Kevin Slagle

Kevin Slagle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. His research focuses on deep learning and emergent phenomena in quantum matter and fundamental physics, including quantum computing, quantum simulators, and neural network architectures. He holds a Ph.D. in theoretical condensed matter physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2016) and B.S. degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine (2011). Prior to Rice, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto and a Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar at Caltech.

Research Interests

• Theoretical Quantum Matter — Studying superconductivity, topological orders, and their experimental realizations in quantum simulators (e.g., Rydberg arrays and moiré materials).
• Quantum Computing — Exploring foundational aspects and applications of quantum computers, including testing quantum mechanics and characterizing noise.
• Neural Networks — Investigating architecture improvements and their intersections with physics.

Publications Trends

His recent work emphasizes quantum dynamics simulations using tensor networks, gauge theories in quantum systems, and the interplay between quantum spin liquids and topological phases. He also advances methodologies for testing quantum mechanics on NISQ devices and analyzing noise in quantum hardware.

Advising & Grants

Dr. Slagle's academic trajectory includes postdoctoral roles focusing on quantum matter and foundational physics. His research has been supported by grants exploring topics such as fracton order, moiré materials, and quantum simulation. He currently advises students in Rice University's Electrical and Computer Engineering department.