Summer School Sparks Innovation in Quantum Research
While the University of Pittsburgh settles into its summer rhythm, one student is broadening his horizons by diving deeper into the quantum realm.
Jun Young Hong, a third-year PhD student in Pitt’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and spring 2024 fellow at the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute, has been selected to participate in the second 2024 U.S. Quantum Information Science Summer School (QIS). The program takes place July 15-26, 2024, at the United States Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“QIS is an excellent place to meet with other professionals in this field and consider the next steps of my career,” Hong said. “I like that the field of quantum science is a precise form of measurement, and with it becoming more popular, this program is going to provide opportunities for me to expand my research and include related fields connected to quantum science.”
Hong will complete hands-on quantum science and technology activities while immersed in the 12-day learning experience on ORNL’s campus. The curriculum is taught at the graduate level and includes topics such as topological approaches to quantum computing; cold atoms and ion traps; error mitigation and error correction; the current state of the quantum information science field; and applications of quantum technologies, quantum materials, and quantum sensing.
“QIS is an excellent place to meet with other professionals in this field and consider the next steps of my career,” Hong said. “I like that the field of quantum science is a precise form of measurement, and with it becoming more popular, this program is going to provide opportunities for me to expand my research and include related fields connected to quantum science.”
Hong is currently completing two topics as a part of his PhD. The first phase involves the creation of a single crystal fiber that can be used in magnetic field sensing. The second phase integrates quantum sensors via Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamonds into fiber optic platforms for temperature and magnetic field sensing purposes. NV diamonds will allow him to create practical fiber-optic quantum sensors for real-world applications.
"Jun Young is very passionate about quantum sensing, and this opportunity will allow him to develop his expertise in this field and expand his professional network,” said Paul Ohodnicki, Hong’s advisor and associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science. “I am confident that he will benefit greatly from this experience, and our research group's future scientific contributions in this field will be significantly enhanced as well."
QIS is organized by the Quantum Science Center (QSC) and led by various experts in the field, allowing Hong to explore various professional development paths and broaden his research horizons. It is the second joint summer school to be facilitated by the five US DOE Quantum Information Science Research Centers: QSC, the Quantum Systems Accelerator, Q-NEXT, the Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage, and the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center.
The QSC performs cutting-edge research at national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to overcome key roadblocks in quantum state resilience, controllability, and ultimately the scalability of quantum technologies. QSC researchers are designing materials that enable topological quantum computing; implementing new quantum sensors to characterize topological states and detect dark matter; and designing quantum algorithms and simulations to provide a greater understanding of quantum materials, chemistry, and quantum field theories. These innovations enable the QSC to accelerate information processing, explore the previously unmeasurable, and better predict quantum performance across technologies. For more information, visit qscience.org.