DSU’s Dr. Peng Guo joins Argonne-led quantum computing project

August 10, 2026

MADISON, S.D. - Dr. Peng Guo, associate professor of theoretical physics at Dakota State University, will serve as a co-principal investigator on an Argonne National Laboratory-led project that will use artificial intelligence to improve the design of quantum computing workflows for nuclear physics research.

The project, "AI-Enabled Optimization of Quantum Circuit Design for Realistic Nuclear Problems," is among a group of projects supported through the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission. The national initiative brings together government, industry, academia, and philanthropic partners to accelerate scientific discovery by combining artificial intelligence, supercomputing, quantum systems, and advanced scientific instruments.

Dr. Anna McCoy of Argonne National Laboratory is the project's lead principal investigator. In addition to DSU and Argonne, the project includes partners from Infleqtion and Northwestern University.

"I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to work with colleagues at Argonne, Northwestern and Infleqtion together," Guo said. "Hopefully, the Genesis Mission project will present a lot of good opportunities for DSU faculty and students."

For the project, the team will develop an AI tool to design quantum computing workflows for complex nuclear physics problems automatically. The system will test different algorithms, designs, and hardware options to find efficient and accurate solutions.

Ultimately, the project aims to help researchers use quantum computers to study nuclear systems that today's conventional computers cannot handle.

Researchers must determine how to represent the problem, select appropriate quantum algorithms, adapt those algorithms to available hardware, and optimize the resulting quantum circuits.

"Dr. Guo's leadership on this national project demonstrates the strength and growing impact of quantum research at DSU, said Vice President for Research and Economic Development at DSU Dr. Ashley Podhradsky. "This collaboration will advance scientific discovery while creating valuable opportunities for our faculty and students to contribute to the future of AI and quantum computing."

The project team will develop an AI system designed to automate much of that process. The system will explore different combinations of quantum algorithms, problem-solving strategies, and hardware configurations. It will then evaluate the resulting circuits based on factors such as accuracy, required computing resources, circuit depth, and the number of operations needed.

By identifying promising approaches more efficiently, the AI system could reduce the time and specialized expertise required to develop quantum computing workflows for nuclear physics.

Guo's research focuses on computational hadron and nuclear physics, including the structure and behavior of subatomic particles. His work also explores emerging technologies such as quantum computing, machine learning, and high-performance computing.

This project builds on Guo's existing collaboration with Argonne and his efforts to expand quantum research at DSU and across South Dakota. In 2025, he received a nearly $300,000 National Science Foundation fellowship to develop a new method for simulating interactions among small numbers of particles on quantum computers.

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