Twenty-eight Korean undergraduate students visited the Illinois Quantum and Information Science and Technology Center, as well as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, to learn more about the landscape for research and work in the quantum industry. Known as the U.S. Special Exchange Program for STEM Students, or KORUS, the program creates series of experiential learning activities for groups of Korean students studying abroad in the U.S. to give them firsthand exposure to professional pathways in STEM fields and expose them to the cutting-edge research being done here.
Written by Lauren Laws
What better way to explore your future opportunities in quantum than speaking with industry leaders firsthand?
Earlier this month, 28 Korean undergraduate students visited the Illinois Quantum and Information Science and Technology Center, as well as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, to learn more about the landscape for research and work in the quantum industry. Known as the U.S. Special Exchange Program for STEM Students, or KORUS, the program creates series of experiential learning activities for groups of Korean students studying abroad in the U.S. to give them firsthand exposure to professional pathways in STEM fields and expose them to the cutting-edge research being done here.
A Q and A with IQUIST graduate students was part of KORUS' day on the Illinois campus.
The visit included a talk with IQUIST director Brian DeMarco, lab tours, a Q and A with IQUIST graduate students, and presentations with both Photon Queue and the Technology Entrepreneurship Center.
“[The IQUIST researchers] revealed how vibrant and globally connected the quantum research community is, from local collaborations to international initiatives,” said Hyunwoo Kang, an undergraduate student from Seoul National University. “Experiencing this ecosystem firsthand has strengthened my motivation to contribute to the next generation of computing."
SangHo Kim from Sungkyunkwan University described the lab tours as another highlight. The group was guided through the labs of Paul Kwiat and Pengjie Wang where fellow undergraduate researchers presented their ongoing research.
“We saw a quantum-networking group prototype free-space links with drones and examined quantum-memory setups that trap photons to stabilize qubit timing and coherence, complete with meticulous instruments and candid explanations from postdocs about what is working and what remains unknown,” Kim explained.
However, the presentation by Photon Queue gave the students a look at how quantum and entrepreneurship can coexist. CEO Nathan Arnold explained to the group about how “world-first” memory technologies translate into market value and near-term growth. The overall experience left a lasting impression.
“The visit connected scientific ambition, practical engineering, and commercialization in a way that made the future of quantum feel both ambitious and tangible,” said Kim.