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Zohreh Davoudi, Ph.D.

Department of Physics University of Maryland, College Park

I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, a Fellow of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS), and the Associate Director for Education at the NSF Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation at the University of Maryland, College Park. The focus of my research is on simulating complex systems in nature arising from the most fundamental particles and interactions underlying them, or their effective descriptions. Here you will have a glimpse into my research and educational activities as a theoretical physicist.

Research Priorities

My research can be cast into four categories shown below. The underlying theme is to use simulation tools, classical and quantum, to study complex systems in nature arising from interactions of the Standard Model of Particle physics, in particular the strong interactions.

LATTICE GAUGE THEORY: FORMAL DEVELOPMENTS

Developing the mapping between physical quantities such as multi-hadron scattering amplitudes and transition rates and the numerical simulation of strong interactions in a finite discretized spacetime. 

Research Group

In the academic year 2024-2025, my group includes...

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DR. CHRISTOPHER
KANE

Post-doc research associate

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CHUNG-CHUN HSIEH

Ph.D. student and research assistant

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Sherry Wang

Ph.D. student

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NAVYA GUPTA

Ph.D. student and research assistant

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VINAY VIKRAMADITYA

Ph.D. student and research assistant

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Yash Anand

Undergraduate student and research assistant

...along with post-doc/graduate research fellows and affiliates: 

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DR. ALEXANDER SCHUCKERT

Post-doc fellow

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CLEMENT VICKLAN CHARLES

Graduate research fellow

The former members or affiliate members of the group include:

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DR. INDRAKSHI
RAYCHOWDHURY

Indrakshi was a post-doc with us from 2019-2021 and has now joined Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in Goa as an assistant professor.

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ANDREW SHAW

Andrew was a Ph.D. student with us from 2018-2020.

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DR. JESSE STRYKER

Jesse was a post-doc with us from 2020-2023 and has now joined the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a post-doc research associate.

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ALEXANDER SHAW

Alex was a graduate research fellow with us from 2020-2022. 

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DR. CHRISTOPHER WHITE

Christopher was a post-doc research fellow with us. He joined the Army Research Lab since 2024.

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DR. ANIRUDDHA BAPAT

Ani was a Ph.D. student with QuICS and affiliated with our group from 2019-2021. He then joined the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a post-doc research associate.

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DR. NIKLAS MUELLER

Niklas was a post-doc with us from 2020-2022 and has now joined the University of Washington's InQubator for Quantum Simulation as a research assistant professor.

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Dr. SAURABH KADAM

Saurabh was a Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant with us from 2019-2023. He has now joined the University of Washington's InQubator for Quantum Simulation as a post-doc research associate.

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DR. ALI IZADI RAD

Ali was a graduate research fellow with us until 2024.

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DR. JAKE BRINGEWATT

Jake was a graduate research fellow affiliated with the group. He graduated in 2024 and headed to Harvard as a post-doc research fellow.

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CONNOR POWERS

Connor was a graduate research assistant with us from 2021-2024.

Media Appearance Highlight

The 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate at the American Museum of Natural History, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Panelists: David Chalmers (NYU), Zohreh Davoudi (MIT), James Gates (University of Maryland), Lisa Randall (Harvard), and Max Tegmark (MIT).

2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation?

2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation?

Play Video

Science Outreach Highlight

TED-ED lesson on "Are we living in a simulation?". Lesson writer: Zohreh Davoudi. Directed by Eoin Duffy, narrated by Christina Greer, music by QB Sound.

Are we living in a simulation? - Zohreh Davoudi

Are we living in a simulation? - Zohreh Davoudi

Play Video

Research explained...

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Spring 2024

"Particle Physics and Quantum Simulation Collide in New Proposal", a piece written by Bailey Bedford of the Joint Quantum Institute regarding our paper on simulating particle scattering.

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April 2020

"Charting a Course Toward Quantum Simulations of Nuclear Physics", a piece written by Bailey Bedford of the Joint Quantum Institute regarding our work on analog simulations of gauge theories.

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Spring 2017

"Nuclear Physics in the Spotlight: From exploring nature’s most extreme environments to testing its most fundamental symmetries", invited contribution to KITP's newsletter

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Summer 2023

"Advocating for Quantum Simulation of Extreme Physics", a piece written by Dina Genkina of the Joint Quantum Institute regarding our effort in nuclear & particle-physics long-range planning .

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Winter 2019

"Is the Universe Real?", Brian Bergstein's piece in Medium.com regarding our paper on simulation hypothesis.                                                                                                                                

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Winter 2016

"Proton-Proton Fusion: Powering the Sun: Large-scale simulations of quarks promise precise view of reactions of astrophysical importance.", Department of Energy's Office of Science Highlight.

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Spring 2022

"Quantum Computers Are Starting to Simulate the World of Subatomic Particles", a piece written by Bailey Bedford of the Joint Quantum Institute regarding our recent work.

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Spring 2019

An interview by Matthew Wright of the University of Maryland regarding my research awarded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.                                                          

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Winter 2013

A general-audience presentation of my work on simulation hypothesis with Martin Savage and Silas Beane. The images and text are based on a talk presented at the Art Institute of Seattle .

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