Teaming for Interdisciplinary Research Pre-Seed Program

We propose a Quantum Science and Engineering Program (QSEP) at the University of Georgia (UGA) to establish this institution’s role in the ongoing quantum revolution focusing on quantum materials and quantum sensing. The Program will address key fundamental science, engineering and technologically driven problems surrounding quantum materials and quantum enabled technologies, currently one the most exciting, and active research areas in science. The Program will facilitate tight collaborations among multiple principal investigators at UGA by leveraging the unique strengths of physicists, chemists, and engineers who are actively engaged in quantum science research. The QSEP’s unique combination of capabilities includes novel experimental and simulational techniques in nano and quantum materials, optics and plasmonics, new types of scanning probe microscopies, innovative expertise in materials synthesis and crystal growth, state-of-the-art imaging and spectroscopy characterization methods, and contemporary theoretical and computational methods. Combined with novel high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy capabilities, the Center for Simulational Physics (CSP) at UGA opens a unique opportunity to exploit the power of state-of-the-art Monte Carlo and other simulational tools for application in QSEP. In addition, various expertise/visitors/research skills as well as rich collection of computational tools of the CSP will bring an invaluable addition to the proposed program.

The activities of the Program will include joint research projects, development of curricula to offer interdisciplinary team-taught courses, convening workshops and meetings to enable the exchange of innovations in the quantum materials field, and supporting the work of faculty, postdocs, and students across research groups. The unique interdisciplinary nature of quantum materials and quantum science research proposed will allow students to obtain comprehensive fundamental knowledge and technical skills, as well as experience with teamwork-centered research approaches by working with multiple PIs. By providing the graduate and undergraduate students with an opportunity to collaborate with inter- and intradepartmental/university material science research groups, the Program will promote their career objectives and interest in modern quantum-related professions. The proposed program will lay the groundwork for the future development of new graduate and undergraduate degrees in Quantum Science, which ultimately will lead to university-level sustainable support of these educational and research activities.

Team Lead

Yohannes Abate
Department of Physics & Astronomy
yohannes.abate@uga.edu

Team Members

David L. Cotten
Department of Geography

Eric Formo
Georgia Electron Microscopy

Michael Geller
Department of Physics & Astronomy

David P. Landau
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Tina T. Salguero
Department of Chemistry

Tho Nguyen
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Ping Ma
Department of Statistics

Henning Meyer
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Steven P. Lewis
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Heinz-Bernd Schuttler
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Phillip C. Stancil
Department of Physics & Astronomy

WenZhan Song
College of Engineering

Susanne Ullrich
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Xianqiao Wang
College of Engineering

Craig Wiegert
Department of Physics & Astronomy

Yiping Zhao
Department of Physics & Astronomy