Harvard Students Completed Inaugural Q Fellows Program

Seventeen students finished a 10-week summer program focused on solving infrastructure challenges.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Quantum Computing

Isometric editorial illustration showing a brass gear resting on stone samples, representing the intersection of research and infrastructure. — Seventeen Harvard students finished the inaugural 10-week Q Fellows program, applying academic technical research to complex industrial infrastructure challenges across the United States. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Seventeen students from Harvard University completed the inaugural 10-week Q Fellows program in the summer of 2026. The initiative sought to apply technical talent to capital-intensive infrastructure hurdles.

Why it matters

The program was designed to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world industrial application. By connecting students with mentors and corporate sponsors, the initiative aimed to steer talent toward critical infrastructure needs.

The 10-week fellowship utilized startup methodologies including customer discovery and industrial field testing. Fellows retained intellectual property rights for all work conducted during the summer session.

The players

Quantum Alliance

This is a nonprofit organization that funded the fellowship program to support the development of infrastructure solutions.

Eric E. Schmidt

He is a former CEO of Google who provided funding for five fellows in the inaugural cohort alongside Wendy S. Schmidt.

Rio Tinto

This is a multinational mining and metals corporation that served as a project sponsor for the program participants.

Ujjwal Kumar

He is the founder of the Quantum Alliance who has expressed plans to expand the fellowship to additional university campuses.

The details

Participating students from Harvard College, Harvard Business School, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences worked on projects sponsored by firms like Rio Tinto and McKinsey & Company. The fellows conducted field research at various industrial locations, including a copper mine in Utah and energy facilities in North Carolina.

The inaugural Q Fellows program concluded during the summer of 2026.

The Tech Race

This program reflects a broader trend of integrating academic talent into the private sector to accelerate the development of critical infrastructure technologies. It moves beyond traditional theoretical research by prioritizing field-tested startup methodologies.

For students and industry observers, the program indicates an increase in specialized mentorship opportunities within engineering and business fields. Participants gain practical experience in industrial problem-solving that translates directly to modern technology careers.

The takeaway

The Q Fellows program demonstrates the effectiveness of industry-funded fellowships in steering academic research toward practical infrastructure challenges. Future iterations of this model could shift how universities bridge the gap between technical training and market-ready innovation.