Christopher Seck
About Christopher Seck
Christopher Seck is a Research Scientist specializing in Quantum Information Science, currently working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has a strong background in ion trapping experiments and has led multiple significant projects in the field.
Current Role at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Christopher Seck currently serves as a Research Scientist for Quantum Information Science at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has held this position since 2020 and is based in the Knoxville, Tennessee Area. In this role, he leads several significant projects, including a $3.65 million ion-trapping project under the Quantum Science Center, which focuses on analog quantum simulation and cryogenic integrated electronics development. He also heads a $940,000 initiative aimed at developing an AI/ML-optimized trapped ion quantum resource for high-performance computing applications.
Previous Experience at Georgia Tech Research Institute
Prior to his current position, Christopher Seck worked as a Research Scientist II at the Georgia Tech Research Institute from 2016 to 2020 in the Greater Atlanta Area. During his four years there, he achieved notable results in ion trapping experiments, including a single qubit gate fidelity greater than 0.999 and a two qubit gate fidelity exceeding 0.98. His work contributed to advancements in quantum information science.
Education and Academic Background
Christopher Seck earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, where he studied from 2004 to 2009. He continued his education at Northwestern University, obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physics between 2009 and 2016. His academic background laid the foundation for his research career in quantum information science.
Research Contributions and Projects
Seck has contributed to several significant research projects and initiatives in the field of quantum science. He served as the principal investigator for a $3.65 million project under the Quantum Science Center and led a $1.6 million project focused on co-designing an ultra-low vibration cryogenic 4 K ion trap apparatus. Additionally, he played a key role in the successful proposal for the Department of Energy’s National Quantum Initiative, which secured funding for quantum research.
Awards and Recognition
Christopher Seck has received recognition for his contributions to ion trapping experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He won a laboratory-wide team award for his achievements in this area. Furthermore, he served as the technical lead for the laboratory's first ion trapping apparatus, where he achieved significant experimental milestones within the first nine months of operation.