PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Alexandre Blais

Alexandre Blais is a physicist whose quantum-control work uses machine learning to model superconducting-qubit dynamics and optimize experimental controls. He earned a physics PhD at the Université de Sherbrooke in 2002, worked as a Yale postdoctoral researcher from 2003 to 2005, and coauthored a 2004 circuit-QED architecture proposal. He received the 2011 Herzberg Medal, became scientific director of Institut quantique at its 2016 launch, and received the 2018 Rutherford Memorial Medal and 2020 Brockhouse Medal. In 2025, he coauthored a physics-inspired machine-learning method for quantum control, and Quebec named him a Knight of the National Order in June 2026. As of October 2026, he directs Institut quantique, holds the MEI Chair in Quantum Computer Architectures and leads TheSQuaD, a group studying superconducting circuits and circuit QED for quantum information and quantum optics.

Now at
University of Sherbrooke and TheSQuaD
Works
321
Citations
31,873
h-index
72
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 22 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2002–2005

    PhD and Yale postdoctoral work

    He earns a physics PhD at the Université de Sherbrooke in 2002 and works as a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University from 2003 to 2005.

  2. 2004

    A circuit-QED architecture

    In 2004, he coauthors a proposal to use one-dimensional transmission line resonators to reach strong coupling in superconducting electrical circuits.

  3. 2011

    A Herzberg Medal

    The Canadian Association of Physicists awards him the Herzberg Medal in 2011.

  4. Since 2016

    Scientific director at Institut quantique

    He becomes scientific director of Institut quantique at its inception in February 2016.

  5. 2018–2020

    Rutherford and Brockhouse medals

    He receives the 2018 Rutherford Memorial Medal in physics from the Royal Society of Canada. In 2020, the Canadian Association of Physicists awards him the Brockhouse Medal for his theoretical contribution and leadership.

  6. 2025

    Quantum control with machine learning

    In 2025, he coauthors a method that uses physics-inspired machine learning to infer quantum-system dynamics from experimental data and optimize experimental controls on that model.

  7. June 2026

    A Knight of the National Order

    In June 2026, Quebec names him a Knight of the National Order of Quebec, its highest distinction.

  8. As of October 2026

    Scientific director and group leader

    As of October 2026, he is scientific director of the Institut quantique at the Université de Sherbrooke and holds the MEI Chair in Quantum Computer Architectures. He leads TheSQuaD, which studies superconducting quantum circuits and circuit QED for quantum information processing and quantum optics.

Career

  1. Since 2016University of SherbrookeScientific Director and Group Leader
  2. NowTheSQuaDGroup Leader
  3. 2014–2016CIFAR
  4. 2006–2009Regroupement Québécois sur les Matériaux de Pointe
  5. 2003–2005Yale UniversityPostdoctoral Researcher

Education

  1. 2002University of SherbrookePhD

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

  1. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Sherbrooke. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Sherbrooke. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  3. 84% of people shaping AI with recorded undergraduate and doctoral schools changed institutions for their doctorateIncludes Yale University. 84% of people shaping AI with recorded undergraduate and doctoral schools changed institutions for their doctorate. Across 2,116 people with both an undergraduate degree and a doctorate recorded, we trace which undergraduate schools feed which doctoral programs, how often students stay at the same school, and how paths differ by birth-country region.
  4. People shaping AI work at a median of 3 organizations over a career: 3 for university starters and institute and lab starters, versus 2 for company startersIncludes Yale University. Across 6,853 people shaping AI with a dated work role, we estimate a median of 3 parent organizations over a career (mean 3.6), comparing role groups, starting sectors and starting decades from the 1950s to 2020–2026.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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  1. Physics - Alexandre Blais physics.aps.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  2. Cavity quantum electrodynamics for superconducting electrical circuits: An architecture for quantum computation | Phys. Rev. A journals.aps.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  3. Professor Alexandre Blais' contribution recognized by his peers - Institut quantique - Université de Sherbrooke usherbrooke.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  4. The Rutherford Memorial Medal in physics for Alexandre Blais - Institut quantique - Université de Sherbrooke usherbrooke.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  5. Major Distinctions - Research - Université de Sherbrooke usherbrooke.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  6. Quantum optimal control of superconducting qubits based on machine-learning characterization | Phys. Rev. Applied journals.aps.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  7. Alexandre Blais - Spécialistes - Recherche - Université de Sherbrooke usherbrooke.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  8. Spécialiste des ordinateurs quantiques | La plus haute distinction de l'État québécois pour Alexandre Blais — 107.7 Estrie fm1077.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  9. Alexandre Blais – Ordre national du Québec ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  10. Alexandre Blais - Institut quantique - Université de Sherbrooke usherbrooke.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  11. Québec appuie la croissance du C2MI et de l'Institut quantique - Scientifique en chef du Québec scientifique-en-chef.gouv.qc.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.
  12. Groupe de recherche du professeur Alexandre Blais – Université de Sherbrooke circuitqedsherbrooke.ca. Checked 22 October 2026.