Swapnil Patel

Postdoctoral Researcher | Quantum Computing and Networking | AMO Physicist

Berkeley, California, United States

About

I am a postdoctoral researcher at Scientific Networking Division/ESnet, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. I am working with the Quantum Team as part of the QUANT-NET project. My current work focuses on developing ion-trap technologies to enable scalable, distributed quantum networks with the goal of building a multi-node quantum computing network between Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley. I completed my PhD at the Duke Quantum Center and the Physics Department at Duke University in Fall 2025, where I led an experimental atomic and molecular ion trapping project in the group of Dr. Kenneth R. Brown. My doctoral research explored ultra-cold chemistry, precision spectroscopy, quantum control, and fundamental physics using trapped ions and neutral atoms. Before transitioning to AMO physics, I worked as a particle physicist with the neutrino detector program at Fermilab and the University of Chicago.

Experience

  • Postdoctoral Physicist at Berkeley Lab
    Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

    Working with the QUANT-NET team to research and develop next-generation ion-trap technologies for distributed quantum networks. The project aims to establish a multi-node quantum computing testbed linking Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley. Responsibilities include experimental implementation of quantum communication protocols, integration of ion-trap systems with classical networking infrastructure, and advancing scalable architectures for quantum networking.

  • Duke University (Durham, North Carolina, United States)
    • Doctoral Candidate
      Apr 2022 - Mar 2025 · 3 yrs

    • Doctoral Student
      Aug 2019 - Apr 2022 · 2 yrs 9 mos

      Graduate Student in the lab of Dr. Kenneth Brown. Working on atomic and molecular ion trapping with applications in fundamental physics, cold chemistry, quantum information.

    • Teaching Assistant
      Aug 2019 - Apr 2021 · 1 yr 9 mos

      Various teaching assistantships in the physics department at Duke University as part of the graduate Ph.D. program. A major role was as a laboratory course instructor for introductory physics classes at Duke.

  • Research Assistant at University of Chicago
    Feb 2018 - Apr 2019 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Worked under the guidance of Dr. David Schmitz in the neutrino group at the University of Chicago, primarily contributing to the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program at Fermilab. My work focused on Monte Carlo simulations, event selection, and the analysis of neutrino interactions in LArTPC detectors, utilizing C++, ROOT, and LArSoft.