DSU’s Dr. Guo Earns NSF EPSCoR LEAPS-MPS Grant

Article by Jennifer Burris and picture from Dakota State University.

Dr. Peng Guo has been awarded a Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) for research in quantum physics.

“I feel very blessed to have this type of support,” Guo said.

“I am honored to have my work recognized and excited to establish a research agenda at DSU related to quantum physics.”

Dr. Peng Guo

Quantum physics involves the study of matter and energy, particularly at the atomic and subatomic level, and envelopes broader quantum topics such as quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, quantum mechanics, quantum technology, quantum computers, and quantum information science.

While there is still much to learn about quantum physics, it’s already impacted the world through the development of computers, smartphones, lasers, telecommunications, GPS, MRIs, and nuclear power. Quantum computing promises to take these technological advances even further.

Guo spent several months working on the grant, which will help launch advanced computing and quantum simulation research based on computational hadron (a subatomic particle) and nuclear physics.

“I proposed some new ideas for the numerical computing of the simulation for the nucleon-nucleon interaction,” he explained.

Currently, to reduce difficulty, people use the computer to do the simulation and also attempt to extract information about how the particles interact.

He hopes to establish a novel approach for a reliable prediction of few-nucleon reactions by using advanced computing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, GPU computing, and quantum computers. Guo and his team will also study the properties of novel parity-time (PT) symmetric quantum materials and explore the features and phenomena of such materials and their applications.

“I am thrilled about the synergy between Dr. Peng Guo’s NSF-funded project and the new Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology established through Senate Bill 45,” said Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, Vice President of Research and Economic Development. “With support from both NSF and the state, we are well on our way to making significant advancements in quantum research that will benefit South Dakota and beyond.”

Guo will collaborate with Dr. Vladimir Gasparyan at California State University and Dr. Frank Lee at George Washington University and involve students who are interested in the research. Students will have the opportunity to apply for funded, paid research positions, but Guo will focus more on exciting student researchers, developing their interest in physics and research, and building a network for them.

Additionally, educators will be able to link with Guo’s research through a one-week computational science summer research training program for K-12 science teachers in South Dakota. Guo and team will also work with high school teachers to promote STEM education among Native American students to increase their participation in STEM career fields. An outreach plan for will be facilitated with assistance from Dr. Chad Fenner, a Native American Scholar at DSU. Four tribal high school students will work with him on this grant, providing them with cloud computing resources at DSU, stipends, and support for a two-week campus visit during summer breaks.