Dr. Denise Ruffner Bio: Denise is the founder of Women in Quantum, an organization that mentors and provides career advice for the quantum industry. She has held senior leadership roles across the quantum ecosystem, including Chief Business Officer at Atom Computing, and positions at IonQ, Cambridge Quantum Computing, and IBM Quantum. With a non-traditional background in biological sciences, Denise is passionate about expanding access and opportunity for the next generation of quantum leaders. TITLE: Building Quantum Careers: Innovation, Ecosystems, and Diverse Voices Abstract: Quantum technologies are quickly expanding from research into a growing global industry, creating exciting opportunities for students from many backgrounds—not only physics. In this talk, I will share my own non-traditional pathway into the quantum ecosystem, from neuroscience to leadership roles at IBM Quantum, Cambridge Quantum Computing (now Quantinuum), IonQ, and Atom Computing. I will highlight the wide range of careers available in quantum, the importance of interdisciplinary teams, and what it takes to help build this emerging industry. I will also discuss the role of mentorship and inclusion in shaping the future of quantum science and engineering. As the founder of Women in Quantum, I am passionate about expanding access and visibility for underrepresented groups. Quantum is still being written, and today’s students have the chance to shape what it becomes.
Dr. Denise Ruffner Bio: Denise is the founder of Women in Quantum, an organization that mentors and provides career advice for the quantum industry. She has held senior leadership roles across the quantum ecosystem, including Chief Business Officer at Atom Computing, and positions at IonQ, Cambridge Quantum Computing, and IBM Quantum. With a non-traditional background in biological sciences, Denise is passionate about expanding access and opportunity for the next generation of quantum leaders. TITLE: Building Quantum Careers: Innovation, Ecosystems, and Diverse Voices Abstract: Quantum technologies are quickly expanding from research into a growing global industry, creating exciting opportunities for students from many backgrounds—not only physics. In this talk, I will share my own non-traditional pathway into the quantum ecosystem, from neuroscience to leadership roles at IBM Quantum, Cambridge Quantum Computing (now Quantinuum), IonQ, and Atom Computing. I will highlight the wide range of careers available in quantum, the importance of interdisciplinary teams, and what it takes to help build this emerging industry. I will also discuss the role of mentorship and inclusion in shaping the future of quantum science and engineering. As the founder of Women in Quantum, I am passionate about expanding access and visibility for underrepresented groups. Quantum is still being written, and today’s students have the chance to shape what it becomes.
Join Vardaan Sahgal for an inspiring talk on the expanding world of quantum computing in Latin America. Discover how universities, startups, and governments are driving growth in quantum technologies, from computing and sensing to communication, and what skills are most in demand. Vardaan will share insights from WISER and Womanium’s global quantum programs, which connect learners from 100+ countries with leading researchers and companies. Perfect for students and professionals eager to explore career paths and innovation opportunities in the region’s emerging quantum ecosystem.
Description: Quantum computing is evolving from theoretical promise to practical possibility — and with it comes the need for a broader ecosystem of learning and applying. This talk explores where quantum technology truly stands today, separating progress from perception and hype. We will discuss how quantum services are adapting to prepare both individuals and organizations for a quantum-ready world. From emerging enterprise use cases to the growing importance of accessible learning pathways, we will examine how understanding the technology, effectively using its tools, and nurturing the ecosystem are equally vital in shaping the future of innovation.
Gender imbalance in Physics remains a persistent global challenge, and Brazil is no exception. While women account for only 24% of Physics faculty in the country, their representation in Quantum Physics is even smaller. In this work, we provide the first comprehensive overview of women working in Theoretical Quantum Physics in Brazil, here referred to as the SheQ (She + Quantum) community. Using data from the CNPq Lattes platform, we identify 93 researchers and analyze their geographic distribution, academic trajectories, scientific productivity, international experience, recognition through awards and fellowships, and engagement with initiatives promoting gender equity. Our results reveal both progress and persistent disparities: SheQ researchers have a strong scientific output, leadership roles, and international training; yet, their recognition through productivity fellowships remains modest, and their involvement in gender-related initiatives, although increasing among younger generations, remains limited. By combining quantitative indicators with institutional perspectives, we highlight structural barriers as well as opportunities for fostering a more inclusive environment in Quantum Physics. his study thus contributes to a broader reflection on how diversity not only promotes fairness but also strengthens creativity, innovation, and scientific progress.
