2/3/26
Every Monday at 10 am in the UW Nanoengineering and Sciences Building Commons, the smell of fresh bread and just brewed coffee beckons graduate students and faculty for a “Quantum Morning Meetup (QMM).”
QMM creates regular meeting space for quantum conversation across departments, drawing researchers from physics, chemistry, and all engineering disciplines (electrical & computer, materials science, mechanical, chemical engineering and computer science & engineering). Rather than centering on formal talks, the gathering emphasizes connection, with time intentionally carved out for discussion, questions, and the kind of spontaneous exchanges that often spark new ideas.
Physics PhD student Luca Delgado shared, “This is a good time to relax and socialize with the peers and PI’s that come.”
For graduate students, the meetup offers a chance to meet faculty beyond their home departments, learn about ongoing research projects, and see how their work fits into the broader landscape of quantum information science. For faculty, it provides insight into emerging student interests and an opportunity to strengthen ties across disciplines that do not always intersect in day-to-day academic life.
“I love bread and talking to people like Juan Carlos (Idrodo) and Boris (Blinov), fellow faculty members,” said Dr. Sara Mouradian. “It is also nice to see all the students together.”
The intention is not to solve quantum’s hardest problems, but to strengthen the human network needed to tackle them over time. Materials Science and Engineering PhD student Essence Ray shared, “Seeing everybody in a low stress environment with open communication is why I started [to attend].”
“Conversations have been really fruitful especially with people I don’t normally interact with on a day to day basis,” said Delgado. “It also seems to take away the formality of our roles.”
As the field continues to grow, organizers hope gatherings like this will become a regular fixture across UW, reinforcing a community where ideas, mentorship, and collaboration can entangle freely.
QMM is open to UW QuantumX program students and faculty. Contact Kaela Worrall at uwqis@uw.edu with any questions.