Dr. Rayan received his doctorate in 2011 from the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford, where his work was focused on exotic geometries arising from structures in theoretical physics. He then spent 5 years at the University of Toronto before joining the University of Saskatchewan as a faculty member in 2016. At USask, he is the founder and director of quanTA, the Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications. Dr. Rayan has become known for applying pure mathematical, and in particular algebro-geometric, thinking to problems in quantum science and quantum technology development. In recent years, Dr. Rayan has leveraged this perspective in the theory, characterization, and synthesis of artificial quantum materials, including hyperbolic lattices with novel functional properties. One of his recent papers concerning hyperbolic quantum matter was a Finalist / First-Runner Up for the Cozzarelli Prize of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States, selected from over 3200 papers published in their Proceedings in 2022. He has also been working in foundational aspects of quantum information as well as applied quantum computing in the form of use case development for various sectors in collaboration with industry partners. Dr. Rayan’s work is generously funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the New Frontiers in Research Fund, and PrairiesCan. He is a member of the Canada-France Quantum Alliance Steering Committee.