Events

2025 Chicago Quantum Recruiting Forum

When: Thursday, April 24, 2025 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Where: Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago, IL

Description: The Chicago Quantum Recruiting Forum brings together the rising generation of quantum scientists and engineers with employers and educators for an event that catalyzes careers and forges partnerships. Participants have the opportunity to connect with one another as well as leaders in the field and explore quantum careers and academic pathways through an experiential immersion in quantum innovation.

Participation is open to all trainees, including university students and postdocs in the Midwest; faculty from the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE); university partners; and companies interested in hiring quantum-trained talent.

Registration is required to attend.

Students, Postdocs, Faculty, and Staff Registration

Employer Registration

Agenda

Time	Event	Location
9:30 - 10:15 am	Technical Workshop: Quantum Framework for Research and Applications Workshop with Wolfram Introduction to the framework + demos of new hardware connections, new functionality for second quantization and quantum optimization algorithms, and new support for cross-platform development. Also learn how Wolfram's AI functionality can be used for quantum research. Participants must complete a separate registration to attend a technical workshop; email qrf@uchicago.edu for details.	East Lounge
10:30 - 11: 30 am	Technical Workshop: Introduction to Quantum Computing with IBM Introduction on the basics of quantum computing, with some demonstrations in Qiskit covering gates, creating circuits, and an introduction to different quantum computing architectures. Participants must complete a separate registration to attend a technical workshop; email qrf@uchicago.edu for details.	East Lounge
1:00 – 1:10 pm	Welcome David Awschalom, Liew Family Professor in Spintronics and Quantum Information, Vice Dean for Research, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Director, Chicago Quantum Exchange, University of Chicago Emily Easton, Director, Education and Workforce Programs, CQE	Max Palevsky Cinema
1:10 – 1:55 pm	Panel: Expanding Quantum Careers Beyond the Lab Quantum technology's success depends on a range of professionals in business, policy, community engagement, and governance. This panel features quantum industry leaders in non-research roles who will share insights on diverse career pathways, the broad skills needed to thrive, and the impact of non-scientist roles in shaping the quantum ecosystem. Mo Green – Head of Market Development, Community, and Government Relations, PsiQuantum Michele Lampa – Business Development, Pasqal Yelissa Lopez – Government & Industry Advocate, QuEra Hanhee Paik – Director of Algorithm Centers and Quantum-Centric Supercomputing Partnerships, IBM Quantum Moderator: Aleena Agrawal – Vice President of Talent Solutions, P33	Max Palevsky Cinema
1:55 – 2:40 pm	Panel: Building the Future – Careers in Quantum Startups The quantum industry is being built from the ground up by innovative startups working on a range of cutting-edge technologies and applications. This panel brings together founders, engineers, and leaders to discuss what it takes to build and support a company in this rapidly evolving field. Panelists will share their experiences launching, scaling, and working in businesses at a range of stages, the skills startups need most, and career paths in this dynamic sector. Caitlin Carnahan – VP, Quantum Software, Infleqtion Shobhit Gupta – Quantum Scientist, memQ Thomas Sheppard – Director of Data and Analytics, Great Lakes Crystal Technologies Moderator: Shyama Majumdar – Director, Science Accelerators and Investments, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation	Max Palevsky Cinema
2:40 – 3:25 pm	Panel: Quantum in the Fortune 500s – Research, Applications, and Careers Quantum technologies are being built and used by large companies across a range of sectors. This panel will share insights about the careers available in larger companies. Sarah Chen – Senior Scientist, Abbvie Agnetta Cleland – Research Scientist, Google Quantum AI Austin Davis – Integrated Product Team Lead, Boeing Moderator: Aaron Kemp – US Quantum Lead, Enterprise Innovation, KPMG	Max Palevsky Cinema
3:30 – 5:30 pm	Career & Resource Fair AbbVie Allstate Applied Materials Boeing Collinwood Corning Optical Communications EeroQ Google Great Lakes Crystal Technologies HRL Laboratories IBM Quantum Northrop Grumman PsiQuantum qBraid QuantCAD Quantinuum Quantum Corridor Quantum Machines Rigetti Computing University of Chicago University of Wisconsin-Madison Unisys Unitary Foundation Zero Point Cryogenics Zurich Instruments	Cloister Club