From: Krysta Svore [mailto:ksvore@microsoft.com]
Sent: January 6, 2012 4:43 PM
To: dgottesman@perimeterinstitute.ca
Cc: Michael Freedman
Subject: Quantum Computing Internship at Microsoft

Dear Daniel,

The quantum community at Microsoft is most interested in tapping into the imaginations of the younger generation on the question of what quantum computers will be used for, i.e., what is the “killer app”? We are now not only hoping, but also expecting to have these devices, and are contemplating what problems we should be solving on them. We’d like to ask you to challenge your students to do some “blue-sky thinking” combined with some math/CS/physics to come up with a mini-research proposal on quantum algorithms and applications. The “prize” for the most interesting proposal from a student will be a summer internship at Microsoft either in Redmond or Santa Barbara and a chance to work through and further develop the idea with Microsoft Station Q colleagues. We don’t, a priori, wish to place any limitations on the scope of the ideas: we would be interested in proposals ranging from quantum chemistry, to condensed matter, to medicine, to social networks or web applications, or literally any other topic. If you would like to challenge your students in this manner and forward what you consider to be the best suggestion to Krysta Svore at Microsoft (ksvore@microsoft.com), we will enjoy studying the proposal further and considering it as the core element of an internship application. Please submit applications by February 15, 2012.

Best,

Mike Freedman and Krysta Svore

Station Q, Microsoft Research