Dr. Xiuwen Liu, Professor
Education and Training:
- 1989: B.Eng., Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- 1995: M.S. in Computer and Information Science, The Ohio State University
- 1999: Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science, The Ohio State University
Tell us a little about your background – where did you receive your undergraduate / graduate degrees.
I completed my undergraduate study in Computer Science and Technology in 1989 in Tsinghua University. In 1993 I came to Ohio State University to pursue my graduate study. I received my MS in 1995 and my PhD in 1999, both in Computer and Information Science.
When did you join FSU? What made you choose your university to build your research program?
After I received my PhD, I worked as a research scientist at Ohio State University for a few months. I joined FSU as an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science in 2000. One of my main research areas is artificial intelligence and my approach is interdisciplinary – relying on computer science, mathematical, and statistical tools. I chose FSU because I could continue my independent research that way. Through the years, I am more convinced that FSU is one of the best places to conduct collaborative research.
When did you become interested in quantum research? Who or what inspired you?
I learned of quantum computing as a research area around 2005. I started working on research in quantum computing in 2020, which was accelerated by the FSU Initiative in Quantum Science and Engineering. The Initiative provided opportunities for me to interact and work with quantum faculty.
What are your current research interests? Could you give an example of some recent result that you feel especially passionate about?
My current research interests in quantum are AI for quantum and quantum for AI. Since I have been working on AI and machine learning for over 25 years, I have been exploring how AI techniques can be applied to improve quantum computing. Similarly, there are many open optimization problems in AI, and quantum computers may be the only way to achieve the optimal solutions. For example, the output from the current quantum computers is noisy. We have been developing error mitigation techniques to reduce this noise. By using machine-learning techniques, we are able to formulate the problem formally and derive effective solutions. We have recently published some state-of-the-art results in the IEEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE) (Sept. 2025).
How would you describe your research to the general public? Why is your topic important?
The problem-solving capabilities of our brains are truly amazing. We have created very complex and sophisticated structures and machines via remarkable tools. However, many unprecedented problems such as sustainability have emerged. Solving these problems requires design of new materials and technologies. We can only solve these problems using classical computers augmented with quantum computers as the complexities of these problems are beyond the capabilities we currently have. Quantum computers may be the only way forward and improving them would be critical to mankind.
What do you think about the future of quantum research? How can FSU contribute to that future?
The improvements in quantum technologies and algorithms in the last few years have been amazing; a number of companies are offering quantum computers with tens of logical quantum bits. The trend will continue at least in the next few years like the technologies in the pipeline at QCE25. However, using quantum computers to solve science and engineering problems beyond classical computers is still an open challenge. With strong faculty in all areas of quantum information science and engineering, I believe that FSU will continue to make important fundamental contributions and push the quantum frontiers forward.
What are your interests outside of research? What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy reading biographies of historical figures; how minor details have shaped history is fascinating to me. For example, President Lincoln became the nominee after three rounds of voting with negotiations in between. When I have free time, I enjoy walking on trails, and Tallahassee offers some of the very best.