Songtao Chen

Dr. Songtao Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, where he is also part of the Rice University Quantum Initiative. He holds a B.S. in Optical Science and Engineering from Zhejiang University (2013) and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Brown University (2018). Prior to joining Rice, he was a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University (2018-2021), focusing on quantum network nodes using single erbium ions.

Dr. Chen's education includes:

• B.S. in Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 2013
• M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brown University, 2016
• Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brown University, 2018

His research focuses on quantum information processing using solid-state spins, particularly leveraging silicon photonics to develop scalable quantum networks. Key areas include optically interfaced solid-state spins, quantum optics, and the integration of spin-based quantum registers with photonic circuits. His group aims to create hybrid silicon quantum chips that combine spin-based qubits with silicon photonic components for on-chip quantum processing.

Dr. Chen has received notable awards, including the 2023 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and the 2018 Outstanding Thesis Award from Brown University.

• National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award (2023)
• Outstanding Thesis Award, Brown University (2018)
• William Prager Fellow, Brown University (2014)

He advises students such as Adam and Ulises, who have contributed to significant milestones like the first group paper. His NSF CAREER Award supports research on controlling single T-center qubits. The group also engages interns and new lab members like Xiang Chen and Shengbin Yan, advancing projects in silicon quantum chips and spin-based systems.

Dr. Chen leads the Quantum Defects and Photonics (QDP) Lab at Rice University, focusing on defect-based spin systems in silicon. The lab collaborates with funding agencies and institutions to develop hybrid quantum photonic chips and holds workshops to advance quantum defects research.