In May 2021, the National Science Foundation awarded a grant to Indian River State College that creates a new program to introduce quantum technology to new or incumbent photonics and electronics technicians. The principal investigator is Dr. Mo Hasanovic, professor of photonics and chair of the electronics engineering technology department.

Project Summary
This project aims to develop and offer an introductory, hybrid educational curriculum using an open access format to enhance photonics technician education and instructors’ professional development in quantum research enabled technologies. Recent advances in quantum research have created a significant mismatch between the quantum research community and industrial community, which does not have a sizable workforce with training in quantum sciences. In the new age of the 4th Industrial Revolution, more than 80% of US businesses expect the introduction of new, technology-enhancing roles through upskilling of the incumbent workforce. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has also created a rapid change across the country in the educational technology landscape. These disruptive forces are exacerbating the already existing workforce supply-demand gap in the field of advanced photonics contributing to the decline of the US share in global innovation and research. As the student profile shifts towards an incumbent worker seeking new skills, the curriculum requirements move toward more flexible distant learning and continuous improvement. This flexibility is sought by the industry as it boosts employee productivity and financial well-being, increases company profits, and drives our nation’s economy forward.

Collaboration with Colgate University
One part of the project includes collaboration with Dr. Enrique Galvez, who is the PI of the NSF project “Three-Dimensional Spatial and Polarization Modes in Classical and Quantum Light Fields” at Colgate University, NY. The following six labs will be created and available to students in person or remotely:
Lab 1: Optical alignment and parametric down conversion of photons.
Lab 2: Photon Stern-Gerlachs – quantum-mechanical operations such as basis rotation or projection are used in an optical setup.
Lab 3: Single-photon interference using Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Lab 4: Quantum eraser using polarization.
Lab 5: Delayed Choice – determine whether the light acts as a wave or a particle after the light has been detected.
Lab 6: Photon entanglement – Bell test.

Collaboration with Industry
The Florida Photonics Cluster, with its 70+ photonics companies throughout Florida, will provide technical input on quantum photonics technician skills and assist in the placement of student graduates. Dr. Jim Pearson, executive director of FPC, will be part of the project leadership facilitating this collaboration.

Collaboration with US Optics and Photonics Colleges
The work and products of this project will be disseminated to US colleges and the photonics industry through the Optics and Photonics College Network (OPCN). To assist in this endeavor, Dr. Chrys Panayiotou, who leads the OPCN, will be part of the project leadership.

For more information about this project, please contact Dr. Mo Hasanovic: 772-462-7743, mhasanov@irsc.edu.