Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson, Ph.D.

Lead Research Scientist & Co-Founder

Co-Founder and Lead Research Scientist, Peter Johnson, is dedicated to leading teams and developing innovative quantum algorithms and software. After earning his Ph.D. from Dartmouth College in 2016, he engaged in postdoctoral work in the Harvard Chemistry Department with Alán Aspuru-Guzik, focusing on quantum algorithms for near-term quantum computers. He co-founded Zapata AI in 2017 with close colleagues from the Aspuru-Guzik group. At Zapata AI, Peter developed some of the first quantum algorithms for early fault-tolerant quantum computing, resulting in several influential publications. With the growth of Zapata in AI, his work has progressively shifted to utilizing AI tools to further innovation in quantum computing and related areas.

 

Question & Answer

What are a few of your favorite things?

Home-cooked meals with lots of vegetables, making music with friends, and riddles.

What’s your spirit animal (pokemon)?

Pidgeotto

What’s your superpower?

Making time vanish while engaging in conversation.

If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?

I would love to share a meal with a great-great-great grandparent and one of my great-great-great grandchildren to learn what things change and what things stay the same.