Physics alumnus journeys from space dreams to quantum realities

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Progressing from a young enthusiast mesmerized by the cosmos to a quantum application engineer at a distinguished U.K. national lab, Dr. Manqoba Hlatshwayo, a graduate from Western Michigan University's Department of Physics, has blazed a trail in quantum physics and computational nuclear physics.

Hlatshwayo's journey has been one of curiosity ignited by a childhood fascination with space. "It was an episode that had to do with space travel. I asked around at the time about it, and I was told people go to space—so of course I wanted to be an astronaut," recalls Hlatshwayo, reminiscing about his early inspiration drawn from "Dexter's Laboratory," a childhood cartoon featuring a young genius navigating a secret laboratory hidden behind a bookshelf.

While his dream of becoming an astronaut evolved, Hlatshwayo's passion for science as a means to solve complex problems found its home in mathematics and physics. His pursuit led him from South Africa to earning a bachelor’s degree at Rhodes University before starting his academics at Western as a Fulbright scholar in 2016.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Elena Litvinova, Hlatshwayo's doctoral dissertation delved into on non-perturbative dynamical kernels, essential in understanding the excitation spectra of strongly coupled fermionic systems. Addressing one of physics' most daunting challenges—the exact solution to the quantum many-body problem—Hlatshwayo utilized quantum computational algorithms to chart new territories, offering the promise of highly accurate solutions.

“Manqoba’s work made several important steps toward the quantum advantage for nuclear theory and shows excellent potential for making a profound contribution to nuclear physics and quantum computation,” says Litvinova. “Beyond that, Manqoba was the leading figure in growing the quantum computation initiative in Western’s physics department. Thanks to his work, my group can build on it and continue the quantum computing research line.”

Hlatshwayo's impact transcended his research. He founded the Physics Journal Club at Western, nurturing an environment where graduate students engage in cutting-edge research discussions. "I saw a need for a space where students could talk about their research, grow in public speaking and learn about work being done in other universities," reflects Hlatshwayo on his initiative.

Amidst his academic pursuits, Hlatshwayo secured the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Summer internship in 2022, presenting notable findings at global conferences, including the International Nuclear Physics Conference 2022 in Cape Town.

"Working at Lawrence Livermore on quantum algorithms was incredible," says Hlatshwayo recalls. "Now, I am exploring wider use cases, aiming to accelerate the application of quantum computers."

Upon completing his Ph.D. in June 2023, Hlatshwayo carved a path to the National Quantum Computing Centre in the United Kingdom. His role as a quantum application engineer involves tackling complex problems using quantum technologies, with applications spanning financial services and scientific research, including nuclear physics.

“The kind of work I am doing now is the top of my interest,” says Hlatshwayo. “There's a substantial effort in educating and crafting use cases that show the quantum computers' value. There's a lot of activity in this field, and that's why I'm excited to be here. We're at the forefront, building these new systems poised to change a lot of things.”

Reflecting on his academic and professional career thus far, Hlatshwayo acknowledges the support that shaped his trajectory. “When I think of Western, I think of all the different people that were there for me. From the support of my tremendous classmates and faculty members, to the Physics Journal Club and the Fulbright Student Association, to Solid Grounds Student Ministries, my U.S. experience would have been quite different if I didn’t have all the support I did,” says Hlatshwayo. 

Looking to the future, Hlatshwayo is excited to see the field of quantum physics and computing evolve, saying that, “as a scientist, I feel like you have to pick the problems you are interested in, and if they are complex enough, you will have a long, long career.”

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