PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Jay Gambetta

Also known as Jay M. Gambetta

Jay Gambetta is a physicist who directs IBM Research, where he leads work in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum computing. He completed a physics PhD at Griffith University in 2004, researched quantum information at Waterloo, and joined IBM's superconducting-qubit effort in 2011. Under his direction, IBM demonstrated a cloud-based quantum computing platform, and he published Qiskit's first code on GitHub in 2017. IBM named him an IBM Fellow in 2018 and its quantum vice president in 2019; he became Director of IBM Research in 2025. The American Physical Society named him the 2026 winner of its APS Pake Prize, and IBM expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029.

Works
268
Citations
36,685
h-index
81

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2004

    A physics PhD

    He completes a physics PhD at Griffith University in 2004 and turns his research to superconducting quantum computing.

  2. 2010

    Assistant research professor

    At the Institute for Quantum Computing in Waterloo, he becomes an Assistant Research Professor in 2010 after postdoctoral research on quantum information and solid-state implementations of qubits.

  3. 2011–2017

    IBM quantum and Qiskit

    He joins IBM's effort to build a quantum computer based on superconducting qubits in 2011. Under his direction, IBM demonstrates a cloud-based quantum computing platform. In 2017, he publishes Qiskit's first code on GitHub.

  4. 2018–2019

    IBM Fellow and quantum VP

    IBM names him an IBM Fellow in 2018 for his leadership in advancing superconducting quantum computing and establishing IBM's quantum strategy. He becomes IBM's Vice President of quantum computing in 2019.

  5. 2025

    Named IBM Research director

    He becomes Director of IBM Research effective October 1, 2025, and leads global initiatives in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum computing.

  6. 2026

    IBM Research director

    The American Physical Society names him the 2026 winner of its APS Pake Prize. IBM expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029. In October 2026, he is Director of IBM Research and an IBM Fellow.

Sources and credits

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  1. Jay Gambetta en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Jay Gambetta - IBM Research research.ibm.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. IQC welcomes Jay Gambetta as Research Assistant Professor | Institute for Quantum Computing | University of Waterloo uwaterloo.ca. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. IBM Quantum Computing | Celebrating Qiskit ibm.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. IBM Names New Director of IBM Research newsroom.ibm.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Winter 2026 Newsletter - Unit - FIAP engage.aps.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. IBM Advances to Stage C of DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative newsroom.ibm.com. Checked 14 October 2026.