Computer Sciences Assistant Professor Charles Yuan receives distinguished paper award at PLDI 2026
Computer Sciences Assistant Professor Charles Yuan‘s paper Cobble: Compiling Block Encodings for Quantum Computational Linear Algebra has won a Distinguished Paper Award at the 47th ACM SIGPLAN Conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation (PLDI 2026). In this paper, Yuan builds a programming language that enables computational scientists to use quantum computers to solve linear algebra problems – such as materials simulation, statistical regression, and differential equations – significantly faster than is possible on a classical (non-quantum) computer. This paper is a step toward making it possible to simulate materials to build more efficient solar cells or create life-saving drugs far faster than today. Better linear algebra tools also accelerate AI, climate modeling, and financial analysis.
Yuan was also chosen as a Distinguished Reviewer. Eight were selected out of 137 reviewers at the conference.
Yuan says, “Wisconsin continues to place itself on the map as a great place to define the future of computing, and I’m proud to be part of it.” He will be presented with the awards at the conference in mid-June.
Congratulations, Professor Yuan!