Quantum Machine Learning Engages Students in Medical Technology and Ethical Considerations

Quantum information science and engineering, increasingly vital for advancements in medical technologies such as machine learning, holds immense promise for revolutionising healthcare and drug discovery, yet understanding these complex fields presents a significant educational challenge. Jessica L. Rosenberg and Nancy Holincheck, from George Mason University, investigate how hands-on research projects can effectively build student comprehension of these topics, engaging learners at the high-school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Their work details how students develop a deeper understanding of the technology, its inherent limitations, and the crucial ethical considerations surrounding its application, while also exploring strategies for integrating this type of project-based learning into existing curricula. This approach not only fosters technical skills but also attracts students with backgrounds in biology and medicine into the broader fields of science and engineering, potentially broadening the talent pool driving future innovation.

This work details how students developed their understanding of these areas through a research project, gaining insight into the technology itself, its inherent limitations, and the associated ethical considerations. The project specifically aimed to bridge the gap between biological and medical interests and the field of quantum science and engineering, fostering interdisciplinary learning.

Biomedical Applications Spark Quantum Interest

This research investigates how to broaden participation in the quantum information science and engineering (QISE) field, specifically by attracting students with backgrounds in the biological and medical sciences. The authors recognize that QISE is inherently interdisciplinary, yet current recruitment efforts don’t seem to be effectively drawing in students from these crucial areas. The research explores whether engaging students with applications of QISE, particularly in biomedicine, can spark interest and build understanding, even for those without a strong initial quantum background. Researchers observed student engagement, analyzed project outputs like posters and papers, and examined the depth of understanding students demonstrated. The programs involved project-based learning, where students explored how quantum technologies could address societal challenges. The data relies on observations of student work and analysis of the content of their projects.

The research revealed that while neither program initially attracted a large number of students primarily interested in biology or medicine, engaging students with applications of QISE, such as drug discovery and brain imaging, did spark interest and provided a platform for learning, even for those without a strong quantum background. Students were able to identify how quantum sensing or computing could be applied to a challenge, and use that as a mechanism for building a deeper understanding of the technology. While applications can spark interest, students who want to continue in QISE will need to acquire significant mathematical and computational skills. The study highlights the need for recruitment strategies that actively target students from the biological and medical sciences, emphasizing the potential applications of quantum technologies in these fields.

Curricula should incorporate real-world applications of QISE to make the field more accessible and engaging, and project-based learning is an effective way to engage students and build understanding. Ethical considerations should be integrated into QISE education, and recruitment and engagement efforts should start early, ideally in high school. Programs need to help students acquire the necessary mathematical and computational skills to continue in QISE.

The study’s focus on diversity and its qualitative depth provide rich insights into student experiences and learning processes. The practical recommendations offered by the study can improve QISE education and recruitment. However, the study is based on a relatively small number of students, and the findings may not be generalizable to all QISE programs or student populations. Students who participated in the programs may have been more interested in interdisciplinary topics than the general student population. Ultimately, this paper argues that while QISE is a powerful field, it needs to be more accessible and relevant to students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those in the biological and medical sciences.

Quantum Skills Attract Medically Focused Students

The research demonstrates a strong and growing interest among students from diverse backgrounds in applying quantum information science and engineering (QISE) to medical challenges. Initial programs revealed that nearly a quarter of high school students participating in a quantum immersion program had some prior involvement in biology or medical-related activities, such as volunteering or club membership, and this translated into around 18% of their research projects focusing on medical technologies like improved imaging or cancer treatment. Importantly, students with limited prior experience were able to quickly grasp complex concepts and explore how quantum machine learning could address limitations in traditional medical data analysis.

Further investigation with undergraduate and graduate students confirmed this trend, revealing that over half of those enrolled in a dedicated QISE course chose projects with direct medical applications, including quantum sensors for sleep monitoring, improved MRI resolution, and novel drug discovery methods. This suggests a significant appetite for interdisciplinary work, even among students primarily focused on physical sciences and engineering, with some actively considering combining their studies with bioengineering or medicine. Notably, students consistently identified important ethical considerations surrounding the use of these technologies in healthcare, such as data security, potential exacerbation of health inequalities, and risks associated with new sensors and drug development, despite receiving limited formal instruction in these areas.

This proactive engagement with ethical implications highlights the students’ maturity and responsible approach to innovation. The research underscores the potential of QISE to attract a broader range of students to science and engineering, particularly those motivated by the prospect of addressing critical challenges in healthcare and improving human well-being.

Diverse Students Engage Quantum Ethics and Applications

This research demonstrates that introductory quantum science and engineering (QISE) programs can successfully engage students from diverse backgrounds, including those with pre-existing interests in biology and medicine. Students participating in these programs explored the potential of quantum technologies, such as sensing and computing, to address societal challenges and biomedical applications, developing a conceptual understanding of the technologies and their limitations through independent project work. Importantly, the programs provided a platform for students to consider the ethical implications of these emerging technologies, and with access to resources and discussion, they were able to engage with these issues in a nuanced manner.

While the programs successfully fostered conceptual understanding without requiring mathematical prerequisites, the authors acknowledge a limitation in the depth of knowledge achievable in such introductory courses. They suggest that further evaluation is needed to determine whether these programs adequately prepare students for more advanced coursework requiring a strong mathematical foundation. Future work should focus on assessing the effectiveness of these programs as a pathway into the broader QISE curriculum and exploring strategies to bridge the gap between conceptual understanding and quantitative skills. The findings highlight the potential of interdisciplinary approaches to attract a wider range of students to the field of quantum science and engineering.