Professor Xiaodong Wang Receives NSF Grant to Advance Quantum Sensing and Communications
The three-year award supports research on quantum detection and estimation, while contributing to Columbia Electrical Engineering's expanding efforts in quantum information processing and education.
Xiaodong Wang, professor of electrical engineering at Columbia Engineering, has received a $474,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance research in quantum sensing and communications. The three-year project, titled Measurement and State Optimization for Quantum Detection and Estimation, aims to develop new quantum algorithms that could enable more precise measurements and improve quantum communication systems.
Funded through NSF's Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems, the project began in October 2026. It addresses a fundamental challenge in quantum information processing: how to extract information from quantum systems accurately and efficiently, a capability essential to realizing the potential of emerging quantum technologies.
Quantum technologies promise advances in fields ranging from medical imaging and precision measurement to secure data transmission. However, translating these possibilities into practical applications requires overcoming significant theoretical and computational challenges, particularly in how quantum information is measured and interpreted.
Wang's research focuses on two closely related areas: quantum detection and quantum parameter estimation. Quantum detection, also known as quantum state discrimination, involves identifying the state of a quantum system to extract useful information. Quantum parameter estimation, often called quantum metrology, seeks to measure physical quantities with exceptional precision by leveraging quantum mechanical properties.
The NSF-supported project will develop new methods for addressing these problems by combining classical optimization techniques with hybrid quantum-classical approaches. One focus is the use of parametric quantum circuits, which integrate quantum computation with classical optimization and offer potential advantages for today's noisy quantum devices.
By developing more effective algorithms for detecting quantum states and estimating parameters, the research aims to strengthen the theoretical foundations of quantum sensing and communication systems. Its goals also align with the broader priorities of the National Quantum Initiative, which seeks to accelerate quantum research and technology development in the United States.
Preparing the Next Generation of Quantum Engineers
Beyond advancing quantum research, the NSF award includes an educational component designed to help address the growing demand for professionals with expertise in both quantum science and electrical engineering.
According to MIT Sloan's 2025 report on building a quantum workforce, the share of U.S. job postings requiring quantum skills tripled between 2011 and mid-2024. As quantum technologies develop, employers increasingly seek professionals who can bridge theoretical research and engineering applications, including quantum algorithms, error correction, and hardware development.
At Columbia EE, the NSF award complements an expanding curriculum in quantum information processing that brings together expertise in information theory, signal processing, computing, and quantum engineering.
The department currently offers seven courses covering key areas of the field:
- ELEN E4730 Quantum Optimization and Quantum Machine Learning — Xiaodong Wang
- ELEN E6717 Classical and Quantum Information Theory — Xiaodong Wang
- ELEN E6730 Quantum Sensing Theory — Xiaodong Wang
- ELEN E6887 Classical and Quantum Error Correction Coding — Hui Jin
- EECS E6890 Protecting Quantum Information: Dynamics, Control, and Codes — Zhaoyou Wang
- EECS E6890 Quantum Engineering — Zhaoyou Wang
- EECS E6896 Quantum Computing and Communications — Alexei Ashikhmin
These courses, offered through the EE MS and QST MS programs and open to students across campus, provide a strong foundation in quantum information theory while offering opportunities to explore how quantum principles can address challenges in sensing, computation, communications, and information security.
In particular, Wang's Quantum Sensing Theory course addresses topics closely related to the NSF-funded project, including quantum detection and estimation. This connection between research and education allows students to engage with some of the fundamental questions shaping the future of quantum technologies.
The department's growing expertise in quantum information processing is also reflected in recent faculty recruitment. In January 2026, Zhaoyou Wang joined Columbia EE as an assistant professor, bringing expertise in quantum information protection and control.
The expanding curriculum and faculty expertise reflect Columbia EE’s continued investment in quantum information processing and contribute to the university’s broader efforts through the Columbia Quantum Initiative, which brings together researchers across disciplines to advance quantum science, develop emerging technologies, and train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers.
By connecting fundamental research with interdisciplinary education, the department aims to help develop the algorithms, engineering approaches, and skilled workforce needed to advance the next generation of quantum technologies.