Jungsang Kim Named Chief Science and Technology Strategist for the Provost

Quantum computing pioneer to help shape the Duke Science and Technology initiative

Jungsang Kim
Jungsang Kim is a leader in Duke’s quantum computing initiative.

Provost Alec D. Gallimore has appointed Professor Jungsang Kim to a new role overseeing the formation of the next phase of the Duke Science and Technology (DST) initiative.

Kim, the Schiciano Family Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of Physics, will serve as chief science and technology strategist for the provost. He will work closely with leaders of Duke’s college/schools and units and development staff to create a concrete execution strategy for DST, ensure efforts to secure financial resources, and coordinate recruiting of innovative and entrepreneurial faculty in science and technology campuswide.  

“I am delighted that Dr. Kim will be leading our efforts to continue elevating science and technology at Duke through DST,” Gallimore said. “Jungsang’s extraordinary career exemplifies Duke’s commitment to excellence in research and innovation as we enter our second century and a new phase for DST.”

Kim is an internationally renowned pioneer in the field of quantum information sciences. A member of the Duke faculty for over 20 years, he leads the Multifunctional Integrated Systems Technology group and developed a commercially-viable approach to quantum computers by trapping atomic ions in a vacuum chamber and manipulating them with lasers. In 2015, he and longtime colleague Chris Monroe took the technology to market by founding IonQ, which later became the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing company.

In 2020, Kim joined with Monroe and Ken Brown, his long-time collaborators, to launch the Duke Quantum Center, which convenes faculty from across the university to put quantum computing and quantum information to work on a variety of scientific problems and real-world applications. Over two decades, members of DQC have collectively attracted over $250 million in funding from government, academic and industry partners. Kim is the center’s associate director.

“Focusing on the impact the Duke-trained students and Duke-produced knowledge can make in our society, we can create a culture of scientific and technological innovation at Duke that can have a lasting impact. Duke Science and Technology can be a vehicle through which we can drive such transformation.”

Jungsang Kim

The recipient of numerous awards for his research, Kim is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Physics Society and Optica (formerly Optical Society of America). He stepped down as IonQ’s Chief Technology Officer in March 2024.

“Over the past 20 years of my tenure at Duke, I saw tremendous momentum building up at Duke and the Research Triangle Park region on the front of science and technology,” said Kim. “Focusing on the impact the Duke-trained students and Duke-produced knowledge can make in our society, we can create a culture of scientific and technological innovation at Duke that can have a lasting impact. DST can be a vehicle through which we can drive such transformation.”

Duke launched DST in 2019 to elevate excellence in the sciences through faculty retention and recruitment. The fundraising effort has helped recruit or retain more than 40 top scholars with a specific focus on materials science, computing, and resilience of the body and brain.

“I am thrilled to work with Professor Kim in this new role,” said Matt Hutter, associate vice president for strategic initiatives. “His vast experience in industry and academia makes him a perfect ambassador for DST and will contribute significantly to our success moving forward.”

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