As quantum computing advances toward practical implementation, the urgency to prepare our technological infrastructures and research ecosystems becomes critical. This presentation explores two interconnected dimensions of quantum readiness: protecting critical systems through post-quantum cryptography and building collaborative regional networks to accelerate quantum and AI research.The talk will introduce the synapsIA model—a successful regional network of AI experts connecting academia, industry, and government across Latin America—as a framework for fostering quantum computing and AI ecosystems in emerging regions. We will examine how collaborative, multidisciplinary networks can accelerate knowledge transfer, reduce technological dependency, and create sustainable pathways for quantum education and research in underrepresented regions.This session offers practical insights for students and researchers interested in: quantum technologies applications, cybersecurity in the quantum era, regional innovation ecosystems, and multidisciplinary collaboration strategies. Attendees will gain understanding of both technical solutions and organizational models that can be replicated in their own communities.Keywords: Post-quantum cryptography, Artificial Intelligence, Regional innovation networks, Quantum readiness, Critical infrastructures, Collaborative ecosystems
2025 marks one hundred years since the discovery of quantum mechanics. In the century since then, quantum science has blossomed into a global community composed of academics, engineers, developers, and entrepreneurs. The world is currently in the middle of the so-called second quantum revolution, with increased public awareness of quantum science and technology, and growing investment in both quantum hardware and software applications. However, representation remains low among historically marginalized groups: women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and people from the global south make up disproportionately few physicists. There are numerous efforts to improve diversity within quantum science, including through workforce development. But many of the changes enacted at the highest levels have failed to result in real change, as highlighted and discussed in the recent Women For Quantum Manifesto of Values. Here, we seek to echo and amplify the need for real change in the quantum ecosystem, emphasizing intersectionality and a feminist approach that centers the most vulnerable members of the quantum community: young students and researchers, especially those communities historically marginalized from quantum science.
This report is our attempt to help quantum communities meet this need; we have conducted a survey of quantum scientists all over the world, and here we include both a preliminary report of our findings and policy suggestions we have built to address them. The primary results of our survey are that, 1) marginalized quantum scientists are experiencing hardships and challenges more than their more privileged peers across all metrics, 2) that this fact is hurting retention of diverse, talented quantum scientists in our field, and 3) quantum EDI is an investment in talent retention and resilience building, which are essential for a thriving, globally competitive quantum ecosystem.
This work presents establishing a nationwide university network to address the relevance of quantum computing, where challenges and opportunities for industry and academia focus from undergraduate to doctoral levels. The network comprises a series of talks on opportunities in the quantum computing ecosystem and potential collaborations and development opportunities aimed at Latin American countries. A total of 240 Spanish speakers registered, with 30% identifying themselves as introductory level and 4% as experts in quantum computing. The outcome underscores the importance of creating opportunities across various domains of the quantum computing ecosystem for a country showing initial interest in this field. Additionally, the current work presents the educational levels of the participants, including their proficiency levels in quantum computing, their areas of interest within this field, and the topics and trends they consider relevant when engaging in quantum computing. The event was hosted by the Center for Computing Research of the National Polytechnic Institute (CIC-IPN) and organized by a consortium of institutions including CIC-IPN, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Superior School of Computing (ESCOM), the Interdisciplinary Professional Unit in Engineering and Advanced Technologies (UPIITA), the Center of Studies in Advanced Computing of UNAM (CECAv), Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing of the Technological Institute of Monterrey, Benemérita Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), Tecmilenio University, Superior School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Unit (ESIME) Zacatenco, and Quantum Universal Education. The event was made possible through collaboration with industry partners such as IBM Quantum, Xanadu, Haiqu, Unitary Fund, qBraid, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Kipu Quantum, Pasqal, Quantinuum, Womanium, and BQB, each contributing their unique expertise and resources to the event.