I’m Lakshya Gadhwal, a third-year undergraduate from Udaipur studying Computer Science and Engineering (graduating in 2026). I’m passionate about all forms of creative media—TV shows, movies, comics, anime, manga, and games. Cybersecurity fascinates me, and I enjoy the challenge of “breaking things.” In my second year, I interned at the Center for Quantum Technologies at NUS, Singapore. This blog recounts that journey.
So, you know how everyone’s buzzing about “Quantum Computing” these days? Yeah, I wanted to figure out what all the fuss was about. My Quantum Physics class didn’t really cut it when it came to qubits and quantum circuits, which was a bummer. I tried digging into it on my own, but man, it was tough going. Then I spotted this quantum computing project on the first year’s SoC list and jumped at it. It was pretty eye-opening, and I learned a ton, mostly thanks to my awesome mentors who walked me through everything on a late-night call. They did warn me though that this short project was just scratching the surface, and suggested I take a proper course for a solid foundation. So, that’s exactly what I did. I signed up for PH534, and for once, I was actually going to class to learn, not just for grades. That course got me all fired up about where this field is headed and really sparked my interest in quantum computing.
I applied online to countless professors at various universities regarding an internship in Quantum Computing. However, I couldn’t even get a reply, let alone a “yes,” from most of them. As time was running out and summer was approaching fast, I decided to look for on-campus projects. Then, out of nowhere, the IAF opened on the Internship Portal: NUS – Prof. Rahul Jain, Research in Quantum Computing. I completely focused my attention and energy on this, studying day and night from the references shared by my seniors to prepare for the interview, while also hoping that my low CPI would be enough to get me past the resume shortlist. Finally, on the interview day, I gave it my all, sharing whatever I had done in the field and whatever I knew about it. And then the results came—I was selected!
I was tasked with reading and presenting a paper titled “Obfuscation of Pseudo-Deterministic Quantum Circuits.” I had no idea what most of the words meant in the title or even the abstract, and it didn’t help that the paper was 86 pages long. However, after learning the basics of cryptography and reading up on previous work in the topic (five other papers), I was able to understand, to some extent, what the main ideas in the paper were. After understanding it, the next big task was to present it neatly and in a free-flowing manner so that others, who hadn’t spent hours reading on that topic, could follow the results presented. I am thankful to my co-interns who always helped me out whenever I got stuck.
I would advise juniors to be vocal and communicative with the host professors. If you’re facing any problems, whether project-related or not, approach the professor—I’m sure they will help you out. Since the project is short-term, it’s important to learn as much as possible about related fields. Engage in conversations with the professor, especially on topics you’re interested in or want to learn about. It’s not every day that you meet such brilliant people! During my stay in Singapore, there were numerous talks and seminars conducted in various fields of quantum research. Many were difficult to understand, but they offered opportunities to interact with people from around the world and learn about the latest research trends. Because of this (and the free food), I attended as many talks as I could, and I advise others to do the same.
Apart from the multiple times I messed up and almost got into trouble due to unfamiliarity with Singaporean rules and my own stupidity, there’s one funny story that stands out. One Sunday afternoon, I was scrolling through reels, enjoying the day, when it hit me that I was in a different country and should get out to explore. I asked my co-interns about nice, cheap places to visit, and we ended up going to McRitchie Reservoir (a lake). After taking the mandatory pictures, it got boring, so I looked for nearby attractions and found the Treetop Walk, an iconic bridge I had seen in many reels of Singapore. After some convincing, my co-interns agreed to go on this hiking adventure. We took a bus to the nearest stop, but Google Maps, which I was blindly relying on, took us on a path with no footpath—something rare in Singapore. After hours of walking, we reached the end of the road, only to be stopped by a security guard at a private resort. We had to walk 3 km back to start the actual trail, which itself was 7 km long! We did complete the trail, but it took more effort than expected to get to the office the next morning.
If I could advise my past self, I’d say: “Time is short, so make the most of every moment. Don’t spend too much time cooped up in your room. Get out there and explore! Meet new people and forge friendships! Give your all to the internship—do as much as you can and then some!” Whether my past self would actually heed this advice is another matter entirely.
Research is challenging. Unlike coursework, where resources like wiki articles, YouTube videos, and textbooks are abundant, research often deals with topics with scarce information. I found myself grappling with a subject that had only been mentioned in a single previous research paper. When you don’t understand a concept in research, there’s no simplified, animated explanation waiting for you. You must either figure it out independently or seek help from colleagues. This dual nature—the need for self-reliance and collaboration—is both the allure and challenge of research.
Outside the internship, I found myself drinking a lot of coffee and playing a lot of card games with my group. It was the first time I had a close group of people to work with, who also had a lot of free time, so it was a great opportunity to play! I was bad at most of the games, but I had a lot of fun and cherish those memories the most.
The prospect of spending two months in a new country was initially daunting, and I found myself anxiously contemplating various scenarios for hours. However, Singapore proved to be a welcoming place, with intuitive and clear instructions most of the time. Much like in India, many services in Singapore are available online, and the HR team from the intern group assisted with the entire onboarding process, including visa and stay pass arrangements. Regarding accommodation, I was fortunate to have friends and seniors at the same university who helped me find affordable and comfortable lodging near the campus.
The biggest challenge I faced was the food. I am a pure vegetarian and quite picky about taste, so it was tough when I realized there were no vegetarian options where I was staying. Over time, I discovered the few veg options on campus, but many were closing as it was summer vacation. Eventually, I found a nice, affordable shop at a reasonable distance from my accommodation, but I still ended up losing weight due to the limited options and different tastes. Overall, being a vegetarian is a hard choice, but if you want to know some cool places to eat in Singapore, let me know 😉
As for the people around me, they were amazing! At first, I thought Singaporeans were a bit reserved, as most didn’t talk much, and I had to carry conversations myself. But over time, I met more people from CQT, attended their famous game nights, sports meets, and music nights, and found myself fitting in. By the end of the internship, I had made friends from France, Switzerland, China, Malaysia, the UK, the USA, and Singapore! My co-interns were fantastic as well. I learned a lot about other IITs (and CMI) and had great fun discussing deep topics like the meaning of life and more trivial ones like the contents of white sauce in pasta and why we should play just one more round of cards after another cup of coffee.
