Yard earned his doctorate under the supervision of information theorist Thomas Cover at Stanford University, where his theoretical research was focused on core questions in quantum information theory such as determining the capacities of noisy quantum channels and networks for distributing quantum information. Yard moved on to postdoctoral positions at McGill University, Caltech and Los Alamos National Laboratory. At Los Alamos, Yard was awarded the Richard P. Feynman Fellowship for his work in quantum communication theory. Most recently, Yard pursued connections between algebraic number theory and quantum computing as a postdoctoral researcher with Microsoft, where he also looked at the classification of topological states of matter.
“Real progress is made when you combine the ideas and methods of different fields – mathematics, physics, engineering and computer science. It is at the intersection of these fields where common language is emerging, along with a set of shared tools and techniques,” said Yard. “Novel solutions are discovered by combining these methods.”
At IQC, Yard will tackle complex mathematical problems in the areas of quantum information, quantum computing, algebraic number theory, quantum field theory and computational complexity theory. His research aims to understand the capabilities and limitations of devices for computing and for distributing information.