Chicago State University Prepares Students for Illinois’ Quantum Workforce


Chicago State University Prepares Students for Illinois’ Quantum Workforce 

With academic and research training alongside quantum industry partnerships, CSU connects students to emerging careers in fast-growing Illinois industry 


Chicago State University (CSU) is preparing students for Illinois’ growing quantum industry as employers commit to more than 1,000 jobs at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on under construction on Chicago’s Southeast Side. CSU’s first quantum certificate recipient is already applying his academic work in a research role at Pfizer, while the university works with IBM to develop pathways to internships tied to IBM’s planned FutureNow Chicago delivery center to be located at IQMP.


The IQMP, anchored by quantum computing company PsiQuantum, will bring together companies, researchers and suppliers to develop technologies with potential applications in medicine, clean energy, agriculture and other fields. Partnerships with local schools, colleges and universities are intended to prepare community residents for careers at the park, from scientific research and engineering to technical operations and logistics.


A founding educational partner of the IQMP, CSU coordinates its coursework, research and community outreach through its new CSU Quantum Education, Science and Technology Center (CQuEST). The center is an outgrowth of the decades-old research and work of CSU faculty and collaborations with other institutions. 


“Our students are being prepared to engage and contribute to the growing Illinois’ quantum economy,” said CSU President Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, J.D. “We are committed to making this education accessible to students from a range of disciplines and interest. Through CQuEST and our employer partnerships, we are preparing our students to engage in discoveries that change how we live and work and pursue careers that lead to economic opportunities for families in our communities.


CSU, no stranger to the quantum spaced, became the first Illinois public university to offer state-approved quantum and semiconductor credentials, establishing a Quantum Information Science and Engineering minor and certificate alongside a Semiconductor Technology and Manufacturing certificate.


According to the IQMP, tenants have committed to creating more than 1,000 jobs at the former U.S. Steel South Works site. Those jobs are expected to include positions in research, engineering, technical operations, logistics and other business functions, with roles requiring different levels of education and experience.


Among those commitments are IBM’s 750 new full-time jobs over five years at its planned FutureNow Chicago delivery center, including positions in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science and quantum. CSU is developing paid internships associated with the center, with the number of student positions still being finalized.

Corporate and philanthropic investment will help fuel the development of a strong quantum-backed economy on the south side. In July, the IQMP’s anchor tenant PsiQuantum announced a $250,000 investment in local schools and STEM programs, including support for CQuEST and CSU’s student and teacher programming.


CSU’s broader workforce efforts also received a $150,000 grant through McDonald’s Chicago Community Impact Grants Program to support the university’s Center for Economic Mobility and Advancement. The program invests in Chicago organizations that help neighborhood youth prepare for employment and open access to career opportunities.

"The success of the IQMP - and quantum technology at large - depends on the people who are passionate about building and sustaining this growing industry," said Harley Johnson, CEO of the IQMP. "CSU is providing students with the training, experience and confidence to contribute from the very beginning. When industry leaders and local educators collaborate, employers quickly find qualified talent close to home, strengthening Illinois' long-term quantum future."


For information about CSU’s quantum and semiconductor programs, visit csu.edu/quantum/index.htm. Learn more about the IQMP at iqmp.org.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

An Educator School Closure Prospective