Simon C. Marshall

Home CV Research

Research Highlights

Evidence for the strength of quantum computing

Colaboration with Vedran Dunjko (Leiden) and Scott Aaronson (UT Austin) | 2022 | In this paper we provide the strongest complexity theory evidence so far that quantum computers can compute functions that classical computers cannot. We also provide the strongest evidence that a number of quantum supremacy experiments are classically hard. The paper will be released in mid-November.

Understanding polysemanticity in neural networks through coding theory

Collaboration with Jan Kirchner (OpenAI) | 2023 | We applied information theory and neuroscience techniques to analyse how large language models encode information and protect it from noise. Providing insight into the interpretability of models.

ARC EVALS

Alignment Research Center/METR with Beth Barnes under the MATS program | 2022 | We developed and ran evaluations of large language models. This project helped set the groundwork for the current interest in model evaluations.

Education

PhD in Quantum Computing

Universiteit Leiden | 2020-2024 | Mainly focused on topics in complexity theory, circuit cutting and quantum machine learning.

Master's in Math and Physics

University of Warwick | 2016-2020 | Thesis in computational fluid dynamics, graded 'high/exceptional first', 1st class in every year.

Languages

Programming Almost all my PhD code has been in python, normally with TensorFlow but less frequently with PyTorch. I used a C++-derived language (Basilisk) for my Masters research and C for high-performance computing.

Human English - native, Dutch - A2.

Other experience

University Officer Training Corps | UOTC Birmingham | The UOTC is provides reserve officer training fitted around university for university students.

AI safety fundamentals facilitation | I facilitated one round the AI safety fundamentals course in 2022.

Contact

Academic Email: s.c.marshall@liacs.leidenuniv.nl.

Generic Email: s.c.marshall98@gmail.com

GitHub: https://github.com/simon-marshall

I do not list references on my website for obvious reasons, feel free to reach out and request some.