Caltech Undergraduate Student Named Marshall Scholar

Senior Laura Lewis, who is double majoring in math and computer science, has been named a 2023 Marshall Scholar.

The scholarship, which is funded by the British government, provides support for two years of graduate study (including tuition, books, and living expenses) at any university in the United Kingdom. Lewis is one of 40 individuals selected for the scholarship this year.

During her time at Caltech, Lewis, originally from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, has done extensive quantum cryptography research. Her current research project uses machine learning to investigate Hamiltonians, a concept in quantum physics that describes the total energy of a system. During the 2020-21 academic year, she earned the Associated Students of Caltech Teaching Award, which recognizes the best teaching assistants each year. She is also the editor of the Caltech Undergraduate Research Journal, Caltech’s award-winning collegiate journal.

As a Marshall Scholar, Lewis will study at both the University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh. At Cambridge, she will pursue a Master of Advanced Study degree in applied mathematics, considered one of the world’s most challenging mathematics degrees. At the University of Edinburgh, she will pursue a master’s degree under Elham Kashefi, a professor of computer science whose work examines quantum computing.

“I first met Laura when she interviewed for study abroad through Caltech on our exchange with the University of Cambridge,” says Lauren Stolper, director of fellowships and study abroad. “Right there and then, I encouraged her to apply for the Marshall. Her intellect, thoughtful approach, and personal warmth coupled with her amazing track record in quantum computing made her stand out.”