After ten years of development in collaboration with CUNY educators and other industry partners, QCi is welcoming the inaugural cohort of undergraduate interns from the City University of New York, marking a change in how the quantum workforce is built. The CityTech-coordinated “QUEST for a Quantum Future” program specifically focuses on bachelor’s degree students in STEM, addressing a need for skilled technicians beyond the traditional PhD-level quantum scientist. Unlike typical undergraduate lab courses centered on reproducing established experiments, this partnership aims to foster hands-on learning through internships at partner companies. Milan Begliarbekov, involved in the development of this effort, says that QCi and CUNY anticipate the growing demand for a diverse, skilled quantum workforce capable of driving industrial innovation.
QUEST Program Develops STEM Skills for Quantum Technology
A decade of planning culminated this year with the inaugural cohort of the “QUEST for a Quantum Future” program, demonstrating a sustained commitment from QCi and the City University of New York (CUNY) to cultivate a skilled quantum workforce. The initiative specifically targets undergraduate students at CityTech, shifting the traditional focus of quantum education away from exclusively PhD-level training and towards bachelor’s degree programs. This strategic move acknowledges the growing need for a diverse talent pool capable of supporting an expanding quantum technology industry, extending beyond research labs into manufacturing and applied engineering roles. Milan Begliarbekov, involved in the program’s development, emphasizes the importance of fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in these future technologists.
Unlike conventional undergraduate laboratory courses that prioritize replication of established experiments, QCi’s partnership with CUNY aims to encourage Dr. Begliarbekov and his colleagues have designed laboratory courses that encourage students to fail, investigate their failures, and refine their approaches through independent experimentation. This emphasis on innovation is reflected in the inaugural cohort of interns, a mix of physics, engineering, and computer science majors now working alongside QCi scientists. These students are gaining firsthand experience in the development and testing of quantum products, providing a crucial bridge between academic theory and industrial application. The company anticipates a demand for technicians at all levels of education, and this program is designed to meet that need.
Traditionally, “quantum scientists” are PhDs who work in laboratory environments, but an industrialized quantum ecosystem will require technicians at all levels of education.
CUNY Partnership Addresses Industrial Quantum Workforce Needs
The quantum industry is rapidly shifting its focus from purely academic research toward scalable, industrial applications, creating a demand for a workforce extending beyond the traditional PhD-level scientist. Recognizing this need, QCi, in collaboration with CUNY educators and other industry partners, has been involved in the development of this effort. This initiative addresses a significant gap in current undergraduate education, where laboratory courses typically emphasize replication of established experiments rather than fostering independent innovation. Dr. Begliarbekov and his colleagues have designed laboratory courses that encourage students to fail, investigate their failures, and try again based on their own exploration of the project.
