Wolfgang Pfaff

Wolfgang Pfaff is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the Grainger College of Engineering. His research focuses on quantum networks, superconducting circuits, and distributed quantum computing. He holds a PhD from Delft University of Technology (2013) and a Diplom (MSc) from the University of Regensburg (2009). Prior to UIUC, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University and a Researcher at Microsoft Quantum.

Education:

• PhD, Applied Physics, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, 2013
• Diplom (MSc), Physics, University of Regensburg, Germany, 2009

Research Interests:
Wolfgang’s work centers on quantum networks and distributed quantum computing, leveraging superconducting circuits and hybrid quantum systems. He has pioneered protocols for scalable quantum interconnects and remote entanglement stabilization. Key themes include open quantum systems, quantum optics, and quantum information processing.

Grants & Funding:
- $5.8M grant to develop modular quantum computing platforms - AFOSR $2.5M grant for stabilized entanglement research - Air Force Office of Scientific Research $1M grant - NSF QLCI HQAN funding

Labs & Teams:
He leads the Pfaff Lab, focusing on scalable quantum systems and hybrid architectures. Collaborations include Microsoft Quantum, Yale University, and TU Delft.