Rui Soares Barbosa

Rui Soares Barbosa is a Staff Researcher at the Quantum and Linear-Optical Computation group at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL). He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Universidade do Minho (2009), an MSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science from the University of Oxford (2010), and a DPhil in Computer Science from Oxford (2015) with a thesis on Contextuality in quantum mechanics and beyond. Prior to joining INL, he held post-doctoral positions at Oxford (2015–2019) and the University of Edinburgh (2019–2020), and a Research Fellowship at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, UC Berkeley (2017).

Barbosa's research lies at the intersection of Computer Science, Physics, and Mathematics, focusing on quantum foundations, quantum computer science, and the mathematics of quantum theory. His work emphasizes logical, structural, and compositional aspects, particularly investigating non-locality and contextuality - phenomena that distinguish quantum theory from classical physics and have been linked to quantum informatic advantage. He employs mathematical tools from category theory, logic, probability, algebraic topology, and operator algebras to achieve a structural understanding of quantum systems' non-classical features.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contextuality as a quantum resource, exploring its connections to causality, computational advantage, and logical structures. The research spans theoretical foundations to practical quantum computing applications, with particular attention to mathematical frameworks like sheaf theory that elegantly express quantum contextuality. His work often involves collaborations with leading researchers in quantum foundations and theoretical computer science.

Barbosa actively advises multiple PhD and MSc students including Angelos Bampounis, Rafael Wagner, Nico Witrock, and others. His research group at INL, the Quantum and Linear-Optical Computation group, conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of quantum theory and computer science, regularly presenting findings at major conferences like the International Conference on Quantum Physics and Logic (QPL).