Education and Training
Internships
The Chicago Quantum Exchange partners with companies, national laboratories, and others to provide opportunities for CQE students and trainees, including internships and collaborative research opportunities, that expose them to a broad array of experiences in industrial, academic, and government facilities. For job opportunities at CQE member and partner institutions, visit our jobs page.
CQE member or partner institutions can add or update the internships listed below by submitting information here.
CQE trainees can let the CQE know which internships they have applied to here.
Internship Opportunities
Level: Graduate students, Postdocs
Deadline: Rolling
Description: Quantum Computing and Materials Technology Intern - The intern will be responsible for kicking off our technology exploration in the Quantum Computing and Si photonics domains, looking for specific segments and High-Value Problems to target, making predictions about the market. The internship should result in an actionable plan for the CTO team to Go-to-Market. Click here for more information.
How to apply: For application instructions, please contact Leslie Du at leslie_du@amat.com.
Level: Graduate students
Deadline: January 15, 2025
Description: As a Givens Associate, you will work actively with Argonne researchers in the Mathematics and Computer Science division designing, analyzing, and implementing numerical algorithms. Interns will develop algorithms for solving real-world problems across quantum information sciences. These opportunities are offered during the summer as 10-14 week appointments. Applications open on November 1st, and close on January 15th.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Jeffrey Larson at jmlarson@anl.gov
Level: Undergraduate students
Deadline: The deadline for the 2025 cohort is February 6, 2025
Description: Through this fellowship, students will expand their understanding of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE), connect with leaders in academia and industry, and increase their awareness of quantum career opportunities. Students participating in this program will spend the summer working in person with research groups on challenging, meaningful QISE projects. During the program, participants will complete a research project within a quantum information science and engineering group, as well as meet regularly with their graduate student or postdoc mentor to ensure their research is on track. Participants will present their work during a program culmination attended by the CQE community. Selected students will also receive a $6,000 stipend, housing for the summer, and travel to/from the program. Interested students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited Educational Institution located in the United States and have completed their freshman year by June 2025. The OQI awards fellowships to a diverse set of students that fit the mission of the OQI. Recently graduated seniors (graduation date before June 2025) are not eligible for the program.
How to apply: Learn more
Level: Primarily graduate students, though undergraduates welcome
Deadline: Rolling
Description: HRL’s internship program is designed to provide students with valuable hands-on technical experience working alongside some of the world’s leading experts in the fields of quantum devices, advanced packaging, high speed electronics, scaled nanotechnologies, and more. Internships are paid, highly technical assignments with year-round availability. Temporary housing and travel/relocation benefits will be provided.
HRL Laboratories, LLC is a research and development laboratory that specializes in advancing ultra-high-performance circuitry, robust computing and communications, automated data extraction, innovative architected materials, and quantum information technology. Experienced undergraduate and graduate students interested in all areas of quantum information technology are encouraged to apply for an internship at the scenic Malibu laboratory location which originated world-changing inventions such as the self-aligned gate MOSFET (SAGFET) and the laser. Projects include developing and operating tools to simulate device physics and quantum state evolution, designing software to operate and analyze semiconducting quantum devices, conducting cryogenic measurements of silicon spin qubit devices, working with a team of scientists to build a cutting-edge cryogenic test laboratory, and developing and performing free-space, fiber, and chip-scale quantum optics experiments.
How to Apply: CQE students should apply through the HRL Laboratories portal.
Level: Undergraduate students
Deadline: Rolling
Available: Summer only
Description: Located in Malibu, California, HRL has been on the leading edge of technology, conducting pioneering research and advancing the state of the art. We are currently seeking student interns to help develop the practicality of cutting-edge quantum technologies. Under the supervision and guidance of a technical advisor, the quantum technology intern may support experimental benchwork, software development, analysis of experimental data, and computational theory. Coursework or experience in one or more of the following is required: electromagnetic/optical/quantum simulation, scientific data analysis, software development, electrical test and measurement, optical test and measurement, cryogenic systems, protocol/algorithm development/implementation circuit design and evaluation.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Ryan Caverly at rgcaverly@hrl.com
Level: Graduate student
Deadline: Rolling
Available: Summer only
Description: Located in Malibu, California, HRL has been on the leading edge of technology, conducting pioneering research and advancing the state of the art. We are currently seeking student interns to help develop the practicality of cutting-edge quantum technologies. Under the supervision and guidance of a technical advisor, the quantum technology intern may support experimental benchwork, software development, analysis of experimental data, and computational theory. Coursework or experience in one or more of the following is required: electromagnetic/optical/quantum simulation, scientific data analysis, software development, electrical test and measurement, optical test and measurement, cryogenic systems, protocol/algorithm development/implementation circuit design and evaluation.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Ryan Caverly at rgcaverly@hrl.com
Level: Graduate student and Postdocs
Deadline: Rolling
Available: Summer only
Description: Located in Malibu, California, HRL has been on the leading edge of technology, conducting pioneering research and advancing the state of the art. We are currently seeking student interns to help develop the practicality of cutting-edge quantum technologies. Under the supervision and guidance of a technical advisor, the quantum technology intern may support experimental benchwork, software development, analysis of experimental data, and computational theory. Coursework or experience in one or more of the following is required: electromagnetic/optical/quantum simulation, scientific data analysis, software development, electrical test and measurement, optical test and measurement, cryogenic systems, protocol/algorithm development/implementation circuit design and evaluation.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Ryan Caverly at rgcaverly@hrl.com
Level: Undergraduate, Graduate students
Description: The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) connects students interested in QIS internships and full-time positions to opportunities with QED-C members. Available to undergraduates, graduate students and post-docs.
