Omar Shehab is a theoretical quantum computer scientist whose work bridges quantum algorithms, complexity theory, and programming languages for quantum computers. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2016, following undergraduate studies at Shahjalal University of Science & Technology. He has held research and teaching positions at the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute, the U.S. Army Research Lab, and UMBC, where he taught theoretical computer science and quantum computing. At IonQ, Shehab focuses on developing methods to effectively harness trapped-ion quantum computers, with particular interest in hybrid quantum–classical architectures and identifying problems where quantum speedups can be realized. Currently, at IBM Thomas J Watson Research Center, Shehab is working on average-case hardness of quantum algorithms and quantum complexity theory. He has published extensively, contributed to patent applications, and delivered invited talks. His research has been funded by NASA, Department of Energy, and DARPA.
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