EduPar-26 Technical Program Schedule

Abstract: This talk discusses the emerging role of the parallel and distributed computing community in advancing quantum information science. Rapid progress over the past decade suggests that quantum technologies may reach transformative capabilities within the next decade, but realizing this potential will depend critically on advances in quantum systems software. The computing research community has a central role to play in this effort, particularly in enabling the effective integration of classical and quantum systems.

The quantum software layers (from compilers upward) and hybrid quantum–classical workflows raise fundamental challenges in resource management, orchestration, and performance optimization; these are domains where expertise from parallel and distributed computing is directly relevant. The parallel and distributed computing community is well-positioned not only to support the quantum ecosystem but also to shape novel approaches for quantum algorithms and workflows.

The talk will also highlight the need for education initiatives that prepare the next generation of researchers and practitioners to work across classical and quantum paradigms. Finally, it will provide an overview of current NSF investments in Quantum Information Science.

Speaker Bio: Dilma Da Silva is a Regents Professor and holder of the Ford Design Professorship II in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University. Since July 2022, she has served at the U.S. National Science Foundation in several leadership roles: as Senior Science and Engineering Advisor at the Office of the Director, as Division Director for Computing and Communication Foundations, and as Assistant Director in the Directorate of Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). Her previous roles at Texas A&M include Department Head (2014-2019), Associate Dean (2019-2020), interim Director of the Texas A&M Institute of Data Science, and interim Director of the Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center. Her primary research interests are distributed systems, operating systems, and computer science education. Before joining Texas A&M, she worked at Qualcomm Research (2012-2014), IBM Research (2000-2012), and the University of São Paulo (1996-2000).