UC Santa Barbara Faculty Joined Quantum Research Institutes
Five faculty members have joined three National Science Foundation institutes awarded $290 million for quantum research.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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Five UC Santa Barbara faculty members have been selected to join National Science Foundation Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes. The agency renewed the eight-institute program with $290 million in funding.
Why it matters
The investment aims to accelerate advancements in quantum computing, sensors, and superconducting hardware while expanding the U.S. scientific workforce. These institutes facilitate collaboration across academia, government, and private industry.
The National Science Foundation initiative spans 36 higher education institutions across 19 states. The program partners with over 30 U.S. companies to provide internships and mentorships for students.
The players
Daniel Blumenthal
He is a UC Santa Barbara faculty member involved in the Quantum Systems through Entangled Science and Engineering center.
Michel Devoret
He is a senior investigator at the Manufacturable and Resilient superconducting Quantum Information Systems institute and a 2025 Nobel laureate.
Andrew Jayich
He is a UC Santa Barbara faculty member contributing to the Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation.
Ania Jayich
She is a UC Santa Barbara faculty member serving as a researcher for the Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation.
David Weld
He is a UC Santa Barbara faculty member and researcher within the Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation.
The details
The UCSB faculty members are participating in specialized centers focused on quantum systems and computation. The initiative will train hundreds of students and early career researchers through summer schools and professional mentorship programs over the next five years.
Timeline
Michel Devoret received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2025.
The training program will continue over the next five years.
The Tech Race
This investment reinforces the national push to secure leadership in quantum information science by integrating academic expertise with commercial industrial partners. It marks a departure from isolated lab-based research toward a standardized, nationwide educational and development pipeline.
Students and early-career researchers at participating institutions will gain access to specialized internships and industry-led mentorship opportunities. The expanded collaboration may eventually accelerate the development of consumer technologies utilizing advanced quantum sensors.
The takeaway
The renewal of these institutes highlights a commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of quantum scientists through long-term collaborative funding. Readers interested in entering the field should monitor participating universities for upcoming summer school and internship openings.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Quantum Computing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Edhat Santa Barbara.
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