New study shines light on student perceptions of the quantum industry

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:22:37 +0000

New study shines light on student perceptions of the quantum industry Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 04/15/2025 - 15:22

Kirsten Apodaca

Much attention on the so-called “quantum revolution” has focused on the burgeoning industry, but what do students think about entering the quantum workforce?

In a recent study, a team of physics education researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder studied students’ perceptions of the quantum industry. They focused on the first cohort of students enrolled in Quantum Forge, a senior capstone course designed to give hands-on experience and prepare undergraduates to enter the quantum industry.

“This project was an opportunity to focus on students interested in the quantum industry and hear about their perspectives and views,” said Kristin Oliver, lead author of the study and fourth year physics graduate student. “We wanted to know how the Quantum Forge course impacted students and what their perspectives were on the quantum industry.”

Quantum Forge was developed as a partnership between 91��ý’s Department of Physics and Q-SEnSE, an NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute led by 91��ý. The course was a prime opportunity for the team of researchers, which included Oliver, postdoctoral associate Tori Borish, and professors of physics Bethany Wilcox and Heather Lewandowski.

The quantum industry has attracted incredible growth and attention in recent years. Workforce needs have driven a big push to get more students prepared to enter the industry. But what does it mean to work in the quantum industry and what kind of jobs are available?

“There has been a lack of knowledge around what the industry wants versus what students are prepared for and interested in doing,” said Oliver. Lewandowski noted “there is a real lack of the student perspective in current quantum workforce studies, so we wanted to start including their voice in the conversation.”

“At the beginning of the study, students knew relatively little about the quantum industry – they all acknowledged that,” said Oliver. Over the course of the year, their perspectives shifted from awareness of mostly quantum computing focused companies, to understanding the broader industry includes companies in supporting technology roles.

For the students in Quantum Forge, working on a real-world project with an industry partner helped them see how they could be successful in the industry. Visiting local quantum companies also showcased the work being done and further expanded students’ perspectives.

One surprising result was that most of the students, even those not from marginalized backgrounds, were concerned about access and diversity in the quantum industry. “They want to be in a diverse workspace. Some said this was for personal reasons or because it’s an environment they feel more comfortable in,” Oliver said.

Understanding student perspectives of the industry can help inform what educators can do to better prepare students. The researchers point out in the study that students need more help developing relevant skills, and they need more knowledge about the industry.

Establishing a course like Quantum Forge may not be possible at all institutions. Oliver mentioned an upcoming project will analyze data from the course to inform other educators about the most impactful aspects that could be replicated or adapted to other contexts.

Looking forward, the CU team will conduct a larger-scale survey of undergraduates from across the country, to further understand and analyze student perceptions of the quantum industry.

Oliver added, “this work will hopefully help industry professionals and educators understand the unique perspectives of students entering this developing industry.”

Much attention on the so-called “quantum revolution” has focused on the burgeoning industry, but what do students think about entering the quantum workforce?

Off

Traditional

White

Physics Education Research

New study shines light on student perceptions of the quantum industry

Off