Tech grad student attends selective quantum summer school
Tennessee Tech graduate student Mariam Gado made a quantum leap over the summer.
Gado, who anticipates receiving her Ph.D. in engineering with a concentration in computer science in the summer of 2025, was the only student from Tech selected to attend the Quantum Information Science Summer School held July 15-26 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“It was a great opportunity for young researchers to be exposed to current trends of quantum computing and its applications in real life,” she said.
The graduate-level summer school was a joint effort between the Department of Energy’s Quantum Science Center, Quantum Systems Accelerator, Q-NEXT, Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage and Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center.
Students experienced hands-on activities in a laboratory setting and interacted with participating companies such as Microsoft and IBM. Curriculum topics included topological approaches to quantum computing; cold atoms and ion traps; error mitigation and correction; the current state of the quantum information science field; and applications of quantum technologies, quantum materials and quantum sensing.
“The best part was the lab tour, where we had access to different cutting-edge technologies and saw how this environment works,” Gado said.
Adding to her summer school experience, Gado was one of 25 students chosen to present a poster on her research in quantum computing. Furthermore, she built connections with scientists and peers for possible future collaborations – and had fun too.
“I made some friends, and we broke out from an escape room adventure!” she said. “It was the science-life balance I needed.”
Tennessee Tech Associate Professor of Computer Science Muhammad Ismail, Ph.D., who serves as director of the university’s Cybersecurity Education, Research and Outreach Center, was pleased with his student’s selection for the immersive learning experience.
“First of all, it was a great opportunity to network with researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other schools and national labs,” he said. “It is very important for us to find collaborators who can work with us and advance the quantum program at Tennessee Tech.
“Secondly, it sends the message that we have brilliant students at Tennessee Tech who are actively contributing to the advancement of quantum cryptography and its applications in securing critical infrastructure. Mariam was an ambassador of our quantum program at Tennessee Tech and left a great impression when she presented her research work.”
Ismail said CEROC will continue to build a strong, nationally competitive quantum program at Tennessee Tech by offering scholarships and developing infrastructure.
“Quantum is an area of strategic importance to CEROC given its implications on cybersecurity,” he said.
Gado’s participation in ORNL’s summer school was supported by the National Science Foundation EQUIS grant.
“EQUIS will continue to provide scholarships and support students to learn about quantum information science and its cybersecurity, computing and communications applications,” Ismail said.
Tennessee Tech is the top producer of computer science graduates among all public universities in Tennessee, according to enrollment data compiled by Tech’s Office of Institutional Assessment, Research, and Effectiveness for the 2022-2023 academic year. Additionally, computer science was Tech’s top undergraduate degree program by enrollment in the 2023-2024 academic year. Concentrations include information assurance and cybersecurity; data science and artificial intelligence; and high-performance computing. To learn more, visit www.tntech.edu/csc.
