Internships

Level: Undergraduate students

Deadline: The deadline for the 2025 cohort is February 10, 2026

Description: The Open Quantum Initiative (OQI) Undergraduate Fellowship provides undergraduate students with research experiences working in quantum science laboratories and research groups.

With the support of Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) member and partner institutions this fellowship helps to open pathways into careers in quantum science and research for undergraduate students. Through the Fellowship, students expand their understanding of quantum information science and engineering (QISE), connect with leaders in academia and industry, and increase awareness of quantum career opportunities, including the wide range of opportunities to leverage applied quantum research in fields such as drug design, bioimaging, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and finance. The summer experience is aimed at developing students' research literacy skills and exposure to the wide range of fields and subfields (including experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches) in:

• Quantum Computing
• Quantum Communication
• Quantum Sensing
• Quantum Optics/Information Science
• Quantum Materials

Students participating in the program spend summers working in person with research groups on challenging QISE projects. Fellows will be given on-campus housing at their institution, a stipend of $7,000, and travel to/from the program. Research experiences occur across the CQE community, which includes: University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University, and Purdue University. Dates of the fellowship depend on the institution each Fellow is placed at:

1. The Ohio State University: May 17 – July 25, 2026
2. Argonne National Laboratory: May 26 – July 31, 2026
3. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory: May 26 – July 31, 2026
4. Purdue University: May 26 – July 31, 2026
5. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: May 26 – July 31, 2026
6. University of Wisconsin–Madison: June 1 – August 3, 2026
7. University of Chicago: June 8 – August 14, 2026
8. Northwestern University: June 21 – August 29, 2026

The OQI experience kicks off with an industry site visit to learn more from quantum-focused and quantum-adjacent companies. Previous cohorts have visited IBM Research in Yorktown, NY, HRL Laboratories in Malibu, CA, PsiQuantum, and Applied Materials in Palo Alto, CA. The experience concludes with the OQI Research Symposium, where OQI Fellows present their research to current and previous OQI cohorts, faculty, and industry partners.

How to apply: Learn more

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, 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.

Description: We are looking for someone with quantum sensing expertise (or a passion for quantum sensing!). This will occur via an internship leading to part-time leading to full-time. Requirements: quantum sensing expertise or knowledge. Excellent writing skills. English language fluency (as you will be in front of military leadership). Duration is one week (Feb 1-7, 2026) then Summer 2026 and/or continual. Apply by February 1.

How to apply: Contact ekrimins@quantumresearchsciences.com

Location: Remote

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: 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.