Dr Kenza Hammam
About me
Kenza is a Moroccan quantum physicist based in Edinburgh, specialising in quantum computing, quantum thermodynamics and open quantum systems. She holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Mohammed V University in Rabat and has conducted postdoctoral research at Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Edinburgh. Her work includes entropy benchmarking of near-term quantum devices, error mitigation, energy transport and quantum thermal machines. She is also active in teaching, mentoring, scientific outreach and widening participation in quantum science.
Kenza is a Moroccan quantum physicist based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. She holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Mohammed V University in Rabat, where her doctoral research investigated the effect of quantum coherence in the performance of quantum thermal machines. During her doctorate, she was supported by an ICTP–IAEA STEP Fellowship and undertook part of her research training at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste.
From 2022 to 2023, Kenza worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the QTeQ group at Queen’s University Belfast. Her research covered quantum thermodynamics, open quantum systems, energy transport and nanoscale thermal devices. She subsequently joined the Quantum Software Lab (QSL) at the University of Edinburgh, where she worked from 2024 to 2026 on quantum computing including quantum algorithms and quantum benchmarking.
Her recent research focuses on understanding the performance of noisy quantum computations. She contributed to the development of entropy density benchmarking, an approach for estimating when noise prevents a quantum computation from surpassing a strong classical reference. Her work combines theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and execution on superconducting quantum hardware. She has also investigated variational quantum algorithms, error mitigation and scalable methods for estimating entropy.
Kenza served as a visiting scientist at the UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and as Co-Investigator on an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account project concerning the implementation of entropy benchmarking across quantum computing testbeds. This work involved collaboration with academic researchers and researchers at NQCC, as well as engagement with quantum hardware teams.
Alongside her research, Kenza has taught quantum mechanics, quantum information and advanced quantum theory, mentored students and contributed to interdisciplinary workshop organisation. Her public engagement activities include Soapbox Science Edinburgh and the NQCC Quantum Zone at the Edinburgh Science Festival. She is committed to making emerging quantum technologies more accessible and to strengthening the visibility and participation of women and scientists from the Global South.