To grow the quantum information science and technology workforce, opportunities for students to gain experiential learning and build a sense of belonging in the broader community are essential. The Undergraduate School on Experimental Quantum Information Processing (USEQIP) is a two-week summer school for undergraduate students that has been held since 2009 with the goal of introducing undergraduate students from around the world to the tools of quantum information research, paired with a summer internship program. Here we report on the structure, impact, and outlook of the program, including hands-on laboratory activities refined over many iterations of the program. We highlight the career trajectories of program alumni, many of whom have made significant contributions to the quantum field.
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11 pages. Submitted to the Quantum Science and Engineering Education Conference (QSEEC) 2026
To grow the quantum information science and technology workforce, opportunities for students to gain experiential learning and build a sense of belonging in the broader community are essential. The Undergraduate School on Experimental Quantum Information Processing (USEQIP) is a two-week summer school for undergraduate students that has been held since 2009 with the goal of introducing undergraduate students from around the world to the tools of quantum information research, paired with a summer internship program. Here we report on the structure, impact, and outlook of the program, including hands-on laboratory activities refined over many iterations of the program. We highlight the career trajectories of program alumni, many of whom have made significant contributions to the quantum field.
The nascent but rapidly growing field of Quantum Information Science and Technology has led to an increased demand for skilled quantum workers and an opportunity to build a diverse workforce at the outset. In order to meet this demand and encourage women and underrepresented minorities in STEM to consider a career in QIST, we have developed a curriculum for introducing quantum computing to teachers and students at the high school level with no prerequisites. In 2022, this curriculum was delivered over the course of two one-week summer camps, one targeting teachers and another targeting students. Here, we present an overview of the objectives, curriculum, and activities, as well as results from the formal evaluation of both camps and the outlook for expanding QCaMP in future years.
We present a simple, accessible, yet rigorous outreach/educational program focused on quantum information science and technology for high-school and early undergraduate students. This program allows students to perform meaningful hands-on calculations with quantum circuits and algorithms, without requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics. A combination of pen-and-paper exercises and IBM Q simulations helps students understand the structure of quantum gates and circuits, as well as the principles of superposition, entanglement, and measurement in quantum mechanics.
This work in progress research-to-practice study describes the development of a new undergraduate research training site on Quantum Machine Learning (QML), hosted at Arizona State University, a large Hispanic-Serving Institution. The objectives of this project are to a) recruit and prepare students from diverse pathways to increase representation of those traditionally underrepresented in QML research, b) increase awareness of career opportunities in the QML field, c) engage students in theoretical and experimental quantum information processing and machine learning (ML), d) motivate students to continue QML research into graduate school, and e) provide professional development training including presenting to stakeholders, developing publications/patents, and building an awareness on social implications, ethics, and privacy. The project adopts an integrative theory, application, and hands-on training approach by immersing undergraduate students in ML algorithm and quantum computing studies with hands-on quantum circuit design tasks. Participants are embedded in research labs, guided by graduate students and faculty mentors on quantum computing research studies. The program is evaluated by both the Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) and an independent evaluator. Formative and summative assessments include pre- and post-surveys, a mid-point check-in survey, and a document review of program deliverables. Findings are described in a final evaluation report. This paper describes the importance of introducing QML research at the undergraduate level, methods for recruiting a diverse group of participants, program format, research projects, and preliminary program evaluation results.
Abstract As the field of quantum information science and engineering (QISE) continues its rapid growth, there are increasing concerns about the workforce demands and the necessity of preparing students for quantum-related careers. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the field, it is necessary to offer diverse educational opportunities to ensure that students are well-prepared for careers emerging from the second quantum revolution. In this paper, we present our findings from a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with university QISE educators, who have taken on the challenges and opportunities in developing QISE courses and curricula for undergraduate and graduate students from different academic backgrounds. Our findings focus on common themes across undergraduate and graduate QISE education, as well as advising and mentoring students to prepare them for research in the field. The interviewees discussed the various strategies they had implemented, such as incorporating hands-on lab activities, integration of Python coding with Qiskit, and including project-based learning experiences. Furthermore, their reflections on mentorship and advising students emphasized the importance of recognizing students’ prior preparation, providing targeted resources, and supportive learning environments. Our findings are meant to provide guidance for educators looking to implement effective QISE educational strategies that address the changing landscape of quantum information revolution.
There is a growing need for scientists and engineers with Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) skills.To address this need for 'quantum aware' graduates we describe a two-course sequence in quantum computing suitable for undergraduate students studying electrical engineering, physics, and computer science.Our approach is unique in that it aims to take full advantage of the diverse backgrounds of second and third year undergraduate students from these three STEM disciplines.Students will work in interdisciplinary teams to (1) understand the physics and the computational theory relevant to quantum computing, (2) develop computer code that simulates a quantum computer, (3) understand the relevance and importance of existing quantum computing algorithms, and (4) appreciate the need for future research in quantum computing.Our approach is informed in part by our experience working with a pair of undergraduate students this past summer on the development of a Python-based quantum computer simulator.This experience showed that building a simulator was an effective way to teach the theory underlying quantum computing.Building a simulator also provides an excellent foundation upon which to explore student-accessible research projects in quantum computing, which is a high-impact educational practice.
Currently, education and workforce training in quantum information science and technology (QIST) exists primarily at the graduate and postdoctoral levels, with few undergraduate efforts beginning to grow out of these. In order to meet the anticipated quantum workforce needs and to ensure that the workforce is demographically representative and inclusive to all communities, the United States must expand these efforts at the undergraduate level beyond what is occurring at larger PhD granting institutions and incorporate quantum information science into the curriculum at the nation's predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs). On June 3rd and 4th, 2021 the Quantum Undergraduate Education and Scientific Training (QUEST) workshop was held virtually with the goal of bringing together faculty from PUIs to learn the state of undergraduate QIST education, identify challenges associated with implementing QIST curriculum at PUIs, and to develop strategies and solutions to deal with these challenges. This manuscript summarizes the results of workshop discussions with the hope of assisting faculty at PUIs attempting to incorporate quantum information science into their curriculum.