EAGER: Curricula Development of a Quantum Programming Class with Hardware Access

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Investigators

Abstract

The project aims to transform the landscape of computing by establishing and advancing quantum computing as a means of computational acceleration by developing curricular materials that uses actual quantum hardware. The effort has the potential significantly advance the knowledge about quantum computing of the scientific community in general and within the areas of Computer Science and Engineering specifically. This project will utilize free cloud-based access to a gate-based platform to provide hands-on experience with programming actual quantum hardware. Curricular material will include the fundamentals in physics and mathematics required to understand quantum computing, introductory material to the quantum field, and the programming environment for a cloud-based platform. The PIs will also develop training material suitable for tutorials at major conferences/symposia across different fields as well as online courses for faculty, staff and students. As a means to gauge success, the suitability of the material will be thoroughly evaluated statistically via surveys at the end of educational units for both classes and tutorials. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.