Ashwin's Chronicles🗞️

About Me

Hello, I’m Ashwin!

I am a Research Software Engineer (RSE) and Physicist currently based in Germany, working at the intersection of quantum computing, high-performance computing, and scientific instrumentation.

What I Do

By day, I work at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich. My main focus is integrating quantum computers with classical High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems—building the infrastructure for hybrid quantum-classical computing, interfacing quantum processing units (QPUs), and benchmarking scientific workloads on them.

Before joining JSC, I worked as an RSE at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) in Hamburg, developing research tools for computational physics.

My academic foundation comes from BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus (Batch of 2017–2022), where I completed a dual degree:

  • B.E. in Electronics & Instrumentation
  • Integrated M.Sc. in Physics

This blend of physics theory and practical hardware/software engineering has shaped how I approach problems: I enjoy understanding the low-level physics of a system just as much as writing clean, scalable software to control or simulate it.

Beyond the Terminal

When I step away from code, compute clusters, and quantum computers, a few interests keep me grounded:

  • Flute & Acoustic Experiments: Music is a big part of my life. I play the Indian classical flute (Bansuri). Over time, my physics curiosity spilled over into instrument-making: collaborating on designing and 3D-printing custom flutes, calculating acoustic resonance formulas, experimenting with conical bores, and testing how subtle design changes shape tone and timbre.
  • Forró Dancing: I fell in love with Forró—a partner dance from northeastern Brazil. You can frequently find me on the social dance floor in Aachen, Cologne, or Düsseldorf, learning leader/follower dynamics, musicality, and connecting with a wonderful cross-cultural dance community.
  • Running & Parkrun: I run to clear my mind. Saturday morning 5K Parkruns are a weekend staple, rain, frost, or shine, along with longer trail and neighborhood runs.
  • Cycling: Cycling is both my daily commute and weekend escape through the Rhineland. I also enjoy the mechanical side of things—tuning derailleurs, fixing chains, and maintaining bikes myself.
  • Electronics & Hardware Tinkering: My workbench is rarely clear. I enjoy tinkering with physical hardware: setting up small DIY solar panel rigs, designing battery management circuits, hacking microcontrollers (ESP8266/ESP32, Arduino) for IoT controls, and soldering together sensor prototypes.

Why This Blog?

I started Ashwin’s Chronicles as a personal, open-access laboratory notebook.

Research and engineering can often feel fragmented. Writing down how I designed a cryogenic probe, solved an obscure Linux/HPC issue, simulated a Josephson junction, or built an IoT device helps me consolidate my understanding so I do not forget. At the same time, if an article saves hours for another student, engineer, or curious tinkerer facing the same problem, that is the greatest reward.

Feel free to browse around, inspect the write-ups, or reach out if you would like to discuss quantum computing, collaborate on a project, or chat about music and dance!

Comments

So what do you think? Did I miss something? Is any part unclear? Leave your comments below.