programs, including Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, and Nuclear Physics. Dr. Kung also provides management direction and oversight of the Offices of Science Communications and Public Affairs, Scientific and Technical Information, Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, and Grants and Contracts Support.

Dr. Kung served as the SC Associate Director of Science for Basic Energy Sciences (BES) from June 2008 to April 2020 and as the Materials Sciences and Engineering (MSE) Division Director in BES from 2004 to 2008. During her tenure in BES, Dr. Kung led a number of strategic planning activities to define scientific research directions for science-to-technology pathways and was instrumental in the success of interagency collaborations, DOE research integration efforts, and international coordination activities. Under her leadership, BES pursued new funding modalities in advancing the science for the energy research agenda, including the establishment of Energy Frontier Research Centers and two Energy Innovation Hubs, and successfully delivered nearly $2 billion of construction projects within the designed scope on time and budget.

Before joining DOE in 2002, Dr. Kung was a technical staff member and a project leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her research focused primarily on nanoscale materials and high-temperature superconductivity. Dr. Kung received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 2009.

Dr. Grace Metcalfe is currently the Program Officer for two basic research programs within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in Arlington, VA – the Quantum Information Science portfolio, and the Atomic and Molecular Physics portfolio. Metcalfe also leads the Physical Science Team within AFOSR. Prior to joining AFOSR, Metcalfe was a Program Manager at the Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, MD, where she established the ARL Center for Distributed Quantum Information, and piloted the OSD Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities Quantum Sciences and Engineering Program between the tri-Service Laboratories – ARL, AFRL, and NRL. Earlier in her career, Metcalfe conducted multifaceted research in areas such as atomic physics, precision measurements, microcavity resonators, ultrafast spectroscopy, semiconductor physics, optoelectronic device science, terahertz radiation, and metamaterials. Metcalfe holds 3 patents and has authored 2 book chapters and more than 75 peer-reviewed publications.

EDUCATION
2005 Ph.D., Yale University, New Haven, CT
2000 B.A., University of California, Berkeley, CA

Chris is a world leader in quantum computer science and the original inventor of the ion trap quantum computer. With David Wineland, he demonstrated the first quantum logic gate in 1995 at NIST, which contributed to Wineland’s Nobel Prize in 2012. Later at the Universities of Michigan and Maryland, Chris demonstrated the first ion trap on a semiconductor chip, pioneered qubit networking using photons, and developed ultrafast quantum gates for trapped-ion qubits. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee and is the architect of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative Act signed into law in 2018.

The Honorable Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan is a computer scientist and engineer and the 15th director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Panchanathan was nominated to this position by the President of the United States in 2019 and subsequently unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 18, 2020. NSF is an $8.3B independent federal agency and the only government agency charged with advancing all fields of scientific discovery, technological innovation and STEM education.

Panchanathan is a leader in science, engineering and education with more than three decades of experience. He has a distinguished career in both higher education and government, where he has designed and built knowledge enterprises, which advance research innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, global development and economic growth.

Panchanathan previously served as the executive vice president of the Arizona State University (ASU) Knowledge Enterprise, where he was also chief research and innovation officer. He was also the founder and director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU. Under his leadership, ASU increased research performance fivefold, earning recognition as the fastest growing and most innovative research university in the U.S.

Prior to joining NSF, Panchanathan served on the National Science Board as chair of the Committee on Strategy and as a member of the External Engagement and National Science and Engineering Policy committees. Additionally, he served on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He was chair of the Council on Research of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and co-chair of the Extreme Innovation Taskforce of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils. Arizona’s Governor appointed Panchanathan as senior advisor for science and technology in 2018. He was the editor-in-chief of the IEEE Multimedia Magazine and editor/associate editor of several international journals.

Panchanathan’s scientific contributions have advanced the areas of human-centered multimedia computing, haptic user interfaces, person-centered tools and ubiquitous computing technologies for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with different abilities; machine learning for multimedia applications; medical image processing; and media processor designs. He has published close to 500 articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings, and has mentored more than 150 graduate students, postdocs, research engineers and research scientists, many now occupy leading positions in academia and industry.

