Energy Dept lab gains quantum teaching help from URI students

A rapid transition from student to instructor exemplifies a growing partnership between the University of Rhode Island and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Morgan Beck ’26, a recent URI graduate from Exeter, Rhode Island, completed a six-week virtual Quantum Information Science 101 course at the U.S. Department of Energy facility in 2025, then returned the following year as a teaching assistant. “I loved this course so much, and I was very happy to go back to Brookhaven as a teaching assistant when they asked me,” Beck said, helping to solidify a program where URI students gain hands-on experience and mentor peers in advanced quantum physics. QIS101 Program at Brookhaven Utilizes IBM Qiskit for Hands-on Learning National Laboratory is actively expanding its collaborative efforts with the University of Rhode Island by using undergraduate students as teaching assistants in advanced quantum physics courses, a strategy highlighted by the success of recent URI graduate Morgan Beck ’26. This rapid integration highlights a growing partnership intended to benefit both institutions and accelerate quantum education. The benefits of this exchange extend beyond simply filling teaching roles; the interaction provides valuable pedagogical experience for URI students and fresh perspectives for those enrolled in the QIS101 course. Beck described the mutual learning environment supported during his time as a teaching assistant, stating, “What was enjoyable to me as a teaching was seeing how students approach quantum problems from different perspectives, and there was mutual growth as I looked at quantum from my own lens. I learned just as much from the students during that time as they did from me, which made this experience worthwhile.” David Biersach recognizes the value of this collaboration, noting that the laboratory seeks to continue recruiting URI students as both teaching assistants and course participants. David Biersach said, “I loved this course so much, and I was very happy to go back to as a teaching assistant when they asked me.” He wants us to continue to send students there, both as TAs and as students in the course.”Advertisement The partnership aligns with new federal guidelines that prioritize interactions between universities and national laboratories, solidifying the importance of these collaborative initiatives. Matt Sarsam, a quantum computing master’s student, emphasized the importance of providing constructive feedback to students in challenging coding assignments, a skill he honed as a teaching assistant. It’s very gratifying to hear from David Biersach about how our students have been so outstanding in Brookhaven’s program. He wants us to continue to send students there, both as TAs and as students in the course. Leonard Kahn, URI Department of Physics Chair The Quantum Information Science 101 program at National Laboratory integrates practical coding exercises, allowing students to explore how quantum algorithms can outperform classical computers on specific computational challenges. This focus on application distinguishes the course and provides early exposure to the potential of quantum computing beyond theoretical foundations. Students gain experience with a leading software package, enabling them to translate concepts into executable code and analyze results, a skill highly valued in the rapidly evolving field. The laboratory’s collaboration with the University of Rhode Island extends beyond simply hosting students. The laboratory actively seeks to cultivate a pipeline of qualified teaching assistants. Sarsam said that helping students understand their strengths and weaknesses is important. “So, making sure you help students where they did well and where they didn’t is crucial. It’s important to help create a good learning experience for students to help them get better at their work,” Sarsam said. Our students have reported accelerated learning through the course work and their work as teaching assistants. Leonard Kahn, URI Department of Physics Chair University-National Lab Partnership Reinforced by Student Experience & Funding Goals The benefits extend beyond funding acquisition, directly impacting student learning outcomes. Kahn reported that students participating in the program, both as learners and teaching assistants, have demonstrated accelerated comprehension of complex quantum concepts. The laboratory’s focus on practical application also distinguishes the program, with an emphasis on ensuring students develop robust coding skills. Matt Sarsam highlighted the importance of not just achieving correct outputs, but also creating code that generalizes effectively. “Any student can write code and get the correct output, but that code may not generalize correctly,” Sarsam said. Kahn anticipates this collaboration will continue to expand, stating, “He thinks what we’re producing here is excellent. I suspect that we’ll have several of our students continue as TAs, or join as TAs, to participate in the program. I loved this course so much, and I was very happy to go back to Brookhaven as a teaching assistant when they asked me. Beck, who graduated from URI this past spring with degrees in physics and applied math Source: https://www.uri.edu/news/2026/10/head-of-the-class-uri-quantum-physics-students-work-as-teaching-assistants-for-brookhaven-national-laboratory/ More like thisQuantum PhysicsSqueezing quantum states extends qubit coherence 160-foldQuantum Research NewsUCLA team finds amino acid boosts quantum properties in a materialQuantum Research NewsQuantum annealers show full magnetic reversal in antiferromagnetsQuantum PhysicsA quantum sensor beats the standard limit using qubit geometryStay currentSee today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals. Tags: