LIVERMORE, Calif. - November 9, 2007 - As quantum information makes it's transition from science fiction to science fact, future physicist Gleb Akselrod will be one of the scientists leading the way. The 22-year-old, raised in Stillwater, OK, recently won a full five-year graduate fellowship from the prestigious Fannie and John Hertz Foundation to pursue a Ph.D. in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

"A mere theoretical concept 25 years ago, the idea of quantum computing has blossomed into the promising field of quantum information. Scientists are working to harness the odd and often paradoxical behavior of single atoms and particles of light to build computers that are exponentially faster at certain tasks, and to create encryption protocols which are guaranteed to be secure by the laws of physics.," Akselrod says. "Though major hurdles remain on the way to practical quantum computing, such as the need for deeper theoretical understanding and miniaturization and scalability of devices, I believe it has boundless potential for our information-based economy."

Akselrod is one of 15 graduate students selected from more than 580 across the country to receive the Hertz graduate fellowship. Hertz Fellows each receive up to $240,000 over five years to pursue their own scientific interests at top universities in the United States. This no-strings-attached support gives Hertz Fellows financial independence and freedom to conduct innovative research because, unlike many other grants, university and study choices are not limited by strict funding requirements.

"Hertz Fellows represent the very best young scientific talent in our nation," says John Holzrichter, PhD, Hertz Foundation president.? "These students embody the drive and curiosity to solve the most difficult problems our world faces, and we are pleased to support them as they grow in their chosen disciplines."

Growing up with scientist parents, Akselrod says his interests have always been technical in nature, and he dabbled in everything from astronomy to computers. Akselrod became seriously interested in physics at age 16, when he went to work with his mentor, a physicist who also happens to be his father. "Along with learning the basics of experimental research, I honed the fine art of logical reasoning and careful observation. In only a few months, I was responsible for my own project-the development of an optical system for testing a volumetric ata storage medium," Akselrod says. "It was genuinely exhilarating, and I realized that physics is exactly what I want to do." While working at Landauer, Inc. in Stillwater, Okla., Akselrod also co-developed a technology for detecting heavy charged particles using fluorescent aluminum oxide crystals. Akselrod authored a paper and holds a U.S. patent on this technique, which is finding applications in space dosimetry, biophysics, and fusion plasma diagnostics.

While attending University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Akselrod was exposed to a wide range of scientific opportunities. In a biophysics lab, he conducted manipulations on arrays of individual cells and bacteria using optical tweezers to study molecular signaling mechanisms. He succeeded in making the first known 3D arrays of living bacteria and mammalian?cells, and published a paper on the work that was featured on the cover of the Biophysical Journal in November 2006.

Later, Akselrod joined a research group looking into practical and theoretical aspects of quantum information, where he designed compensation methods for improving the brightness and purity of "entangled photon sources" - research that is important in testing the limits of quantum mechanics. The model he developed is now used as a tool for optimizing sources of entangled photons. Currently, Akselrod is conducting research at M.I.T. on building atomic ion trap systems for performing quantum operations, a critical step on the road to realizing a quantum computer.

Hoping to either become a university professor or a researcher in industry, Akselrod will strive for the practical realization of quantum protocols, and one day, quantum computers themselves.  Originally from Russia, Akselrod also enjoys traveling, and has recently completed trips to Japan, Israel, Alaska and Turkey. He says that "growing up in Russia and the U.S. has taught me the importance of learning from different people and their cultures."

Akselrod graduated from Stillwater High School, Stillwater, OK, in 2003, where he was a National Merit Finalist and an Oklahoma Regents Academic Scholar.  In 2007, he received a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  In addition to the Hertz Fellowship, Akselrod received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and the M.I.T. Lester Wolfe Graduate Fellowship.  His father, Mark Akselrod, is a research physicist at Laundauer, Inc., Stillwater, and his mother, Anna, is a materials scientist.  His sister, Inna, 30, is a post-doc in molecular biology at Harvard University.

About the Hertz Foundation The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, based in Livermore, Calif., is a tax exempt, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the selection and support of outstanding individuals in the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences. Founded in 1963, the Foundation's mission is to build America's capacity for innovation by nurturing remarkable applied scientists and engineers who show the most promise to change the world. It awards fellowships to an average of 15 PhD candidates every year to pursue graduate studies at the nation's finest academic institutions. As a result, the Hertz Foundation supports the research efforts of about 75 Fellows at any given time.  The Hertz Fellowships are widely considered to be among the most competitive and most prestigious offered anywhere.  For more information about the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, as well as giving opportunities, go to www.hertzfoundation.org.