Quantum Forge

Registration is open for the 2024-2025 cohort of PHYS 4700, the Quantum Forge! Join other physics and engineering physics students in project groups sponsored by industry partners from the quantum tech field, working through the academic year on a real quantum information science tech project.

Quantum Forge is a three credit-hour course that gives you first-hand experience with quantum industry culture and practice, and fulfills the upper-division research requirement for physics and engineering physics students.

Students will gain expertise with industry-relevant skills, such as programming, machining and fabrication, CAD design, professional communication, project management, and other proficiencies that will support your entry into the quantum workforce after graduation. Quantum Forge requires an to the course in order to make sure the course is a good fit for your interests and trajectory. Questions about the course can be directed to Professor Chuck Rogers and Dr. Michael Bennett.

Student Benefits

Quantum Forge is a new type of transitional capstone that moves beyond the traditional course- or lab-based capstone model. In Quantum Forge, you will not simply be responsible for following cookie-cutter lab assignments or doing an independent research project on your own. Rather, QForge is structured to emulate the type of experience you might get in an industry setting, whether in an internship or as an entry-level employee. As such, you'll experience a number of benefits, including those beyond a typical capstone experience:

  • Gain proficiency with technical skills useful to the QIS industry: machining, circuitry, soldering, programming, fabrication, testing, CAD, etc.
  • Gain awareness of and basic proficiency in QIS baseline concepts in the context of application: entanglement, coherence, etc.
  • Practice and grow essential skills typically under-practiced in STEM: project managment, professional communication, conflict management, etc.
  • Learn industry-typical standards for project design and organization: stakeholder identification, logic models, timelines, etc.
  • Become immersed in industry culture -- in addition to your project sponsor, you'll engage with QIS industry leaders from the front-range area.
  • Take advantage of opportunities for professional development that will help you prepare for entering industry.
  • Grow with your project team and QForge cohort -- forge lasting bonds in this unique experience.

Industry sponsors play a crucial role in Quantum Forge -- not only do the projects you sponsor enable QForge students to gain the technical and leadership skills they'll need to successfully enter the quantum industry, your leadership helps ensure that our students are properly enculturated, creating young workers that are perfectly positioned to continue a relationship with you or other QIS employers post-graduation.

Interested in sponsoring a QForge project?  It starts with a Notice of Intent, which you can find at CU Boulder's Office and Contracts and Grants. Learn more about Student Capstones and access the NOI form and reach out to QForge Designer and Education Director, Dr. Mike Bennett with any questions. Sponsors are also asked to meet the following requirements:

  • $16,000 project sponsorship fee per project. This fee goes into project budget for student workers as well as maintenance and upkeep of CU resources such as fabrication shops and stock.
  • Sponsors provide a company liaison that can meet with and provide mentorship to the project team at least once every two weeks (~10 hours per semester commitment).
  • Sponsors work with QForge leaders, including the QSEnSE Director of Education, to ensure that the project is at an appropriate level for undergraduate workers, and to make adjustments as necessary.

Sponsorship comes with a number of benefits beyond simple labor:

  • Dedicated project team with access to high-quality CU Boulder resources, enthusiasm, and novel perspectives.
  • Sponsors retain rights to all intellectual property generated as part of the project.
  • Quantum Forge's culture-focused onboarding helps ensure that students are well-acquainted with the norms and standards of the quantum industry.
  • Consistent mentorship from industry sponsors and QForge leaders means students are equipped to continue to work on the project beyond the academic year if a sponsor is interested.

  1. Early September

    Quantum Forge Orientation and Onboarding

    When the semester starts, you and your peers will participate in introductory sessions designed to prepare you for Quantum Forge as a transitional experience -- more than simply another academic class, QForge requires an industry mindset and will set you up to succeed in framing your project, communicating with sponsors and your team, managing conflict in the workplace, etc. In addition to basic project management, you'll also learn about how CU and QForge approach intellectual property and engage in some foundational discussion on diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts in STEM generally and QIS specifically.

  2. Late September

    Project Assignment and Group Formation

    As part of your onboarding into Quantum Forge, you will form a project group based around a project of interest, and will work with your group members to propose a group organization scheme that invests each member with a specific area of expertise and allows all members to take responsibility for the project. You'll also start getting familiar with some of the resources available for you during your project, such as the JILA machine shop and electronics shop.

  3. Early October

    Preliminary Project Planning

    Together with your project group, you'll develop a six-month plan to complete your sponsor's project, aiming for an April delivery. Your sponsor will serve as an important stakeholder during this process, so be sure to communicate with them in a clear and timely manner. After your group completes its project plan, you can transition to working on the project!

  4. October - December

    Fall Project Work and Additional Training

    After developing your project plan, it's time to start work on the project. Regular project meetings with your sponsor will help ensure that you're meeting your goals on time and that the sponsor is clear with their expectations. You'll draw on your orientation and will be able to supplement your initial training both through additional modules and through support from your peers, including members of other project groups.

  5. January - April

    Spring Project Work and Microcredentialing

    In the spring semester, your group will be primarily focused on bringing your project to a state of successful completion by April. You'll need to ensure clear communications with your project sponsor, and will have the support of QForge leaders and your group to do so. You'll also have the opportunity to apply for a no-credit, no-cost specialization through CU's Micro-Credential Administration that will allow you to demonstrate deeper proficiency in a technical or leadership skillset used during the course, earning a badge that can be applied to your industry applications.

    Finally, in the spring semester you'll have the opportunity to start benefiting from professional development opportunities such as resumé-building, learning how to engage with potential employers, etc.

  6. End of Spring Semester

    Spring Final Review

    At the end of the spring semester, you'll participate in a final project review with your sponsor and QForge leaders to evaluate your work on the project. You've done a lot of hard work -- be proud of what you've accomplished!