Curriculum Vitae

About

I am interested in the broader realms of quantum information and computation. I am a PhD student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and working under the supervision of Dr. Rebekah Herrman. My research focuses on using Hamiltonian simulation as a framework for developing new quantum algorithms.

Over the past three years, I have worked on quantum variational algorithms under the supervision of Dr. Shaikh Anowarul Fattah and have served as a lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, BRAC University. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, BUET.

Publications & Preprints

Moment-Structured Block Encodings of Periodic Finite-Difference Operators
Mahmud, J., and Herrman, R.
arXiv preprint. [PDF]

Explicit Block Encoding of Difference-of-Gaussian Operators on a Periodic Grid
Mahmud, J., Winship, J., Lash, T., Ostrowski, J., and Herrman, R.
arXiv preprint. Accepted as a talk at IEEE Quantum Week (QCE) 2026. [PDF]

Simplification Rules for Continuous-Time Quantum Walks on Dynamic Graphs
Atallah, M., Dilley, D., Mahmud, J., Saleem, Z., and Herrman, R.
arXiv preprint. [PDF]

Selective feature re-encoded quantum convolutional neural network with joint optimization for image classification
Mahernob Sarkar, S., Iftekhar Ahmed, S., Mahmud, J., Anowarul Fattah, S., and Sharma, G.
Quantum Machine Intelligence 8, 79 (2026). [Preprint PDF]

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Learning for Multiclass Image Classification
Anwar, S., Das, S., Hossain, M. I., and Mahmud, J.
arXiv preprint. Currently under review in Quantum Machine Intelligence. [PDF]

Quantum convolutional neural networks with interaction layers for classification of classical data
Mahmud, J., Mashtura, R., Fattah, S. A., and Saquib, M.
Quantum Machine Intelligence 6, 11 (2024). [Preprint PDF]

Patch-Based End-to-End Quantum Learning Network for Reduction and Classification of Classical Data
Mahmud, J., and Fattah, S. A.
arXiv preprint. [PDF]

A Parallel Quantum Feature Encoding Scheme for Effective Classical Data Classification in Quantum Convolutional Neural Networks
Mashtura, R., Mahmud, J., Fattah, S. A., and Saquib, M.
TENCON 2023 – 2023 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON), Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2023, pp. 1–5. [IEEE]

Test Score

TOEFL: 116/120 (Reading: 30/30, Listening: 30/30, Speaking: 27/30, Writing: 29/30)

Education

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- PhD in Industrial Engineering
- Research: Quantum algorithms Group under Dr. Rebekah Herrman
Bachelor of Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) - (graduated June 2023)
- Major- Communication & Signal Processing
- Academic Thesis: Quantum Variational Algorithms
- CGPA: 3.87/4.00 (Class Rank 2/65 in CSP)
International Advanced Level (IAL) from Mastermind English Medium School
- A* grade in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry & Further Mathematics
- World Highest Score in Mathematics
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) from South Breeze School
- A* grade in Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology & Bengali
- A grade in English Language, Accounting & Economics

Work Experience

The University of Tennessee - (December 2025 - present)
- Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Rebekah Herrman
The University of Tennessee - (August 2025 - December 2025)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant
BRAC University - (June 2023 - June 2025)
- Lecturer, Computer Science and Engineering, School of Data and Sciences
  - I teach physics and computer science undergraduates CSE481: Quantum Computation and Information 1 and CSE482: Quantum Information 2
  - I have co-designed the CSE 481 (Quantum Computing 1) course.
  - I have co-supervised two undergraduate thesis groups on quantum variational algorithms.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology - (June 2023 - July 2025)
- Research Assistant (RA) at Institute of Robotics and Automation under Dr. Shaikh Anowarul Fattah
  - I work with Dr. Fattah to develop quantum machine learning algorithms to process classical data.
Edbase - (August 2017 - October 2018)
- Teaching Assistant (TA)
  - I worked here as a teaching assistant to help high school students learn IAL physics.
Classical Music Academy of Dhaka - (January 2016 - May 2018)
- Teaching Assistant (TA)
  - I worked here as a teaching assistant, helping students learn Western classical guitar and the basics of music theory.

Talks, Conferences, Summer Schools:

IEEE Quantum Week 2026: Presented a paper on explicit block encodings of the Difference-of-Gaussian Operator
Gene Golub Summer School 2026 (Duke University): Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms
Informs Optimization Society Conference 2026
TQC 2024: Attended various talks and participated in poster sessions.
IEEE TENCON 2023: Presented a paper on quantum machine learning.
IUB Summer School 2024: Glimpses into the Quantum World - Information, Technology, and Applications}: Attended the summer school arranged by the Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB) on quantum information and computation. Lectures were provided by Dr. Leong Chuan Kwek (National University of Singapore) and Dr. Subhro Bhattacharjee (International Centre for Theoretical Sciences).

Academic achievements

Graduate Fellowship, UT Knoxville Academic Years 2025, 2026
Dean’s List Award (All Undergraduate Levels)
University Merit Undergraduate Scholarship (1st & 2nd semester)
University Stipend Undergraduate Scholarship (3rd, 5th, 6th & 7th Semester)

Other Interests

Besides my academic interests, I am a classical guitarist at the Classical Music Academy of Dhaka. I love playing tennis, watching football (soccer) and passionately follow the Manchester United football club ( :’( ). Additionally, I love to do street and portrait photography and collect old film cameras, watches, and LP records!