UIUC Receives $800,000 NSF Award to Advance Quantum Memory and Public Engagement

UIUC Receives $800,000 NSF Award to Advance Quantum Memory and Public Engagement Virginia Lorenz, a professor of physics in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has been awarded a three-year, $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The funding is specifically allocated to improve the reliability and power of quantum technologies for future computing, communication, and sensing applications, with a dual focus on fundamental research and workforce development. The core research component of the award will investigate the use of atoms for building photon memories and improving the storage times of quantum information. This work encompasses both fundamental theory and experimentation in the area of quantum memory operation, aiming to enhance the storage and utilization of quantum information in quantum computers and communication systems. Professor Lorenz, whose research interests include quantum optics and quantum memories, is affiliated with the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST). Beyond fundamental research, the grant includes significant components for education and outreach. The funding will support the training of graduate and undergraduate students in quantum theory. Furthermore, a new master’s program for high school teachers will be developed to facilitate the introduction of quantum physics into secondary schools. Lorenz’s group will also leverage the funding to further engage the community through the recently created Public Quantum Network (PQN), which distributes entangled photons to public spaces like libraries and schools using commercial fiber-optic cables. Read the full announcement from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign here. December 16, 2025 Mohamed Abdel-Kareem2025-12-16T06:47:48-08:00 Leave A Comment Cancel replyComment Type in the text displayed above Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.