September 25, 2023
Hello ECE Graduate Students,
I am writing on behalf of Professor Kai-Mei Fu, Director of the NSF Research Traineeship Program, Accelerating Quantum-Enabled Technologies (AQET). The AQET program seeks to give UW Graduate students across multiple disciplines (Chemistry, Physics, Applied Math, ECE, CSE, MSE and ME) additional training and accreditation in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE). Job opportunities in quantum information are on the rise, and there is national demand for trained professionals in QISE. The AQET program was designed to meet that demand, and will provide students with interdisciplinary training that will uniquely prepare them to join the quantum workforce.
In the first year of graduate study, the AQET cohort takes a single-quarter weekly seminar series winter quarter, and students participate in several AQET-specific events including professional development workshops. In the 2nd year, the core curriculum begins. This curriculum centers around three main courses: a foundational course that will cement your understanding of quantum science in relation to your discipline, a project-based implementations course that will bring all trainees across several departments together, and capstone research requirement. A final elective advanced topics requirement in QISE can be completed at any point before your degree. In addition to completing the AQET program, students will receive a Graduate Certificate in QISE that will serve as a transcriptable testament to their training in QISE. More information about the AQET curriculum can be found on the QuantumX website, linked above.
At this point, the third cohort of AQET students is being formed and is ready to begin in Autumn 2023. If you are interested in joining the AQET program, there is a short Google form you can fill out to apply. We are using the form only because there are a limited number of spots left in the cohort; we will only restrict participation if there is high demand. To be considered to join the cohort, please fill out and submit this form by no later than October 8. Preference will be given to students in their first or second year, simply due to the scope of the program.
The first event for AQET students will be the Orientation, which will be held in-person on October 19th from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. The first 30 minutes is an AQET program overview. Following this orientation with your cohort, cohorts 1 and 2 will give lightning talks. These talks are being presented to Dario Gil, IBM Senior VP and Director of Research. Dr. Gil is the 2023 UW Public Lecture in Quantum Science and Technology speaker, and was invited by AQET.
If you have any questions about the AQET program or application process, please direct them to the AQET Program Coordinator, Dovile Druskyte (uwqis@uw.edu).
We are very much looking forward to receiving your applications!
Thanks!
Rachel Talney
She/Her Pronouns
Associate Director of Operations
MolES/NanoES – Participating units in the Collaboration Core
University of Washington
MolES-NanoES Building | Box 351653
Seattle, WA 98195
206-685-4619 | rtalney@uw.edu