Quantum Initiative

Welcome to the Quantum Initiative, brought to you by the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub (NEBDHub) and the National Student Data Corps (NSDC), in collaboration with the Ecosystem for Research Networking, Edge, and our partners across industry, government, non-profits, and academia.

Quantum computing is reshaping how we solve complex problems, opening new frontiers in science, industry, and technology.

Explore upcoming events, curated resources, and collaboration opportunities for learners, researchers, educators, and professionals who want to dive deeper into the world of quantum science and technology.

Quantum Webinar Series

Join the Quantum Initiative webinar series, hosted by Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub (NEBDHub) and the Ecosystem for Research Networking (ERN), as we bring together leading researchers, industry experts, and innovators to explore the latest breakthroughs in quantum science and technology. From foundational concepts to real-world applications, these interactive sessions are designed for learners, researchers, educators, and professionals alike.

Upcoming Webinars

October 16th, 2026 – Travis L. Scholten, Ph.D., IBM

Beyond Bigger: Quantum, AI and the Future of Research Computing with Travis L. Scholten, Ph.D., Technical Lead, Public Sector, IBM Quantum at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center.

Artificial intelligence and quantum computing are often discussed as separate technological revolutions, yet both are emerging within a broader transformation of the computing landscape. As AI drives unprecedented demand for computational resources and quantum hardware advances toward increasingly capable systems, researchers and institutions are confronting a common question: what will the next generation of research computing look like? This talk explores the evolution from traditional high-performance computing environments toward more heterogeneous computing ecosystems that combine AI accelerators, cloud resources, classical supercomputers, and emerging quantum technologies. Drawing on developments in quantum-centric supercomputing, the session will examine why future scientific breakthroughs may depend not only on continued advances in hardware, but also on the software, workflows, orchestration, and cyberinfrastructure required to make effective use of increasingly diverse computational resources. Attendees will gain a practical perspective on where quantum computing stands today, how it is likely to interact with AI and HPC in the years ahead, and what these changes may mean for universities, research organizations, and the broader scientific community.

• Date & Time: October 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET

• Format: Virtual Event (Free)

• Speaker Website: travisscholten.com

• Registration: Register here

Additional sessions are planned for December 11, 2026; January 22, 2027; February 19, 2027; March 19, 2027; and April 16, 2027. More details will be shared as they become available.

Previous Webinars

May 15th, 2026 – Bill Wisotsky, SAS

Applied Quantum AI in the NISQ Era to Address Real World Problems with Bill Wisotsky, SAS, introduces quantum computing and the state of quantum machine learning (QML) from an applied research perspective, focusing on how quantum utility is being defined and evaluated. Drawing on ongoing work at SAS, representative QML techniques and hybrid quantum-classical workflows that are being investigated against real-world, customer-motivated problems will be discussed. The discussion centers on how QML methods are benchmarked against classical approaches, which problem types show early promise, and how hybrid quantum-classical techniques are being applied in practice.

March 27th, 2026 – Bruno Abreu, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University

Pathways to Hybrid Quantum and High-Performance Computing with Dr. Bruno Abreu, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University. This talk introduces the core ideas of quantum information science at a high level and explains how they enable new computational models based on qubits, gates, and quantum circuits. We then explore key quantum algorithms, emerging application domains, and the current state of quantum hardware in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. Finally, the talk discusses how quantum processors are likely to integrate with high-performance computing systems as specialized processing units.

February 20th, 2026 – Hanna Terletska, Middle Tennessee State University

Building Quantum from the Ground Up: How Regional Universities Can Lead the Quantum Workforce with Dr. Hanna Terletska, Middle Tennessee State University. Learn how to build a comprehensive quantum initiative at a regional university by integrating research, education, industry engagement, and workforce development.

December 5th, 2025 – Torey Battelle, Arizona State University

Quantum-Centric HPC: Practicalities, Use Cases and Facilitation with Dr. Torey Battelle, Arizona State University. Dive into realistic instances in the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) -era, how use cases might scale with quantum hardware, and strategies for integration of quantum resources with HPC.

October 17th, 2025 – Monica VanDieren, NVIDIA

Preparing Students for Accelerated Quantum Supercomputing with Dr. Monica VanDieren, NVIDIA. Listen in on how we can best prepare learners for the developing world of quantum computing.

Quantum Learning Hub

Explore resources and engagement opportunities tailored to learners, researchers, educators, and professionals. Scroll through online courses, GitHub repositories, research papers, and interactive materials to deepen your understanding and get involved in the growing quantum community.