Charlie Marcus, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of quantum physics, has been named co-chair of QuantumX, an interdisciplinary institute advancing and integrating quantum research, education and commercialization across the UW community. He serves as co-chair alongside Kai-Mei Fu, Virginia and Prentice Bloedel Professor of Physics and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

I-Tung Chen is a Ph.D. student in electrical & computer engineering where he works in the Laboratory of Photonic Systems and is an Accelerating Quantum Engineering and Technology (AQET) Fellow in QuantumX.

Lightning is seen much earlier than the thunder is heard because light travels nearly one million times faster than sound in air. In solid-state materials, however, the speed of sound increases while the speed of light slows down. Moreover, the acoustic wave traveling in the medium generates a periodic modulation of the medium’s optical properties, which can lead to strong interaction with the light traveling in the medium.

On Oct. 19, students in the Accelerating Quantum-Enabled Technologies program hosted the first UW Public Lecture in Quantum Science and Engineering, featuring IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Dario Gil. The College of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences also sponsored his lecture.

At a top-tier research institution like the UW, research doesn’t take a summer break. In addition to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many College of Engineering labs host undergraduates during the summer months, giving the students a unique, hands-on experience conducting cutting-edge engineering research alongside faculty.