NIST Quantum Network Testbeds
NIST will create a quantum network testbed to study, integrate, and optimize quantum systems and communication protocols in a real-world setting.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to establish and optimize a quantum network testbed at NIST, focusing on quantum systems integration, performance, and communication protocols in a real-world setting.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a doctoral degree within the last 5 years; applications require prior contact with NIST research advisers; NIST participates in February and August review cycles only.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg campus to establish a quantum network testbed. The goal is to study, integrate, and optimize quantum systems and communication protocols in a real-life heterogenized quantum network environment. Key research areas include:
- Studying quantum (qubit) systems such as entangled photon sources, detectors, memories, and interfaces, and understanding their performance impacts within a complex quantum network.
- Developing methods to integrate diverse quantum components into a functional quantum network.
- Implementing techniques to evaluate quantum network link performance, including tomography measurements and fiber characterization.
- Designing and testing optimization methods for photonic quantum networks, focusing on timing synchronization, phase control, and polarization control.
- Creating and testing management protocols for quantum communications, including a quantum network manager.
- Executing quantum experiments such as entanglement distribution and quantum communications protocols like teleportation.
This research aims to improve quantum network performance metrics by orders of magnitude compared to classical networks, addressing losses, synchronization, noise, and entanglement distribution management.
