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Institute of Physics Institute of Physics

IoP and QuSoft Welcome Barbara Terhal as 2026 Turing Chair

1 October 2026

IoP and QuSoft are delighted to announce that Professor Barbara Terhal has been appointed as the 2026 Turing Chair. A leading researcher in quantum error correction and quantum information, Professor Terhal will be visiting Amsterdam throughout October 2026. Her appointment as Turing Chair promises to bring a range of academic activities, discussions, and collaborations, enriching the Amsterdam scientific communities.
Barbara Terhal

Turing Chair 2026

The Turing Chair is a rotating honorary position at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. Previous Turing Chairs include Gilles Brassard (2020–2023) and Matthias Christandl (2024). Barbara Terhal is a professor in theoretical physics at Delft University of Technology & QuTech. Her research focuses on quantum error correction and on understanding the computational and conceptual novelty of quantum information. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Distinguished Visiting Research Chair at Perimeter Institute, and a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her deep interest in quantum error correction also led her to join the quantum computing company Riverlane as a research fellow in 2025, alongside her academic position. During her visit, Terhal will be based at IoP's partner institute for quantum software, QuSoft.

Engagements and Activities

During her stay in Amsterdam, Barbara Terhal will engage with the local scientific community through the following activities:

  • 14 October 2026, 16:00-17:00 Korteweg-de Vries Institute for Mathematics department colloquium, aimed at a broad mathematical audience. Barbara Terhal will deliver the invited lecture. Nikhef Colloquium Room.
  • 28-30 October 2026 Workshop on Quantum Error Correction (QEC), Euler/Turing Room, Amsterdam Science Park Congress Centre. Part of CWI’s Research Semester Programme “Quantum Algorithms and Quantum Error Correction”, Barbara Terhal is one of the confirmed invited speakers.

IoP and QuSoft warmly welcome Barbara Terhal! Visit the QuSoft website for further updates.