For his scientific contributions, Panchanathan has received numerous awards, such as Distinguished Alumnus Awards and the Governor’s Innovator of the Year for Academia Award for his development of information technology-centric assistive and rehabilitative environments to assist individuals with visual impairments.

Panchanathan is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, where he also served as vice president for strategic initiatives. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Society of Optical Engineering.

Panchanathan is married to Sarada “Soumya” Panchanathan, an academic pediatrician and informatician, who has taught medical students, pediatric residents and informatics fellows. They have two adult children, Amritha and Roshan.

Penny Pritzker is the founder and Chairman of PSP Partners and its affiliates, Pritzker Realty Group, PSP Capital and PSP Growth.

From June 2013 through January 2017, she served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration. Ms. Pritzker is an entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist, with more than 30 years of experience in numerous industries. Ms. Pritzker founded Vi Senior Living (formerly known as Classic Residence by Hyatt), and co-founded The Parking Spot, Artemis Real Estate Partners, and Inspired Capital. Ms. Pritzker is the former chairman of the board of TransUnion and is a past board member of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, Marmon Group, and LaSalle Bank Corporation.

Ms. Pritzker is also a member of the board of Microsoft, chairman of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a member of the Harvard Corporation, Aspen Strategy Group and the Aspen Economic Strategy Group, and a co-chair of the Cyber Readiness Institute.

Ms. Pritzker was formerly a member of the board of the Council on Foreign Relations, the board of trustees of Stanford University, the Harvard University Board of Overseers and founded Skills for America’s Future. Ms. Pritzker also served on President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and his Economic Recovery Advisory Board.

Christopher Savoie is a published scholar in medicine, biochemistry, and computer science, and his research and business interests over the years have focused on the intersection of machine learning, biology, and chemistry. Christopher is the original inventor of AAOSA, the A.I.-based natural language interface technology used to develop Apple’s Siri. He has led big data analytics efforts at Nissan and has previously founded and served as CEO of technology companies that have been acquired or exited via IPO. He currently sits on the board of the US Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C). Christopher is also a licensed attorney and has served as the Vice-Chairman of the Big Data Committee of the American Bar Association. He is a published legal expert on liability issues surrounding Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Information Security and Data Privacy. He has also lectured and taught continuing legal education courses on these subjects.

Marc Singer is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Osage University Partners (“OUP”), which he joined in 2008. OUP partners with high-quality university and research institutions to serve as their coinvestment vehicle in start-ups that are licensing their technology. OUP works with its partner institutions to build a broad venture capital portfolio across a range of advanced technologies, including software, hardware, advanced materials, life sciences, and more. OUP and its partner institutions share in the profit of the fund, helping to align each institution’s incentives with those of its companies and their investors.

OUP has partnered with 100 research institutions, including Caltech, Columbia, Duke, Florida, Harvard, Michigan, MIT, Penn, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and many others. OUP has approximately $600 million in capital under management and has invested in over 95 university start-ups.

Marc manages all of OUP’s technology investing activities, including software, hardware, semiconductors, advanced materials, healthcare IT, and more. Marc has spent more than twenty-five years in venture capital. He previously served as a General Partner and Co-Founder of BEV Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm he co-founded in 1997. Over ten years Marc helped BEV raise and invest over $200M in over 40 companies and co-invest with over 100 other venture capital firms. Prior to co-founding BEV in 1997, Marc worked at Consumer Venture Partners, another VC firm he joined in 1993. Marc earned his BS from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Robert J. Zimmer has been president of the University of Chicago since 2006. A member of the University’s mathematics faculty, he has served as chair of the Mathematics Department, Deputy Provost, and Vice President for Research. He is currently Chair of the Boards of Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi Research Alliance LLC (operator of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory), and the Marine Biological Laboratory. He earned his A.B.from Brandeis and his Ph.D. from Harvard. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has honorary degrees from Tsinghua University and Colby College. In 2017 he was given the Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).