Project Grant 2555436

The National Science Foundation Division of Computer and Network Systems awarded The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York $1.2 million on October 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to develop a hardware-agnostic framework for quantum platform attestation using existing error correction syndrome measurements as physical uncloneable functions for quantum hardware verification.

The project addresses a security challenge in cloud-accessible quantum computing: users cannot reliably verify that their sensitive computations run on the specific, authentic hardware they have paid to use. The research develops a low-cost, non-invasive method to verify remote quantum computer identity by leveraging the physical imperfections and unique noise patterns inherent to each quantum chip—characteristics that serve as a reliable digital fingerprint analogous to an iris scan. Unlike prior methods requiring dedicated test circuits, this approach converts unavoidable error correction byproducts into security primitives observable without corrupting primary computation. The project analyzes fingerprinting potential across diverse error correction codes and multiple hardware platforms, develops machine learning models resilient to environmental noise and hardware drift, and creates compilation strategies embedding verification routines directly into useful computations to prevent provider evasion. The work will produce open-source tools fostering broader innovation and strengthen trust in quantum technologies for critical applications in finance, science, and national security.

Performance occurs in New York, New York, with a period of performance from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2030.