Sophia Economou honored with SURA Distinguished Scientist Award
A woman stands at a whiteboard, drawing technical ratios.
Virginia Tech physicist Sophia Economou, whose research focuses on quantum information science, has been selected by the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) as a recipient of the 2026 SURA Distinguished Scientist Award.
The award is presented annually to recognize up to two research scientists from SURA’s 57 member institutions whose extraordinary work fulfills the SURA mission to “advance collaborative research and strengthen the scientific capabilities of its members and the nation.”
Established in 1980, SURA also operates the Thomas Jefferson National Acceleration Facility for the U.S. Department of Energy through SURATech, a joint venture with Virginia Tech.
As the director of the Virginia Tech Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering, Economou works with researchers from a broad array of disciplines across science and engineering to understand how quantum physics can be exploited to develop new information technologies.
Economou’s research in theoretical quantum information science has led to several breakthroughs, including co-developing the first adaptive quantum simulation algorithm and developing control protocols for quantum bits. As an expert in the field, she has contributed 150-plus published articles in peer-reviewed journals with over 11,400 citations and given more than 100 invited conference presentations.
Additionally, Economou played a key role in establishing a transdisciplinary undergraduate minor in quantum information science and engineering at Virginia Tech, while also organizing a week-long summer session for high school students each year.
“What I love about quantum information science is that it connects the very fundamental physics of how the universe works to the leading edge of technology,” said Economou. “As recognition and support for quantum grows, it’s exciting to attract some of the smartest young people and shape the future of the field. I am privileged to be mentoring some brilliant young people and making new discoveries together.”
The T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Chair of Physics in the College of Science, Economou was also named a fellow by the American Physical Society in 2023 and was one of the inaugural recipients of Virginia Tech’s Jacob A. Lutz Award for Eminent Scholars in 2024.
