Dr. Heike Riel is a distinguished scientist known for advancing the frontiers of information technology through the physical sciences. She is IBM Fellow and Department Head of Science & Technology at IBM Research. She is responsible for leading the research agenda of the Science & Technology department aiming to create scientific and technological breakthroughs in Physics of Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing and Technologies, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Precision Diagnostics and Smart System Integration. Dr. Riel is a distinguished expert in nanotechnology and nanosciences and focuses her research on advancing the frontiers of information technology through the physical sciences. Her research has contributed to advancements in OLED display technology, molecular electronics and semiconductor nanoscale materials and devices. Her recent research interests include topological states of compound semiconductor nanowires for quantum information processing. In 2013, Heike Riel was named IBM Fellow, the company's highest technical distinction, and inducted into IBM’s Academy of Technology. She studied physics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany) and received a PhD from the University of Bayreuth (Germany) in 2003 for her work on optimizing multilayer organic light-emitting devices performed at IBM Research. In 2011, Heike graduated with an MBA from Henley Business School.