Curator's Take
This article highlights a critical bottleneck in quantum computing's growth: the severe shortage of qualified quantum engineers and technicians needed to translate laboratory breakthroughs into commercial reality. While most quantum education programs focus on graduate-level physics and computer science, Colorado School of Mines is pioneering undergraduate pathways that could dramatically expand the talent pipeline by training students in practical quantum engineering skills from an earlier stage. This workforce development approach is essential as companies like IBM, Google, and IonQ scale their quantum systems and need technicians who can build, maintain, and operate quantum hardware rather than just theoretical researchers. The initiative represents a shift toward treating quantum technology as an established engineering discipline that requires its own specialized undergraduate curriculum, similar to how computer engineering emerged as a distinct field decades ago.
— Mark Eatherly
Summary
Colorado School of Mines’ Frédéric Sarazin on a new undergraduate route into quantum engineering The post Building up the quantum workforce: an undergraduate route into industry appeared first on Physics World .