Michael Walter

Prof. Dr. Michael Walter is a Professor of Quantum Information at the Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum (RUB). He holds the Chair of Quantum Information and is affiliated with the Cluster of Excellence 'Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries' (CASA) and the Horst Görtz Institute. His research bridges algebra, quantum computing, and theoretical computer science, focusing on symmetries and optimization for fast algorithms.

Education:

• Diploma in Mathematics (2010), Universities of Karlsruhe and Göttingen
• PhD in Mathematics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich (2014)

Professional Journey:

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Stanford University (2014–2017)
• Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam (2017–2021)
• Current Position: Chair of Quantum Information at RUB since 2022

His ERC Starting Grant (2022) explores unexpected symmetries across seemingly disparate research problems, aiming to develop novel algorithms for quantum computing. Awards include the prestigious ERC Starting Grant.

Research Themes: Leveraging algebraic structures to address challenges in quantum information theory and optimization, with applications to cybersecurity and algorithmic efficiency.