More than $1.6 billion in federal investment has fueled a focused effort to address a critical need in a rapidly advancing field: a skilled quantum workforce. Recognizing a growing gap between available jobs and trained personnel, Berkeley Lab’s Academic Learning Internships and Faculty Training (A-LIFT) Office partnered with Sandia National Laboratories five years ago to proactively introduce students and educators to quantum information sciences and technology. To date, over 100 students have participated in Berkeley Lab’s QCaMP summer program, designed to build a pipeline of future quantum professionals. “Most high school students don’t get exposed to quantum information and science technologies, and they don’t have a good idea of how they can be a part of the quantum workforce,” said A-LIFT Director Faith Dukes. “We’ve been working hard to fill that gap.”
A-LIFT and Sandia Address Quantum Workforce Skill Gaps
More than $1.6 billion has been invested in these programs, which aim not simply to train specialists, but to cultivate broader awareness and interest in the field, particularly among those considering future career paths. A key demographic focus is 11th and 12th graders, a population on the cusp of making decisions about higher education and professional trajectories. The program has evolved from a one-week session to a four-week Office of Science Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) Pathway Summer School for Students, accommodating 40 students across California and New Mexico this year. Beyond student outreach, A-LIFT is also collaborating with Berkeley City College on a boot camp for 20 BCC students, emphasizing accessibility by requiring only algebra as a prerequisite; more advanced mathematical concepts are taught within the program. Recognizing the need for a diverse skillset, the initiative extends to educators, with a Quantum for Educators program now reaching 15 states and close to 200 teachers, including 10 at Berkeley Lab. Faith explained that exposure to quantum science and related areas is key, noting that early exposure significantly increases the likelihood of students pursuing related careers.
QCaMP Program Introduces Quantum Concepts to Students
This expansion reflects a strategic shift toward broader accessibility, demonstrated by the removal of Advanced Placement math prerequisites for student applicants; essential concepts like matrices and linear algebra are now taught within the program itself. One educator participant shared that QCaMP “helps me to link my regularly taught chemistry fundamentals with practical application and newest development in the quantum field,” while another plans to return as a QCaMP teacher instructor, demonstrating the program’s lasting impact on both students and those who teach them.
QCamp helps me to link my regularly taught chemistry fundamentals with practical application and newest development in the quantum field. My students are just like many other highly competitive students. Their learning depends highly on applications, and the reason why they need to know certain information.
QCaMP educator participant
Berkeley Lab Expands Quantum Education for Community College Students
Berkeley Lab is extending its quantum education initiatives beyond traditional university pipelines, recognizing the critical need to cultivate a diverse and readily available workforce. This expansion reflects a broader investment of more than $1.6 billion in quantum information sciences and technology from the Department of Energy. The program intentionally lowers barriers to entry; applicants need only demonstrate algebra proficiency, with more advanced mathematics taught within the curriculum. Participants learn to integrate quantum concepts into existing curricula and connect with researchers for classroom visits or virtual engagements.
I really value the chance to connect directly with the next generation of quantum scientists, show them what it takes to be a researcher, and help them see the opportunities before them in the quantum ecosystem.
Bert de Jong, director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator
Educator Training Multiplies Impact of Quantum Science Outreach
Beyond direct student engagement, Berkeley Lab’s A-LIFT initiative recognizes the force-multiplying effect of equipping educators with quantum science knowledge. Since its inception, A-LIFT has hosted a summer Quantum for Educators program designed to extend outreach far beyond the lab’s walls. This year, the educator program expands to 15 states, reaching close to 200 teachers, including 10 at Berkeley Lab, participating in hybrid online and onsite sessions hosted by several national laboratories and universities. Central to the program is fostering connections between educators and working scientists, enabling classroom visits, either in person at national labs or virtually with researchers. Participants are not simply receiving information; they are actively developing lesson plans, exploring facilitation techniques, and building a network for sustained engagement with the field. Highlighting the program’s success in bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world relevance, the impact extends beyond immediate classroom instruction, with teachers returning to the Lab with their students for further exploration and professional development.
Exposure to quantum science and related areas is key. From many of our programs, we have found that students who are exposed to a particular science or research area have a higher likelihood to major and/or pursue a career in that area.
Faith
