CSC Young Professionals Spotlight - Lia Yeh

Name: Lia Yeh

Position: CSC Young Professionals Committee Member

What do you do for the IEEE Council of Superconductivity (CSC) YP committee?

Being a member of the IEEE Council of Superconductivity (CSC) Young Professionals (YP) committee has opened my eyes to the hard work and passion that goes into putting together a variety of opportunities and events. I consider myself a newbie to the area of superconductivity, so I am more learning as we go, while sharing my perspectives and liaising with the area of quantum computing.

Which aspect of the IEEE CSC do you find most beneficial to your career?

I like the unique kind of crowd that YP brings together. It's not about age but is about finding community with shared aspirations. I think it is really special to meet people online, and it could be many years or never getting to meet in person.

What do you currently work on regarding Superconductivity?

I am currently a PhD student researching quantum computing. I learned about superconducting quantum computing through collaboration, reading papers, and watching talks, but I still have much to learn.

What ignited your interest in the field of superconductivity and your current area of focus?

"If there was a singular moment, I would say it was the moment I tried to sit and listen in on a physics major class as a computer science undergraduate. There is a really long story where I waited for I think half an hour to talk to the physics professor to not interrupt her conversation about goat cheese because I was too nervous. And then she had to go, and I thought I had missed my chance to ask, but she had noticed I had been waiting and said I could meet her in her office at a later time. And there she gave me a pop quiz on integrals and after all that said this class is only for physics majors... ""Do you want to be a physics major?"" And I just stared blankly and said ""Uhhhhhh...... .............. sure.""

It really was not an idea in my mind at all that this was something I could major in until that moment. I consider that the most pivotal moment, and it was not long after that I started to learn about quantum computing. The summer after my third year of undergraduate, I did a few weeks' research internship at IBM Quantum, and it was incredible to see a superconducting quantum computer with my own eyes and see the people building them in action."

In your opinion, what role can YP play in making a significant impact on advancing the field of superconductivity?

When I saw this question, the words of someone I look up to came to my mind: "Simply by staying [in the field in the future] and finding your own ways to succeed and thrive, you offer community to others and you offer inspiration." I believe it is really important for people to support each other, and to have spaces for this to happen, to strive towards taking new steps to reach new discoveries in science and technology.

What are your favorite hobbies outside work?

I like frisbee, dance, games, cooking, and cats.