Bio
Uma Girish is a postdoctoral research scientist in computer science at Columbia University, hosted by Henry Yuen, and will join the University of Toronto as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2026. She received her PhD from Princeton University in 2024 under the supervision of Ran Raz, following degrees at the Chennai Mathematical Institute. Her research explores the interplay between quantum computing, complexity theory, and the analysis of Boolean functions, including quantum query algorithms, communication complexity, and quantum information theory.
Abstract
The Forrelation problem began as a landmark example of quantum advantage, revealing dramatic separations between quantum and classical capabilities. It has since become a versatile lens for understanding both the power and limitations of quantum computation.
This talk traces the evolution of Forrelation and describes how it has illuminated fundamental questions in quantum complexity, cryptography, and communication: Where does quantum computation lie within classical complexity? Can quantum cryptography be based on genuinely quantum assumptions? What is the landscape of quantum computation below BQP? How powerful is entanglement in communication? Together, these developments show how Forrelation has become a recurring guide to understanding the scope and limitations of quantum advantage.