Dr. Thapliyal Named Inaugural Quantum Informatics Professor

The SMU Lyle School of Engineering is thrilled to welcome Dr. Himanshu Thapliyal as the inaugural Walden and Paula Rhines Endowed Quantum Informatics Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at SMU Lyle.

Dr. Thapliyal joins SMU Lyle from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he served as Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Principal Investigator of UTK’s Cybersecurity and Quantum Biomedical Interdisciplinary Technologies (Cy-QBIT) Lab – a 2024 winner of the esteemed NIH New Frontiers in Biomedical Research Innovation Lab competition in quantum computing.

An internationally recognized innovator in quantum computing for biomedical research, Dr. Thapliyal’s work intersects machine learning, quantum computing, and secure hardware systems to develop intelligent, human-centered technology with revolutionary applications in medicine, cybersecurity, and cyber-physical systems.

With over 200 journal and conference publications, Dr. Thapliyal’s award-winning research is published widely across high-impact journals like Computers in Human Behavior, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, and the IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems and honored with Best Paper/Presentation Awards from leading conferences including the IEEE World Forum on Internet of Things (WF-IoT).

With Lyle’s growing expertise in the rapidly-expanding field of Quantum Engineering – highlighted by the recent launch of the region’s first Master of Science Program in Quantum Engineering – we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Thapliyal as a visionary and changemaker in supporting the next generation of quantum education.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Himanshu Thapliyal on his appointment and welcoming him to the SMU Lyle community. We look forward to the progress and perspectives Dr. Thapliyal will bring to the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, our growing Quantum Engineering initiative, and the Lyle community as a whole.

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering 

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees. 

About SMU 

SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.