James Saunderson

Dr. James Saunderson is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Education in the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT and has held postdoctoral roles at Caltech and the University of Washington. His expertise spans convex optimization, semidefinite programming, and quantum information theory.

Education:

• PhD in EECS, MIT (2015)
• MS in EECS, MIT (2011)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Melbourne (2008)

Research Interests: Convex optimization, quantum information theory, signal processing, and algorithm design. Focuses on algebraic and geometric aspects of optimization, with applications in engineering and quantum systems.

Recent Projects:

• Exploiting duality in quantum relative entropy optimization
• Hyperbolic programming and conic optimization
• Applications in nanotechnology and bioinformatics

Teaching: Courses include Control System Design, Signals and Systems, and Optimization for Engineers.

Awards:

• SIAM Optimization Best Paper Prize (2020)

Grants and Collaborations:

• Australian Research Council Discovery Early-Career Research Fellow (2020–2024)
• Leading projects in quantum optimization and bioengineering applications.