When Elham Kashefi first encountered quantum computing, it was as a thought experiment: the idea of building a practical quantum computer seemed like science fiction. Today, as Professor of Quantum Computing at the University of Edinburgh, Chief Scientist at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Quantum Software Lab, she deals with quantum computing as a reality.
Elham’s focus has remained consistent: ‘my obsession is to see how we can make quantum computing useful.’ Her work spans the mathematical foundations of quantum computing, security and, increasingly, the challenge of verifying the outputs of quantum computers.
It’s far from where her career began. Originally from Iran, she studied at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, where she developed a fascination with mathematics. Her route into quantum computing was almost accidental: she came to the UK as a research assistant on an EPSRC-funded project at Imperial College London. Her supervisor, Vlatko Vedral, introduced her to the emerging field.
‘26 years ago, I never thought that this thing would become a reality in my lifetime. I thought “OK, I’m just a mathematician. I’m going to solve a bunch of equations. It will be fun. It’s crazy science fiction, but here we go.” 26 years later, these things are getting real.’
A willingness to cross boundaries has since become a defining feature of her career. Quantum computing brings together mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry and computer science, and Elham sees interdisciplinary working as essential.
‘I would say that crossing disciplines is integral to the field, and the research framework that we have in the UK really matches that. Interdisciplinarity is hugely important: the fact that we can connect different specialisms and bring knowledge from different areas.’
EPSRC support has been important throughout her journey. After an EPSRC-funded research assistantship had brought her into quantum computing; later, an EPSRC fellowship helped establish her as an independent researcher: crucially, it gave her the freedom to decide which questions she wanted to pursue. ‘It made it possible to develop my own thinking, and to define my own programme.’
One of those questions was how to test a quantum computer – at a time when there were no quantum computers to test. ‘It sounds crazy that I was talking about some machine that didn’t exist, and that we didn’t know would ever exist.’ Two decades later this has become a practical research challenge, with Elham’s work developing tools for testing quantum computers.
For her, it demonstrates the value of long-term research. ‘I feel that I’ve paid my dues to the taxpayer, after they backed my blue-sky research. Now when we’re asked: “how do we know that quantum is really working?” – well, we can answer that question.’
Looking ahead, Elham believes interdisciplinary collaboration will become even more important as research evolves. Her advice to those entering research is to develop a range of skills and avoid defining yourself too narrowly.
‘Being able to switch between different activities and disciplines will become increasingly valuable, particularly as researchers learn how to work alongside rapidly developing AI tools.’
For Elham, research is not necessarily about following a predetermined path. It is about being willing to explore – beyond the boundaries of your own discipline, and beyond what initially seems possible.
Featured in the EPSRC Newsletter – October 2026 Special Edition