AUA CSE Launches Engineering Workshop-Seminar Series

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YEREVAN, Armenia – On October 24, 2019, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Akian College of Science and Engineering (CSE) launched the Engineering Workshop-Seminar Series with the first workshop led by Elena Semerdjian on NASA’s Mars2020 mission. The series aims to spotlight hot topics in engineering and showcase successful career paths to encourage and motivate CSE students.

The second workshop titled “What is a quantum computer and how to program it?” took place on October 31, 2019. The workshop was led by Dr. Hakob Avetisyan, lead specialist at Gate 42 Quantum Computing Lab with a focus on quantum algorithms and noise reduction techniques. Dr. Avetisyan is associate professor at the Russian-Armenian University where he teaches Quantum Computing. He has experience in machine learning, object detection, and audio processing. He holds a PhD in quantum optics from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil.

The topics covered in the workshop ranged from universal quantum algorithms and quantum software to linear algebra and programming in Qiskit. In the second half of the workshop, Dr. Avetisyan presented a teleportation demo on IBM hardware and simulator using Qiskit.

“I am excited that AUA CSE is growing in prominence as an innovation nexus at the intersection of computer science and engineering technology. The second workshop of the series is a great example of that, as Hakob from Gate42 led a spirited workshop on Quantum Computing. Given the energy in the room, I wouldn’t be surprised to see AUA engineers getting more and more involved in this emerging field,” said CSE Dean Dr. Aram Hajian.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.