Quantum + Chips 2025

In a Nutshell 

Join the “Quantum + Chips” summer school at the University of Minnesota for a deep dive into the future of semiconductor technologies. Led by Professor Tony Low and featuring experts from industry and academia, this two-week immersive experience combines lectures, hackathons, lab and company tours, and industry talks on cutting-edge topics—semiconductors, quantum computing, device modeling, spintronics, AI, and more. As demand surges for skilled professionals under the CHIPS and Science Act, participants gain a competitive edge by mastering a first-principles approach that spans atoms to materials to devices to chips—truly going “from quantum to chips.” Students also benefit from networking opportunities with leading companies (e.g., Google, Intel, Nvidia) and fellow participants from across the U.S. and abroad, forming lifelong professional connections. Above all, “Quantum + Chips” provides a supportive community and an inspiring environment to explore pioneering research, gain real-world insights, and launch your journey in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry. 

Organizing Committee 2025

Tony Low, U Minnesota (tlow@umn.edu)

Steve Koester, U Minnesota, U Notre Dame (skoester@umn.edu)

Cheng Gong, U Maryland (gongc@umd.edu)

Young Duck Kim, Kyung Hee U (ydk@khu.ac.kr) 

Gang Qiu, U Minnesota (gqiu@umn.edu)

Sarah Swisher, U Minnesota (sswisher@umn.edu)

This summer school is only open to undergraduate students. We have limited capacity, so apply soon using the registration page to join us at the summer school. Registration deadline May 10 2025.

Program Objectives

These are some of the objectives we selectively focus on for the school:

• What are the key concepts in quantum mechanics relevant to computing devices?

• What are the electrons statistics and distributions in materials?

• What is the electron wavefunction in a crystal?

• What is an electron spin and how does one use it for spintronics?

• What is quantum coherence and entanglement?

• How do you think about transport in the nanoscale?

• Calculating the electronic properties of graphene

• What is the performance limits of a nanoscale transistor?

• How to read and write information to a magnet, an introduction to spintronics 

• What is it like working in one of the "Quantum + Chips" companies? 

• An introduction to quantum computing

• How to use quantum computer to compute hydrogen molecule spectrum?

• Want to hear from industry experts about the current and future state of semiconductor devices?

• Want to hear from industry experts about quantum computing?

• What about Ising computing and optical computing?

Program Sponsors 

The past and present sponsors of the "Quantum + Chips" program:

• Kyung Hee University, through the Korea Science Foundation

• NSF Future of Semiconductor, in collaboration with U Maryland, Penn State U

• Global Quantum Leap (NSF)

• Engineering Directorate of NSF

• National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NSF)

• Design of Materials to REvolutize the Future (NSF)

• ECE Department, CSE, University of Minnesota