Howard M. Wiseman
Howard Wiseman is a quantum physicist whose research on measurement and control intersects AI through machine-learning methods for quantum-computer control. He completed a physics PhD at Queensland, held a postdoc at Auckland, and joined Griffith in 1999, where he directed the Centre for Quantum Dynamics and co-authored a 2010 textbook on quantum measurement and control. In 2019, he described quantum information as fragile in a Griffith collaboration that used machine-learning algorithms to adapt qubit controls; his 2020 Wigner’s friend theorem tested assumptions about quantum observers. He received the Walter Boas Medal in 2021 and led a team honored with the 2023 Paul Ehrenfest Award for quantum foundations. As of October 2026, he is a Professor of Physics at Griffith’s Quantum and Advanced Technologies Research Institute and researches quantum foundations and photon excitation time.
- Now at
- Griffith University
- Works
- 507
- Citations
- 23,035
- h-index
- 78
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.
Timeline
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1992–1999
PhD and postdoctoral work
He completes a physics PhD at the University of Queensland under Gerard Milburn in 1994, takes a postdoctoral position at the University of Auckland, and returns to Queensland with an ARC postdoctoral fellowship before joining Griffith in 1999.
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2007–2010
A quantum measurement textbook
He becomes Director of Griffith’s Centre for Quantum Dynamics in 2007 and is elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2008. In 2010, he co-authors Quantum Measurement and Control with Gerard Milburn, the first comprehensive text on the topic.
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2019
Machine learning for qubit control
He describes quantum information as fragile in 2019, as Griffith launches an international quantum-computing collaboration. The project uses machine-learning algorithms to adapt controls around data qubits.
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2020
A Wigner’s friend theorem
He co-authors “A strong no-go theorem on the Wigner’s friend paradox.” The team demonstrates the result in a proof-of-principle experiment that treats a photon’s path as an observer.
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2021–2023
A medal and a foundations award
He receives the Walter Boas Medal in 2021 for work on quantum-theory limits, metrology and laser science. In 2023, an international team led by him receives the Paul Ehrenfest Best Paper Award for work in quantum foundations.
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2025
Opening QUATRI at Griffith
Griffith opens the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Research Institute in 2025, building on Centre for Quantum Dynamics work that Wiseman leads for many years.
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As of October 2026
Professor at Griffith
He is a Professor of Physics at Griffith and works at its Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Research Institute. His current interests include quantum foundations, laser coherence and EPR steering. In 2026, he co-authors an experiment that measures atomic excitation time when a photon passes through a cloud of atoms.
Sources and credits
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- Reviewer of the Year | npj Quantum Information
- Howard Wiseman | Australian Academy of Science
- ‘Noise cancelling headphones’ for quantum computers: international collaboration launched - Griffith News
- A strong no-go theorem on the Wigner’s friend paradox | Nature Physics
- Congratulations to our 2021 AIP Medal winners
- Griffith brings home top award for quantum physics paper - Griffith News
- Second quantum revolution begins with launch of QUATRI - Griffith News
- Home Page for Howard Wiseman
- Experimental Observation of Negative Weak Values for the Time Atoms Spend in the Excited State as a Photon Is Transmitted | Phys. Rev. Lett.