Education for expanding the quantum workforce: Student perceptions of the quantum industry in an upper-division physics capstone course

• Main Authors: Oliver, Kristin A, Borish, Victoria, Wilcox, Bethany R, Lewandowski, H. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 26-06-2024
• Subjects: Physics - Physics Education
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2407.07902

As quantum technologies transition out of the research lab and into
commercial applications, it becomes important to better prepare students to
enter this new and evolving workforce. To work towards this goal of preparing
physics students for a career in the quantum industry, a senior capstone course
called "Quantum Forge" was created at the University of Colorado Boulder. This
course aims to provide students a hands-on quantum experience and prepare them
to enter the quantum workforce directly after their undergraduate studies. Some
of the course's goals are to have students understand what comprises the
quantum industry and have them feel confident they could enter the industry if
desired. To understand to what extent these goals are achieved, we followed the
first cohort of Quantum Forge students through their year in the course in
order to understand their perceptions of the quantum industry including what it
is, whether they feel that they could be successful in it, and whether or not
they want to participate in it. The results of this work can assist educators
in optimizing the design of future quantum-industry-focused courses and
programs to better prepare students to be a part of this burgeoning industry.