Spotlight: Eñaut Mendiluze Usandizaga

What is your educational background and how did you become interested in your field?

During my childhood, I was always interested in mathematics, and once I grew up, I realized that I was especially interested in how mathematics applies to real life. That’s where my interest in computer science started to grow. I pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and during my bachelor’s thesis, I completed an internship at Simula. For me, it was a really good experience to live abroad (I’m from Spain), get to know how a research institute works, and discover how interesting research can be.

It was during my internship at Simula that I began my research in Quantum Computing. I developed Muskit, a quantum mutation testing tool, that ended up being accepted at the IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE), becoming my first publication. This project introduced me both to the quantum world and to how research works. After going through the process of developing, writing, and publishing a paper, I decided that I wanted to continue pursuing research.

What are your current research projects or areas of focus in your field?

I work in quantum computing, more precisely in quantum software testing. Quantum computers are increasingly relevant as they hold the potential to revolutionize computing by solving complex problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers, leading to breakthroughs in areas like cryptography, drug discovery, and optimization. 

As with all computers, quantum computers also have a software-related part, so I work on testing the software used to program the quantum computers. Software testing is needed to ensure that programs work properly and safely, minimizing the risk of errors or problems that could lead to frustration or harm. I adapt classical software testing techniques to the quantum computing paradigm and develop new techniques to test quantum software. 

How does your research contribute to the advancement of your field, and what real-world applications can it benefit?

In the first year of my PhD, I’m focusing on quantum mutation testing, a method used to evaluate the effectiveness of software testing techniques. Since quantum software is still in its early stages, many new techniques are emerging, and they require reliable evaluation methods. Mutation testing involves creating faulty versions of a program, called mutants, and then applying the testing techniques we want to assess. If the technique successfully detects the "fault", it's considered effective.

What do you see as the biggest challenges or unsolved problems in your field today?

One of the main challenges in the field is the limited experience, as it’s still in an early stage and evolves rapidly, creating uncertainty about its future development and direction. Currently, there are many different trends, and it's not certain which will prove the most promising. Specifically for my work, there is a lack of data for analysis, few quantum programs available for testing, and limited knowledge of what is considered a faulty program.

What advice would you give students or aspiring scientists looking to pursue a career in your field or ICT research more broadly?

I believe the field of quantum computing displays the typical characteristics of an emerging field. It’s thrilling to be part of an emerging technology and among the first to work on it, but this does come with challenges. Being one of the few researchers working in this area can be tough due to limited available research, making it difficult to build knowledge independently. I would advise others to be prepared and open-minded about what they know and to be ready to change their way of thinking about software. Get ready for the future and the big change the quantum computers are going to make!

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Thanks to Eñaut for contributing to this profile.

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