Affiliated Programs

IQUIST is home to a broad portfolio of sponsored research, education and workforce development programs. See below for more information.

Hybrid Quantum Architectures and Networks (HQAN)
The NSF QLCI Hybrid Quantum Architectures and Newtorks features three quantum testbeds that will collaboratively develop the technology needed to assemble a hybrid quantum processor and network. Each laboratory is designed with multiple kinds of quantum hardware, which will be used to demonstrate distributed quantum processing and communication protocols. Our program integrates engineering, computing, and physics expertise to achieve our scientific, technology, and education goals.

Q2Work
The National Q-12 Education Partnership includes tech companies, scientific professional societies, academics, and the NSF-funded Q2Work Program. Together, we aim to support and grow a quantum workforce that is diverse and equitable, such that the QIS innovators of tomorrow can make discoveries, invent new technologies and drive societal change.

Q-Next
Q-NEXT, a DOE National QIS Center, is a collaboration involving the world’s leading minds from the national laboratories, universities and the private sector, is one of five National Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) in August 2020. Led by Argonne National Laboratory, Q-NEXT includes nearly 100 researchers from three DOE national laboratories, nine universities and ten leading U.S. quantum technology companies.

Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials (QSQM)
The new center is highly-collaborative spanning three institutions, with additional team members and leadership from University of Illinois-Chicago and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. On campus, the program draws together experts in quantum information science, physics and materials science from the lllinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST), from the Physics Department, Materials Science and Engineering, and the Materials Research Laboratory.

The collaboration was awarded for their proposal, “Energy Frontier Research Center for Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials (QSQM).” The center aims to develop and apply nontrivial quantum sensing methods to measure and unravel mysteries associated with three families of quantum materials. These families are exotic superconductors, topological crystalline insulators, and strange metals.

QuSteam
A group of scientists from five universities across the Midwest will lead an effort to redesign quantum science education, working together with industry and national laboratories to develop a diverse, capable and effective quantum workforce.

The rapidly evolving field of quantum information science will enable transformative technologies that will have significant impact on our economy and society. Reaching that promise, however, requires developing a large quantum-ready workforce that can meet the existing and growing demand for skilled workers across the communications, optics, computing, and materials industries.

The new, multi-institutional program, QuSTEAM: Convergent Undergraduate Education in Quantum Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator, aims to change how quantum information science and technology is taught throughout the United States.

Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS)
Superconduting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, a DOE National QIS Center, is a national center for advancing quantum science and technology. Coherence time is the limit on how long a qubit can retain its quantum state before that state is ruined by noise. It is critical to advancing quantum computing, sensing and communication. SQMS is leading the way in extending coherence time of superconducting quantum systems thanks to world-class materials science and through the development of superconducting quantum cavities integrated with industry-designed and -fabricated computer chips.