How to apply: Find a list of internships on the QED-C internships board.
Level: Undergraduate and students
Deadline: Q1 2025
Description: QED-C seeks interns to assist in enhancing and implementing new application-oriented benchmark programs and techniques in a public open-source project. The intern will implement algorithms to run on quantum computing simulators and on multiple quantum computing hardware systems, including publicly available systems. Several leading quantum computing companies are involved in the effort and the individuals will interact with and learn from technical experts in the quantum industry. Qualifications include expertise in at least one (preferably more) quantum programming environments such as Qiskit, Cirq, Braket, and Q#; experience implementing quantum algorithms on NISQ computers; and working knowledge of Python and GitHub.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Jonathan Felbinger at jonathan.felbinger@sri.com
Level: Undergraduate, Graduate students
Deadline: Rolling
Description: Quantum Machines is a global leader in control systems for quantum computing. Our Quantum Orchestration platform powers quantum breakthroughs and accelerates the path towards the new age of quantum computing. QM has a team of quantum physicists, software and systems engineers, and chip designers, all passionate about advancing the world of quantum computing further than it has ever gone before.
The Quantum Machines internship program is an exciting opportunity to gain real-world quantum computation experience, working alongside experienced quantum researchers on a breakthrough technological platform that is becoming the new standard for controlling quantum systems.
Interns will become a part of the QM team and work in a high-paced startup environment, building tools to enable some of the most advanced quantum applications in existence or those targeting next-generation systems, and developing their quantum control capabilities, which will be highly applicable in their future research. QM is seeking undergraduate or graduate students with completed coursework on the basics of quantum mechanics, a familiarity with quantum information science, and solid programming experience in Matlab/Python or similar, emphasizing data analysis and experimental control. Experience with quantum lab experiments and machine learning techniques are a plus.
How to apply: Interested applicants should send resume and cover letter to hr@quantum-machines.co.
Level: Undergraduate, Graduate students
Deadline: Rolling
Description: The company, located in Plymouth, Michigan, develops novel products and services that enable researchers to make single-photon measurements with unmatched sensitivity, speed, and precision. Its Opus One™ multi-channel near-infrared photon detector system operates with greater than 90 percent detection efficiency, low jitter, low afterpulsing, and very high continuous count rates.
Interns are desired to improve the company’s low-loss, high-speed photon detectors, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, and custom engineering solutions for nanowire response, mid-infrared photon counting, custom cryogenic systems, and integration with waveguides and photonic chips, which will enable next-generation experiments in quantum optics, optical quantum computation, single-photon communication, low-flux biophotonics, and remote sensing.
How to apply: Interested candidate should send a resume and cover letter to info@quantumopus.com, explaining why they are interested in working with Quantum Opus, their areas of interest, and their unique expertise.
Level: Primarily graduate students, though undergraduates welcome
Deadline: Rolling; opportunity to being late summer/early fall 2024
Description: QuEra Computing is seeking a talented, impact-motivated intern for the Quantum Algorithms and Applications team. At QuEra, you will focus on using our neutral-atom quantum hardware to develop QEC algorithms and solutions across fields ranging from high-energy physics, condensed matter physics, and quantum chemistry.
How to apply: Open internships are posted at the QuEra career site, or inquire here.
Level: Graduate students
Deadline: December 2024
Description: The Memory Appliance Group is part of the Hardware Engineering organization focused on qualifying emerging memories requiring significant data analytics. Data analyst is required to analyze volume data using statistical tools and support development of automated report generation. Requirements: Strong statistics skills; Strong Python skills; Physics/Engineering fundamentals.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Darshana Mehta at Darshana.H.Mehta@Seagate.com
Level: Graduate students
Deadline: December 2024
Description: Our “in house”-built emerging memory tester needs FPGA system developer who can work with the team to develop drivers, implement protocols and improve emerging memory test capabilities. You will be responsible for developing and integrating FPGA based test system to carry out memory tests. Requirements: Strong Electrical/Computer Engineering skills; Strong Programming skills (C++).
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Darshana Mehta at Darshana.H.Mehta@Seagate.com
Level: Undergraduate and graduate students
Deadline: November 15, 2024
Description: If you're a student looking to build your career in quantum: join us in May 2025 for our 17-week paid summer internship program in Toronto. Gain practical experience, create a professional network, and work alongside our world-class team on projects spanning research, software, and education. The program kicks off with a quantum bootcamp to set you up for success.
How to apply: Learn more
Contact: Questions can be directed to Sinead Brown at sinead.browne@xanadu.ai
Level: Graduate students
Deadline: Rolling
Description: Zurich Instruments is a technology leader in advanced test and measurement instruments based on dynamic signal processing. Zurich Instruments will be offering two internship opportunities exclusively for CQE students.
Zurich Instruments is accepting Quantum Software Development Intern applications to support projects as they build and bring to the market the Quantum Computing Control System (QCCS). Internships are 3-6 month engagements, which will include time in Cambridge, MA or virtually and in Zurich, Switzerland (COVID-travel permitting). Interns will have physics or electrical engineering backgrounds and be enrolled in a PhD program. Requirements include practical lab experience with qubits, Python programming, and knowledge of quantum stack hardware and software layers. Responsibilities will include: Creation and documentation of measurement scripts using the QCCS; Develop and improve user experience of QCoDeS and Labber interfaces for the Zurich Instruments Quantum System Controller; support system level performance optimization; Involvement in reviewing and testing for various applications and use cases; and Deliver software documentation.
How to apply: Due to limited openings these positions will be offered only to CQE students at this time. Interested CQE students should send a resume and motivation letter to Vikrant Mahajan at vikrant.mahajan@zhinst.com.