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Second JILA JAGS Seminar Series Showcases Cutting-Edge Graduate Research

Steven Burrows — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:13:07 +0000

Second JILA JAGS Seminar Series Showcases Cutting-Edge Graduate Research Steven Burrows Thu, 08/22/2024 - 11:13

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator

JILA graduate student Trevor Kieft (from the Lewandowski group) discusses his latest research in astrophysical chemistry. Credit: Kenna Hughes-Castleberry/JILA

The event highlighted the work of Bejan Ghomashi from the Becker Group, Trevor Kieft from the Lewandowski Group, and Emma Nelson from the Kapteyn/Murnane Group, who each presented their cutting-edge research to an engaged audience.

Trevor Kieft presented his research on "Building Interstellar Molecules in Coulomb Crystals." Kieft's work explores how Coulomb crystals can be used to simulate the formation of molecules typically found in the vast expanses of interstellar space. His talk provided insights into the experimental challenges and breakthroughs in understanding the chemical processes occurring in space.

Following Kieft, Emma Nelson spoke on "Characterizing the Nanoscale Transport Properties of Nanostructured Semiconductors using Extreme Ultraviolet High Harmonic Beams." Nelson's research focuses on using extreme ultraviolet high harmonic beams to probe the nanoscale transport properties of semiconductors, a key area of study for advancing nanotechnology and semiconductor devices.

Bejan Ghomashi concluded the seminar with his talk on "Macroscopic Effects in High Harmonic Generation." Ghomashi delved into the complex interplay of laser fields and macroscopic media, shedding light on how these interactions can lead to the generation of high harmonics, a phenomenon with potential applications in creating ultra-short pulses of light.

The JILA JAGS Seminar series provides a vital platform for graduate students to practice their communication skills, allowing them to present their research to a diverse audience of peers, staff, and researchers.

The second installment of the JILA JAGS (JILA Association of Graduate Students) Seminar series recently took place, featuring an exciting lineup of talks by graduate students pushing the boundaries of scientific research.

The event highlighted the work of Bejan Ghomashi from the Becker Group, Trevor Kieft from the Lewandowski Group, and Emma Nelson from the Kapteyn/Murnane Group, who each presented their cutting-edge research to an engaged audience.

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Governor Jared Polis Visits JILA to Sign Quantum Tax Credit Bill

Steven Burrows — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:14:45 +0000

Governor Jared Polis Visits JILA to Sign Quantum Tax Credit Bill Steven Burrows Thu, 05/30/2024 - 11:14

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator

Colorado General Assembly Representative Alex Valdez (right) watches as Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs the Quantum Tax Credit Bill

Yesterday, Governor Jared Polis made a historic visit to JILA, a joint institute established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, to sign the recently passed Quantum Tax Credit Bill. This legislation aims to incentivize the adoption and development of quantum technology within Colorado, solidifying the state's position as a leader in this cutting-edge field.

The bill passed its third reading in the state Senate earlier in May without any amendments, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for Colorado's quantum technology ecosystem. The legislation includes a $44 million investment in refundable state income tax credits to develop a shared quantum research facility designed for private sector and academic collaboration.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development will manage the distribution of the tax credits, with provisions for preliminary and final reviews of applications, project certifications, and periodic reporting to the Colorado General Assembly. This structured approach aims to ensure transparency and optimize the incentives' implementation.

Of the $44 million state investment, $29 million is earmarked specifically to build a University Quantum Incubator, led by ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, in partnership with other Colorado research universities and industry partners. This incubator will be co-located with the Elevate Quantum Lab/Fab. This initiative is expected to create 10,000 high-paying jobs in the region.

“Colorado is really about creating the industries of the future right here,” Polis stated. “The future of computing is quantum technology. And there's a whole supply chain associated with that, from the cryogenic side to the laser side, there's a whole value chain. Having that here in Colorado makes us the best place for quantum companies of all sizes for startups through the deployment stage, now and in the future.”

The bill follows Colorado’s designation last October as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub focused on advancing quantum technology. Elevate Quantum, a consortium of over 70 organizations, including JILA, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, NIST, state and local governments, federal labs, and private companies, was instrumental in securing this designation. JILA and ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� play a pivotal role in Elevate Quantum, competing with other states for up to $70 million in federal funding to further develop a state quantum technology hub.

As a well-known ecosystem for quantum research, Colorado is projected to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact and create thousands of jobs statewide in the technology sector, many stemming from institutes like ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and JILA.

Governor Polis' visit to JILA, a renowned research institution for quantum physics, underscores the collaborative effort between academia, industry, and government to propel Colorado to the forefront of quantum technology. As JILA has made a name for itself as a leader in quantum physics research (with over 70% of its principal investigators studying quantum physics), it makes an appropriate location for signing this important bill.

“This bill will support the construction of a state-of-the-art quantum technology incubator, a facility that is poised to be unique in the world and that will set our state apart,” said Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes at the University of Colorado Boulder. “It will foster the translation of technology and catalyze innovation, expanding educational and workforce opportunities while also creating jobs and economic benefits for all of Colorado.”

On Tuesday, May 28th, Governor Jared Polis made a historic visit to JILA, a joint institute established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, to sign the recently passed Quantum Tax Credit Bill. This legislation aims to incentivize the adoption and development of quantum technology within Colorado, solidifying the state's position as a leader in this cutting-edge field.

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Finkelstein to lead CUbit quantum education and workforce efforts

Steven Burrows — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 18:41:37 +0000

Finkelstein to lead CUbit quantum education and workforce efforts Steven Burrows Mon, 02/20/2023 - 11:41

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry / JILA Science Communicator

University of Colorado Boulder Physics professor Noah Finkelstein

The CUbit Quantum Initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder has appointed physics professor Noah Finkelstein to serve as faculty director of education and workforce. Finkelstein will lead CUbit’s establishment of a coordinated educational approach that cultivates leaders of the next-generation quantum workforce.

Finkelstein joins Jun Ye (director), Cindy Regal (associate director for science) and Greg Rieker (associate director for engineering) on CUbit’s leadership team and collaborates closely with Heather Lewandowski (professor of physics, JILA Fellow) to advance CUbit’s education mission.

“We are pleased to add Professor Finkelstein to the CUbit team,” said Ye, a professor of physics and JILA Fellow. “His knowledge, experience, strategic approach and passion for education will help us collaborate meaningfully with partners across the campus to leverage our excellence in physics into the quantum engineering space, enabling us to better educate quantum scientists and train quantum engineers for the future quantum workforce.”

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