Development of Quantum Algorithms for the Study of Protein Folding in NISQ Devices

• Grant number: 24/19054-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Principal Investigator: Felipe Fernandes Fanchini
• Grantee: Alexandre Drinko
• Host Institution: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein (IIEPAE). Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to improve and develop quantum algorithms for applications in optimization problems, incorporating contradiabatic terms and error mitigation techniques. The focus of this study will be protein folding, a process that can be described as an optimization problem, where the goal is to find the lowest energy configuration for the structure of a protein. Quantum algorithms, such as the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm and the Variational Quantum Eigensolver, emerge as powerful tools for simulating and optimizing these chemical processes. The implementation of these methods in NISQ devices is essential for the advancement of scientific and technological research, strengthening our capacity to innovate in the areas of health and computational biochemistry.