Elevate Quantum, Front Range Community College, and the University of Colorado Denver are collaborating to launch a new Vacuum and Cryogenic Technician Training Program designed to address a critical skills shortage hindering the expansion of the quantum industry. The program, housed at Quantum Commons, will provide participants with access to industry-grade cryogenic hardware, a resource often lacking even for highly educated job applicants. Elevate Quantum CEO Jessi Olsen identifies the workforce gap in cryogenics as one of the most concrete, near-term barriers to the growth of the quantum industry, and this initiative aims to bridge that divide with hands-on training. Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper framed the partnership as a means to ensure Coloradans don’t just witness the next great scientific era, but define it.
Vacuum & Cryogenic Technician Training at Quantum Commons
A significant impediment to scaling quantum technologies isn’t just building the hardware, but maintaining it. A new training program launching this August directly addresses the acute shortage of skilled cryogenic technicians. The initiative acknowledges that theoretical knowledge, even from highly educated candidates, is insufficient; Jessi Olsen, Elevate Quantum CEO, explained that they’ve seen the need firsthand in the Mountain West, where even highly educated candidates often can’t get the hands-on time they need to be ready for open roles. The program centers around badges ranging from 10 to 40 hours, prioritizing laboratory experience over traditional coursework. These badges cover essential skills like vacuum system maintenance, dilution refrigerator operations, and helium leak detection, allowing participants to gain targeted expertise at their own pace. Unlike conventional academic courses, the program is explicitly designed to bridge the practical skills gap, focusing on immediate job readiness.
This approach is bolstered by access to equipment within Quantum Commons, utilizing industry-grade cryogenic hardware for training. Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper emphasized the program’s broader implications, stating, “The quantum revolution is here. They define it.” Front Range Community College President Colleen Simpson, Ed. D., highlighted the collaborative nature of the program, noting, “This program is proof that quantum workforce development works when it is built alongside employers.” By aligning curriculum with existing academic programs, Elevate Quantum aims to streamline the talent pipeline and reduce the burden on companies seeking qualified technicians, creating a more robust and responsive quantum industry.
EQUIP Program: Stackable Badges for Cryogenic Expertise
The demand for a skilled cryogenic workforce is rapidly outpacing supply, creating a significant bottleneck in the burgeoning quantum industry. This initiative, housed at Quantum Commons, moves beyond traditional academic approaches by focusing on practical skills and immediate employability. Central to the program is a series of badges ranging from 10 to 40 hours that prioritize hands-on laboratory experience. This modular approach allows for flexible learning and caters to both newcomers and experienced professionals seeking to refine their competencies. The program’s emphasis on practical application directly responds to the industry’s need for individuals capable of operating and troubleshooting complex cryogenic systems from day one. The partnership extends beyond training, aiming to create a seamless pathway from education to employment.
We built this program because we’ve seen the need firsthand here in the Mountain West, where even highly educated candidates often can’t get the hands-on time they need to be ready for open roles. Thanks to Front Range Community College and CU Denver, we’re fixing that.
Jessi Olsen, Elevate Quantum CEO
Elevate Quantum is addressing a critical bottleneck in the burgeoning quantum industry with a novel training program focused on cryogenics, a field where practical expertise often outpaces academic preparation. Participants will gain access within the facilities at Quantum Commons, utilizing industry-grade cryogenic hardware, a direct response to the challenge of finding candidates with sufficient hands-on experience. The first cohort is scheduled to begin this August, promising a new source of skilled technicians for the rapidly expanding quantum sector.
CU Denver is excited by the opportunity to support experiential training in this critically needed workforce.
Dr. Martin Huber, Professor of Physics and Director of the Master of Integrated Sciences, University of Colorado Denver
