As quantum technologies are increasingly implemented into real-world use, George Mason University is expanding opportunities for students to gain the interdisciplinary training needed to lead in this rapidly evolving field. 

Weiwen Jiang, associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, is representing George Mason as one of four principal investigators (PI) for the collaborative National Science Foundation (NSF) project, "CyberTraining: Implementation: Medium: Building a Dual-Expertise Workforce in Quantum Computing and Healthcare Through Dual-State Collaboration." 

Other project collaborators and PIs include Yang Zhang and Liran Ma from Miami University, and Qiang Guan from Kent State University.

Supported by a $1 million award that is distributed among the four collaborators, the project is designed to prepare students to work at the intersection of quantum computing and health care. Rather than training students in quantum theory alone, the project emphasizes dual expertise: a strong foundation in quantum computing paired with an understanding of how those tools can be applied to pressing real-world problems.

These efforts reflect George Mason's broader commitment to advancing 21st-century education as well as improving human health, well-being, and preparedness, two of the six solutions in the university's Grand Challenge Initiative. For Jiang, that application-driven model is essential as it directly links quantum technologies to high-impact health care challenges such as drug discovery, diagnostic modeling, and therapeutic design. 

"If we want to apply quantum computing to real applications, students need both the fundamental knowledge of quantum computing as well as knowledge of the application domain," Jiang said.

That's why the NSF project connects students directly with partners in health care. Jiang said the team will send students to the Cleveland Clinic each year to work with domain experts on quantum health care research, so they can better understand the challenges and opportunities on the clinical and research side.

The project is built around the idea that the future quantum workforce must be interdisciplinary by design, Jiang said, as quantum computing already draws from physics, computer science, and engineering. Applying it in areas such as health care adds another layer of expertise, requiring students to understand both the technology and the domain where it will be used.

That emphasis on interdisciplinary education prepares students for complex, collaborative problem-solving in a fast-changing world and demonstrates how classroom learning connects to careers in research, industry, national labs, and health care innovation.

Jiang, director of the Quantum-Classical Computer Aided Design Lab and co-director of the Quantum Science and Engineering Center, said George Mason students are especially well positioned to benefit from this kind of training because of the university's growing quantum ecosystem, which includes specialized coursework and degree programs, research opportunities, and expanding infrastructure.

"If undergraduate students can accumulate knowledge not only in quantum computing itself, but also in physics, chemistry, programming languages, and compilation, that will be very helpful for going deeper into quantum computing research later," Jiang said.

Jiang said George Mason's graduate programs help students build on that foundation and move into advanced study or professional pathways.

"George Mason's master's degree provides more comprehensive training for students, who can use that training to earn a PhD or work professionally in a national lab or industry company. There are a lot of opportunities for them," he said.

The NSF project builds on existing work at George Mason. Jiang's previous NSF award helped support the creation of the first ECE quantum computing courses, which are now core courses in George Mason's quantum computing master's program.

The courses include ECE 570 Quantum Computing System Design, QSE 570 Quantum Computing System Design, and ECE 472 Quantum Computing System Design.

Students have the chance to practice with state-of-the-art quantum computing software, Jiang said, through mini-projects and a final course project that focus on areas such as quantum error mitigation and finance-related applications of quantum computing, including portfolio optimization.

Jiang said the new NSF award will help expand those opportunities even further. "This new project will help us build even more curriculum and create more opportunities for our students. It also connects them with domain scientists such as the people from Cleveland Clinic," he said.

Jiang sees workforce development as a long-term pipeline that should begin as early as high school, continue through undergraduate education, and deepen through advanced research and professional training.

By connecting students with emerging technologies, real-world applications, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, the NSF project advances George Mason's vision for inclusive, future-focused education-one that prepares learners at every stage to help shape the next era of innovation.

The NSF grant will run through late July 2030.