Quantum Technology Traineeship

Recent progress in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) promises revolutionary developments that will fundamentally reshape our world. A well-prepared workforce is essential to fulfill this promise. The National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) program at San Jose State University (NSF award number 2125899) prepares students to become future leaders in the QISE workforce.

San José State University (SJSU) is partnering with Colorado School of Mines on the new student training program. With the NSF Research Traineeship funding, the two universities will develop interdisciplinary training programs focused on training master’s and doctoral students via a rigorous, interdisciplinary, integrated program to prepare graduate students for careers in QISE in industry, national labs, government, and academia. Some of the funding will support a MS/PhD bridge program so Master’s students from SJSU can study at Mines for a semester or two. Eligible fellows may apply for financial support to meet their learning and research goals in QISE.

Our research efforts will address three grand quantum challenges.

1. How can we achieve demonstrable quantum speed-up with near-term quantum resources?
2. How can materials and electrical engineering interface with quantum technologies to take us beyond the 2011 Materials Genome Initiative and other large scale materials research efforts?
3. How can new directions in quantum algorithms running on quantum and classical computers push forward and challenge the notion of quantum advantage?

Our program to train a quantum workforce to meet these challenges contains:

1. A proposed Masters in Quantum Technology program at SJSU (beginning Fall 2023 pending approval by the CSU) to enable STEM students to come up to speed in fundamental topics in quantum computing, simulation, and sensing to prepare them for transformative careers in QISE.
2. A research traineeship program in collaboration with Colorado School of Mines, National Labs (NREL, NIST and LLNL) and industrial partners (Google and IBM), including cutting-edge research and direct access to new quantum platforms such as the LLNL Qudit testbed.
3. Professional skill development via integration of teamwork and communication modules into program courses and workshops.

To be eligible for a funded traineeship, the applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident to be stipend-supported.
2. Applicant must be currently applying for enrollment in, or otherwise pursuing, the MSQT program at SJSU.
3. Applicant must intend to work on a collaborative research project (defined as having 2 or more advisors from different departments within SJSU or different organizations).
4. The research project has to be in quantum information science or an adjacent area.
5. Applicant must have a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 GPA scale).

Applicants selected by the NRT Research Group consisting of faculty at SJSU and Colorado School of Mines will receive one year of funding which includes tuition, fees, and stipend.

Both funded (NRT Fellows) and not funded (NRT Associates) trainees are prestigious positions:

1. Recognized as a Fellow by the NSF
2. Have the same expectations and qualify to participate in all aspects of the program.
3. Both are eligible for departmental support from their home program in lieu of NRT funding. 

1. Participate in a QISE (Quantum Information Science and Engineering) graduate program
2. Be part of a select group of talented graduate students in a supportive environment
3. Personalize your career development and post-graduation goals
4. Work with award-winning and innovative faculty who are dedicated mentors
5. Gain real-world experience by gaining access to QISE related internships
6. Be part of a program that fosters interdisciplinary research for innovative ideas and solutions

Students who are applying for enrollment in, or otherwise pursuing, the MSQT program at SJSU are eligible to apply. Accepted Fellows will have access to the following financial benefits:

1. Study at Colorado School of Mines for one semester at the SJSU in-state tuition rate
2. One-year stipend in the amount of $34K*
3. SJSU tuition & fees paid*
4. Other funding opportunities (e.g., TA, ISA) may be available through Physics & Astronomy or Electrical Engineering departments
5. Funded research assistantship by individual faculty members may be available

*Available to qualified domestic students (U.S. Citizens, and Permanent Residents). 

Please see the Apply Now section to apply for the Quantum Technology Fellowship.

SJSU NRT Fellows

1. Satisfy all requirements of the MSQT degree program.

2. Participate in the annual NRT research workshop in addition to topical NRT-coordinated workshops in areas such as professional development, quantum technologies, etc.

3. Have a thesis topic or culminating experience (e.g., research report or internship with NRT partner) that is approved by the NRT Research Working Group as being in the quantum information science or adjacent area.

4. Participate in the NRT Student Leadership Council

NRT Associates satisfy any two of the first three requirements above.

Upon completion of the program, Fellows will

1. demonstrate familiarity with multiple applications of quantum information and quantum phenomena to practical applications
2. demonstrate competence in the use of experimental (e.g., cryogenics, micro/nanoelectronics fabrication, low-noise microwave measurements) and/or computational tools (e.g., quantum programming), critical to modern quantum-based technologies
3. demonstrate an awareness of scientific and engineering ethics
4. demonstrate competence in scientific communication and teamwork

For more information on this fellowship, please email

quantum@sjsu.edu 

To apply, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/fS9Srdu4v6GjWhhd6