Innovation Lightbulb: Preparing the Next Generation for Careers in Quantum Technology

Innovation Lightbulb: Preparing the Next Generation for Careers in Quantum Technology

Photo: Ulia Koltyrina/Adobe Stock

Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) has advanced considerably in the past decade, moving beyond research labs into real-world industrial applications and products. This emerging field creates job opportunities for individuals with diverse technical backgrounds. As the industry grows, there is a pressing need to equip students with quantum-specific skills, quantum awareness, and broader STEM knowledge.

The main challenge in expanding the QIST workforce is understanding the technical requirements in the ecosystem and what skills are valued in the quantum industry. A qualitative study conducted by JILA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado, Boulder, and the Rochester Institute of Technology, which involved interviews with 21 U.S. companies in the quantum industry, highlighted that coding and data analysis skills are among the top expectations, with about 90% of companies emphasizing its importance. Traditional skills in physics and engineering are considered as valuable, if not more so, than knowledge of quantum information science.

Most companies also reported employing individuals in roles labeled as "engineer," focusing on specializations like electrical, software, and mechanical engineering. While roles involving quantum algorithms and applications may not always demand lab experience, holding a bachelor's or master's degree accompanied by hands-on experience through a substantial design project, thesis work, or a related internship in a quantum lab is considered a major asset.

The survey indicates that entering the quantum industry is often facilitated by higher education in traditional fields such as physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, and chemistry. While many companies employ at least one individual with a Ph.D. in physics, they are more inclined to hire engineers with bachelor's degrees than those with Ph.D. qualifications in engineering.

Although it's often assumed that a Ph.D. is necessary to enter the quantum industry, many skills are inevitably acquired. Skills-based hiring, which focuses on assessing candidates' abilities, can benefit much of the workforce. Expanding recruitment efforts to include a wider variety of degree disciplines and educational levels, beyond the usual focus on physics Ph.D. programs, could greatly enhance the pool of available talent.

The quantum industry has asked higher-education institutions to support this transition by introducing short courses, one or two semesters, to increase quantum awareness for engineers, concentrating on subjects like "algorithms, software, programming, device physics, qubits, error correction, and control electronics."

Data visualization by William Taylor

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