Program Description
The Boeing Quantum Creators Prize recognizes early-career researchers for work that moves the field of quantum information science and engineering in new directions and aims to increase diversity in the field.
The program began in 2021 and expanded in 2023 thanks to a commitment from Boeing. Prizes are awarded at the annual Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Symposium hosted during the Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit on December 8–10, 2026.
In recognition of accomplishment, awardees receive a $3,500 monetary prize, a trophy, and reimbursed travel to the Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit.
Past Winners
- 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Winners
- 2024 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Winners
- 2023 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Winners
- 2022 Quantum Creators Prize Winners
- 2021 Quantum Creators Prize Winners
Apply for the 2026 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize.
The deadline for applications and letters of recommendation is September 18, 2026.
Eligible applicants include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and scholars, and early-career researchers in industry, national labs, or nonprofit research organizations whose work is in quantum information science and engineering. Early-career industry applicants should generally be within five years of receiving their terminal degree, with reasonable exceptions for career interruptions or nontraditional career pathways. Undergraduate students, tenure-track faculty, or tenured faculty are not eligible.
An application includes:
- A C.V.
- A brief research statement (500 words) outlining research interests and achievements.
- A brief personal statement (300 words) describing your vision for a future career in STEM research/education and how it has been shaped by your own perspectives and experiences working in the STEM research/education community.
- Applicants should also request an online recommendation letter from an advisor to be submitted through the link provided here. Multiple letters of recommendation will be considered, but there is no advantage to having more than one. Additional submissions may not be read.
The Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Program Committee:
- Co-chair: Jay Lowell, Boeing Company
- Co-chair: Kate Smith, Northwestern University
- Hannes Bernien, University of Innsbruck
- Caitlin Carnahan, Infleqtion
- Eric Chitambar, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Nathan Gemelke, QuEra
- Alex High, University of Chicago
- Angela Kou, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Roman Kuzmin, University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Sarah Sheldon, IBM
- Valentin Walther, Purdue University
We expect everyone in our community to follow these guidelines when interacting with others both inside and outside of our community. Our goal is to keep ours a positive, inclusive, successful, and growing community.
The monetary prize for the Boeing Quantum Creators Prize is in recognition of accomplishment. The Prize does not benefit an outside organization and is not considered employment.