Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering celebrates first class of quantum Ph.D. graduates

(UChicago) The first class of quantum science and engineering Ph.D. students graduated last month from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago, representing one of the first cohorts in the nation to complete a Ph.D. dedicated specifically to this rapidly growing field.
The program’s first three graduates are members of the Awschalom Group: Paul Jerger, Erzsebet Vincent and Berk Diler Kovos.
PME has emphasized quantum training and education since the inception of its first doctoral program, the Molecular Engineering Ph.D., in 2013, which included a comprehensive quantum science and engineering specialty. Then in November 2021, PME launched its Quantum Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, elevating that specialty and creating one of the first programs of its kind in the nation.
“As an institution, PME dedicates itself to fields that will drive the next generation of technology and innovation,” said Matthew Tirrell, dean of PME. “Quantum science and engineering is one that has the potential to transform multiple industries, which is why we have gathered some of the field’s best minds to train the world’s future quantum leaders. This first class of graduates represents the very forefront of quantum science education. I look forward to seeing what they will achieve.”
“By attracting outstanding researchers and cultivating interdisciplinary research, we’ve worked for nearly a decade to create one of the strongest academic programs in the nation,” said David Awschalom, Liew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering and director of Q-NEXT, a Department of Energy quantum information science research center. “As the field of quantum technology grows and expands, degree programs like this one will be key to developing a diverse and talented workforce of quantum engineers, shaping the future of the field for years to come.”