Killoran builds software connecting quantum computation with modern programming, coauthoring PennyLane’s differentiable framework and Strawberry Fields’ tools for designing and simulating photonic quantum circuits.
PennyLane / XanaduarXivarXiv / QuantumKilloran’s work makes quantum ideas accessible through executable software. Strawberry Fields provides a programming and simulation environment for continuous-variable photonic circuits, while PennyLane connects parameterized quantum circuits with automatic differentiation and classical optimization. Both are collaborative projects documented in their research papers. His current PennyLane profile identifies a focus on software for fault-tolerant computing at Xanadu. The combination of algorithms, interfaces and open tools gives researchers a practical route from a mathematical circuit to an experiment.
PennyLane / XanaduarXivarXiv / QuantumDefining contributions
Work, in context- 2018
Differentiable quantum programming with PennyLane
Killoran coauthored PennyLane, a software framework that combines quantum-circuit gradients with classical automatic differentiation. Its architecture connects quantum simulators and hardware through plugins and supports optimization of hybrid quantum-classical computations.
Coauthor of the PennyLane framework paper; the software is a collaborative project.
Source-supported recordarXiv - 2019
Programming photonic circuits with Strawberry Fields
As first author, Killoran introduced Strawberry Fields with a team at Xanadu. The open-source framework combines a quantum programming language, simulators and compilation tools for continuous-variable photonic circuits. The journal paper appeared in 2019.
First author of the Strawberry Fields paper; platform development is attributed to the Xanadu team.
Source-supported recordarXiv / Quantum
Keep in perspective
Current title follows the updated PennyLane profile; older CTO-software biographies are superseded.
Work-base country is not specified by the role source.
Follow the evidence
3 sourcesPrimary papers, institutional records and attributed announcements. Each source supports the claims linked above.
- PennyLane / Xanaduinstitutional profile
Nathan Killoran — PennyLane profile
Current self-identified SVP Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Software and Xanadu association.
Checked 2026-09-19 - arXivresearch preprint
PennyLane: Automatic differentiation of hybrid quantum-classical computations
Authorship and differentiable hybrid programming architecture.
Published 2018-11-12 · Checked 2026-09-19 - arXiv / Quantumresearch paper
Strawberry Fields: A Software Platform for Photonic Quantum Computing
First authorship, platform components, journal publication in 2019.
Published 2018-04-09 · Checked 2026-09-19