Mouheymen Has Graduated with Honors: A Journey Through Quantum Algorithms
At CQTech, we take great pride in celebrating the accomplishments of our members. This time, we are thrilled to highlight the success of Mouheymen Khamadja, a Master’s student in theoretical physics at the University of Constantine 1, who has recently graduated with honors.
Mouheymen’s Master’s thesis, titled “From VQE to SQD: Modern Quantum Algorithms for Electronic Structure Problems,” dives into one of the most exciting areas of modern quantum computing: the use of variational and sample-based approaches to solve fundamental challenges in quantum chemistry.
Supervised by our PI, Dr. Taha Rouabah, Mouheymen’s work provided a rigorous overview of Sample-based Quantum Diagonalization (SQD) — a relatively new algorithmic framework — tracing its development from the underlying mathematics to a full practical implementation on IBM Quantum hardware. He also carried out an in-depth comparative study between SQD and the well-established Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE). His thesis highlighted bottlenecks for both methods, while also contributing an original perspective: drawing a connection between the sampling bottleneck in SQD and the classical coupon collector problem, shedding light on the scaling issues that arise in practice. The full thesis is available here.
This dual perspective not only deepened our understanding of the strengths and limitations of these algorithms but also set the stage for future CQTech projects exploring hybrid approaches and optimizations.
During his defense, Mouheymen impressed the jury with his technical mastery, clarity, and analytical rigor. His presentation was met with high praise, and his final grade reflected the excellence of his work. For us at CQTech, this success is no surprise. Throughout his time with the group, Mouheymen acquired a unique ability to balance deep technical insight with collaborative spirit. Whether by sparking internal discussions on open research challenges, or by pursuing difficult questions with relentless curiosity, his contribution has been invaluable.
One of the qualities that sets Mouheymen apart is his dynamism within the CQTech community. He has consistently been proactive in identifying research directions worth exploring, often bringing fresh perspectives to technical conversations. At the same time, his approachable nature strengthens the sense of community within CQTech, helping to build an environment where collaboration thrives. In short, Mouheymen embodies the spirit we strive for at CQTech: excellence in research, openness in collaboration, and passion for pushing the boundaries of quantum science in Algeria and beyond.
Graduating with honors is not just an end — it is the beginning of a promising scientific journey. With his sharp theoretical background and growing expertise in quantum algorithms, Mouheymen is well positioned to contribute to cutting-edge developments in the field. We could not be prouder of his achievements, and we look forward to seeing where his curiosity and dedication will take him next.
Congratulations, Mouha! To many more successes, both within CQTech and in the broader quantum research community.
