UChicago PME’s Quantum Horizons Conference Reaches 265 Attendees From 118 Institutions

More than 265 attendees from 118 institutions convened for the Quantum Horizons conference, an effort to broaden access to quantum science and engineering. The biennial event, modeled after the Conference for African-American Researchers in the Mathematical Sciences held at Princeton, debuted in 2024 to address a growing disparity in exposure to advanced technologies for researchers at smaller universities. “Almost every large corporation used to maintain an advanced technology laboratory,” explained Bill Wilson, Executive Director of the Center for Nanoscale Systems at Harvard University. Wilson said the conference aims to fill this gap, expanding the talent pool available as quantum technology is expected to create as many as 191,000 new jobs in the region within a decade.

The biennial event, with over 265 attendees representing 118 institutions, aims to broaden participation in a field historically concentrated within a limited number of major research universities. Wilson explained that discussions with UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering Dean Nadya Mason and Argonne Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology Sean Jones prompted the decision to host the second conference in Chicago, recognizing the city’s developing quantum ecosystem and potential for student employment. Oyeyemi Oyebode, a PhD student at Northern Illinois University, stated that quantum technology represents the future. The conference’s success suggests a growing commitment to democratizing access to a field with significant scientific and economic potential.

The quantum industry in Illinois is rapidly translating into economic benefits, fueled by strategic investment and collaborative partnerships. Beyond the scientific advancements showcased at the recent Quantum Horizons conference, a clear focus on workforce development is driving projected regional job growth; estimates suggest as many as 191,000 new positions could emerge within the next decade. A conversation with UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering Dean Nadya Mason and Argonne Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology Sean Jones led to holding the second conference in Chicago. Wilson recalled telling Mason and Jones that this combination of established expertise and proactive investment positions Illinois as a key player in scaling quantum technologies and realizing future breakthroughs.

Quantum Sensing Enables Precision Measurement & Biological Applications

Allison Squires, a Neubauer Family Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, detailed the potential of quantum sensing during the Quantum Horizons conference, highlighting a shift in perspective regarding qubit stability. While often viewed as a hindrance to quantum computing, the sensitivity of qubits to environmental factors is, in fact, the core principle behind quantum sensing, enabling measurements with unprecedented precision. “In quantum sensing, coupling to the environment is the advantage; it is the technology,” Squires said, explaining that environmental interactions, previously considered detrimental, now provide the signal for these advanced sensors. This capability extends beyond simply improving existing measurement techniques; it unlocks entirely new avenues for investigation. Peter Maurer, an Associate Professor at UChicago PME, further elaborated on these biological applications, specifically focusing on quantum biosensors designed to study cellular processes at an unprecedented level of detail.

His research, conducted in collaboration with colleagues David Awschalom and Aaron Esser-Kahn, involves creating entangled, living proteins and developing protective “shells” to facilitate safe and effective insertion of diamond biosensors into living cells. “The University of Chicago is applying the ideas of using quantum systems for precise measurements to study biological systems,” Maurer said, emphasizing the dual benefit of advancing both application development and fundamental scientific understanding. This approach promises to revolutionize fields like diagnostics and drug discovery by providing insights into biological systems previously inaccessible. The conference underscored that quantum technologies are extending far beyond the realm of computation, networking, and cryptography; the ability to achieve microscopic readings with accuracy never before seen is poised to impact diverse fields, from materials science to medicine.

Attendees heard about how these precise tools are being adapted to study human life and disease on the cellular level, opening opportunities for both fundamental research and practical applications. The convergence of quantum physics and biology, showcased at Quantum Horizons, signals a broadening scope for the field and a growing recognition of its potential to address complex challenges across multiple disciplines.

AI-Driven Material Discovery Extends to Quantum Research

The convergence of artificial intelligence and materials science is now extending into quantum research, promising to accelerate the development of new technologies. At the recent Quantum Horizons conference, researchers explored how AI tools are being deployed not just to refine existing quantum systems, but to proactively discover novel materials with properties ideally suited for quantum applications. “If you want to apply what I’m going to talk about today to quantum, the question becomes ‘Can I predict the properties of this compound or any modifications of this compound virtually on the computer?’ Then when you go into the lab, the likelihood of success will be far greater,” he explained. This computational approach addresses a critical bottleneck in quantum materials research; traditional methods of material discovery are slow, expensive, and often rely on chance findings.

AI algorithms can sift through vast datasets of material properties, identifying promising candidates for synthesis and experimental validation, significantly reducing the time and resources required. Beyond prediction, AI is also enhancing measurement techniques, as demonstrated by research presented on quantum sensing. Allison Squires, also of UChicago PME, highlighted how qubits, traditionally hampered by environmental interference, can be repurposed as highly sensitive detectors. The broadening of access to these advanced technologies was a central theme of the Quantum Horizons conference, with 265 attendees representing 118 institutions. Attendees also learned about other areas of advanced research, like UChicago PME Neubauer Family Assistant Professor Chibueze Amanchukwu’s development of an artificial intelligence to create advanced battery electrolytes.