Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Industry Insights into Quantum Knowledge Needed for the Quantum Information Science and Engineering Workforce

A. R. Pina, Shams El-Adawy, H. J. Lewandowski, Benjamin M. Zwickl

TL;DR

The paper addresses the gap between rapidly expanding QISE industry needs and existing education by analyzing which quantum KSAs are required across industry roles. It uses 27 semi-structured interviews from 16 QISE companies and maps responses to an O*NET-based framework with four quantum-expertise levels (quantum-aware to quantum-expert) to assign KSAs to roles and tasks. The results identify 42 roles distributed across the expertise spectrum and classify tasks into Experimental, Theory and Knowledge of Experiment, and Theory-Only, revealing where deep quantum knowledge is essential versus where non-quantum or foundational understanding suffices. These findings inform curriculum development and targeted workforce training, suggesting more nuanced KSAs than a simple aware-to-expert continuum and highlighting the need for broader data to refine category granularity across company types.

Abstract

Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) education and workforce development are top priorities at the national level in the US. This has included a push for academia to support the development of programs that will prepare students to enter the QISE workforce. As the field of QISE has grown rapidly in academia and industry, there is a need to better understand what quantum knowledge is needed for students to be ready for the workforce. We present preliminary findings on the level of quantum expertise and the specific quantum knowledge utilized across different roles, and in the execution of specific tasks in the QISE industry. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with industry professionals elucidates these aspects of the vital work functions related to the ongoing development of quantum technologies in industry. This work will provide insights into QISE curriculum development and changes needed to better support students transitioning into this growing industry.

Industry Insights into Quantum Knowledge Needed for the Quantum Information Science and Engineering Workforce

TL;DR

The paper addresses the gap between rapidly expanding QISE industry needs and existing education by analyzing which quantum KSAs are required across industry roles. It uses 27 semi-structured interviews from 16 QISE companies and maps responses to an O*NET-based framework with four quantum-expertise levels (quantum-aware to quantum-expert) to assign KSAs to roles and tasks. The results identify 42 roles distributed across the expertise spectrum and classify tasks into Experimental, Theory and Knowledge of Experiment, and Theory-Only, revealing where deep quantum knowledge is essential versus where non-quantum or foundational understanding suffices. These findings inform curriculum development and targeted workforce training, suggesting more nuanced KSAs than a simple aware-to-expert continuum and highlighting the need for broader data to refine category granularity across company types.

Abstract

Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) education and workforce development are top priorities at the national level in the US. This has included a push for academia to support the development of programs that will prepare students to enter the QISE workforce. As the field of QISE has grown rapidly in academia and industry, there is a need to better understand what quantum knowledge is needed for students to be ready for the workforce. We present preliminary findings on the level of quantum expertise and the specific quantum knowledge utilized across different roles, and in the execution of specific tasks in the QISE industry. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with industry professionals elucidates these aspects of the vital work functions related to the ongoing development of quantum technologies in industry. This work will provide insights into QISE curriculum development and changes needed to better support students transitioning into this growing industry.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 11 sections, 1 figure, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Methods
  3. Results
  4. QISE Job Roles
  5. No quantum requirements:
  6. Quantum aware:
  7. Quantum conversant:
  8. Quantum proficient:
  9. Quantum expert:
  10. Quantum Knowledge and Skills for Specific Tasks
  11. Discussion

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Job roles in the dataset sorted by the required level of quantum expertise, and boxed by sub-themes discussed in our analysis. Abbreviated definitions of the five different levels of quantum expertise are given within the arrow, which indicates the direction of increasing level of quantum expertise. 'Quantum' has been shortened to 'Q.'