Scientist profile
Lara Ismert
Bio
Affiliation
University of New Mexico
Country of affiliation
United States
Academic qualification
Doctoral degree
Type of research
Theoretical,
Currently in
Academia,
Key-words for research
Operator Algebras, Quantum Graphs
You can find me here
Personal/work webpage
Google Scholar
Professional experience
Hiring committees,
Student supervision,
Teaching,
Events organisations,
Diversity and Inclusion work,
Leadership and Management,
Additional information
For the first five years immediately following my PhD, I was a tenure-track professor at a teaching-focused institution. I taught 9-12 credits per semester, led multiple undergraduate research projects, was successful with grant funding, and stayed research-active, though not to the extent I would have liked. I made the hard decision to pivot back into a postdoctoral position to get my research moving. The other large part of my work involves organizing inclusive mentoring initiatives within my research community, which is, notably, documented as one of the least gender-diverse subfields of mathematics (based on a 2018 article which considered authorship on arXiv). I'm excited about connecting my mathematics knowledge to quantum info and learning more tools and theory to move into a research space where I am actively supporting the push forward of the quantum computing frontier.
Additional information
For the first five years immediately following my PhD, I was a tenure-track professor at a teaching-focused institution. I taught 9-12 credits per semester, led multiple undergraduate research projects, was successful with grant funding, and stayed research-active, though not to the extent I would have liked. I made the hard decision to pivot back into a postdoctoral position to get my research moving. The other large part of my work involves organizing inclusive mentoring initiatives within my research community, which is, notably, documented as one of the least gender-diverse subfields of mathematics (based on a 2018 article which considered authorship on arXiv). I'm excited about connecting my mathematics knowledge to quantum info and learning more tools and theory to move into a research space where I am actively supporting the push forward of the quantum computing frontier.
Research highlights
2203.05454, Quantum edge correspondences and quantum Cuntz-Krieger algebras, studying quantum graphs via C*-algebras!
1903.09351, A Generalized von Neumann Uniqueness Theorem, thesis results published in Comm. Math. Physics
What do you think can be improved for the community of women and gender minorities in quantum information right now?
As a person just on the edges of quantum information, it's hard to speak to the needs of this specific field. What I have found to be true as a co-founder of the Operator Algebras Mentor Network is that mentoring of gender minorities within a sub discipline of science need not be restricted to gender minorities. A true network of support for a person in minority should be as large as possible, presuming the network recognizes the challenges and differences from their own experience that their mentee may face. Initiatives to support gender minorities in quantum info, then, might look to gaining support from all members of the community who are vocal advocates of gender equity in the field, as well as those who are hoping to learn how to be advocates. The majority should support the minority, or, the minority should be supported by the minority AND the majority.
What brought you to quantum science and what keeps you aorund?
In 2020, a mentor of mine presented a talk on quantum graphs and a new definition of a C*-algebra one could study from these. I was very interested in both the underlying object and how the C*-algebra construction generalized a construction familiar to me for classical graphs. He and I, along with three other co-authors, wrote a paper that further explores these C*-algebras and their connections to another familiar construction. More so now than before, I want to find concrete applications for my work. In particular, I am very curious about how quantum graphs can be utilized to study or generate quantum error correcting codes.
What advice would you give to a young scientist?
Keep that sense of awe. It will guide you when you inevitably find yourself being pushed and pulled by the tide of "what makes you successful" in science (publishing a lot, getting grants, etc.).
And, bring all of you to the table. The part of you who is a scientist should not show up to the research without the part of you who is a child, a parent, an artist. These parts also belong, and leaving them behind because you think others don't want to meet them is what make a field lose its richness. Boldly being all of ourselves in the scientific setting is what will help move our field forward to be truly inclusive.
Favourite open questions
My knowledge of open questions in various fields is lacking. My favorite open questions are those, then, that I myself have asked and am likely to find out the answer by simply asking the "right" person. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to figure out the answer to something that seemed fundamental in a topic new to me, but now I realize that I cannot learn all the things without unlimited time. Asking the resources available to me, which consists of super cool people spanning a wide network of operator algebraists, is now fun for me and usually very productive.
Women and gender minority people in science that I admire
Oh yes. My first role model was my undergraduate supervisor, Dr. Leah Childers. She fiercely looked out for me and carved my way to graduate school, recognizing something in me that I did not yet know about myself. Dr. Chelsea Walton is another; she is the person who introduced the idea that I could study quantum physics through mathematics, without doing physics. There are myriad women in my field whom I admire, one who especially comes up now: Dr. Sarah Reznikoff, Math Dept. Chair at Virginia Tech. Just, wow. She shows up for people. Dr. Maria Cristina Prereya at University of New Mexico. Another beacon. So grateful for these women's support of me at each stage of my career.
Useful resources!
The Operator Algebras Mentor Network: https://oamentornetwork.wordpress.com
The Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education Program:
https://www.edgeforwomen.org
The Operator Algebras Mentor Network: Impact of Community-Based Mentoring (arXiv:2501.18488)
Authors: Anna Duwenig, Kari Eifler, Priyanga Ganesan, Lara Ismert, Viviana Meschitti, Sarah Plosker, Karen Strung