Commerce official visits campus to explore quantum research, workforce development

Colorado's burgeoning role in the quantum revolution was in the spotlight as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves made an official visit to CU Boulder and JILA, a joint institute of CU Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The Sept. 16 visit underscored the critical importance of ongoing federal investment in quantum technologies and workforce development. Graves joined key university and industry leaders to discuss the future of quantum science and innovation in the state.

Graves, who has extensive experience in fostering economic development, emphasized the Department of Commerce's commitment to supporting advanced technologies like quantum computing.

"These courses [Quantum Forge] are vastly different from what they were just a generation before," Graves said. "The flexibility of these programs will allow us to avoid siloing pathways to success."

University and industry leaders joined Graves to outline the state's efforts in building a quantum-ready workforce, including CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz; Jason Boehm, NIST's chief of staff; Corey Stambaugh, NIST's chief of staff for the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML); Massimo Ruzzene, CU Boulder's vice chancellor for Research and Innovation and dean of the institutes; and other representatives from CU Boulder and the wider Colorado quantum community.

"There's sort of a nuts and bolts technician skill that comes up from a place like JILA," said Scott Davis, CEO and co-founder of Vescent, a Colorado quantum company with roots at CU Boulder and JILA. "So the JILA instrument shop is one of the things that makes JILA so incredibly special, as it translates directly into jobs."

The discussion also featured Heather Lewandowski, faculty director of CUbit Education and Workforce and JILA Fellow, who shared the strides CU Boulder is making in cultivating quantum knowledge and skills among students.

"Everybody thinks you need this profound quantum knowledge regarding quantum concepts and algorithms," Lewandowski said. "But the skills that are needed are transferable to other industries. So, even if you may be interested in going into the quantum industry, the skills you need are what higher education is about. We're not about job training for a particular degree. We're about training folks for a career. And that career will change throughout different types of jobs."

In addition to workforce initiatives, the conversation also touched on partnerships with industry. Mike Bennett, director of education and workforce development at Q-SEnSE, an NSF-funded Quantum Leap Challenge Institute, presented Quantum Forge, a program designed to create student opportunities by connecting them with leading quantum companies.

"A lot more students want to go straight into industry," Bennett said. "They don't want a PhD. They don't want to spend 10 years of their lives getting an advanced degree before they go and do things. So, Quantum Forge is designed for that, to get students who are interested in jumping into the industry, and who are interested in quantum."

CU Boulder student James Legendre also spoke about the importance of programs like Quantum Forge for allowing students to get industry experience while still in college.

"CU has tracks for physicists who want to teach or go to grad school, and that was it when I started," Legendre said. "Then I found Quantum Forge and thought, that's exactly what I wanted. I like teaching but not enough to do it for my whole life, same with grad school. The (Quantum Forge) program is like, 'Hey, we're going to teach you how to participate in industry.' I'm so happy that it's here. I'm excited to be a part of it this year."

The visit concluded with a tour of Eric Cornell's lab, where Graves saw some of the world-class quantum research happening at JILA. Cornell, a Nobel laureate, JILA and NIST Fellow, and CU Boulder physics professor, showcased ongoing projects that exemplify groundbreaking work in areas such as quantum sensing and quantum computing.

Graves' visit highlights the critical role that federal support plays in maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum science and technology. The Department of Commerce, through NIST and other agencies, continues to be a key player in advancing research and creating an environment where innovation can thrive.

Graves is just one of several Colorado leaders who have recently visited JILA and CU Boulder to learn more about the quantum research happening on campus.

As Colorado continues to emerge as a hub for quantum research and innovation, partnerships between government, academia and industry will be essential in shaping the future of this transformative technology. Graves' visit was a reminder of the immense potential of quantum science, both in terms of technological breakthroughs and economic impact, and the vital role that education and workforce development will play in realizing that potential.

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