Students hack the future, one qubit at a time

The global quantum-computing boom that proponents say could transform scientific discovery and revolutionize problem-solving is rippling through Clemson University.

One of the places it is most palpable is in a McAdams Hall conference room, where the newly formed Clemson Quantum Club meets every other Thursday night.

Students who attended a recent meeting said they see quantum computing as an emerging field ripe with opportunity– a way to unravel mysteries of the universe, super-charge artificial intelligence and solve what would otherwise seem unsolvable.

Hazel Torek, a second-year undergraduate double-majoring in computer science and math, said quantum computing throws out the assumptions about the capabilities and limitations of classical computers.

“It’s a space with a lot of different directions you could go in and directions that are still being discovered,” Torek said.

Nathan Jones, a computer science Ph.D. student and the club’s president, said the club formed in the fall semester and usually has about 8 to 20 students turn out for each meeting. They have run quantum computing programs and listened to talks by professors and industry professionals.

In the recent meeting, students played a match of quantum chess. They made the pieces out of Play-Doh so they could split them in two, mirroring how quantum qubits work.

Jones said he and two other students started assembling the club after attending a quantum computing workshop on campus. It struck him that the students at the workshop came from a wide range of majors, including physics, math, computer science and computer engineering. He wanted to help break down the silos.

“I was completely blown away by all the different majors that had interest,” Jones said. “After learning that, I started talking to the faculty there and basically learned one of the best ways we could get more opportunities for quantum at Clemson is to demonstrate that we have student interest.”

Demonstrate interest, they have.

Clemson students dominated the first-ever SC Quantathon by winning every category—including the grand prize, a trip to an international competition in Abu Dhabi.

Just a few months later, they showcased their talent on a national stage at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s iQuHACK, where multiple Clemson students placed in top spots.

Groups of about 20 students traveled to each hackathon.

Valentine Mohaugen, a junior physics major who is considering graduate schools, said that while the hackathons are popular, they can be intimidating for some students.

“We wanted the regular club meetings to be something more approachable,” he said. “We have had freshmen show up a few times.”

Students said that if Clemson were interested in expanding quantum computing opportunities further they would support the launch of a major or minor and that they would be interested in grants to help pay for time to use quantum computers in the cloud.

Among the faculty members at the forefront of quantum computing is Rong Ge, a professor in the School of Computing and Jones’ Ph.D. advisor. She traveled to the hackathons with students and teaches an undergraduate Creative Inquiry course, “Hands on Quantum Computing,” as well as the graduate-level “Quantum Computing” (CPSC 8230).

“There are more students interested in quantum computing than the ones involved in the club,” Ge said. “Some students take my courses or find another way to get involved, but a lot of students have just learned quantum computing by themselves. It’s outside of coursework and homework.”

The club is so new it is technically still an informal group. Members expect Clemson Quantum Club will be listed as an official University club starting next academic year, allowing it to request funding from the student government.

So far, the club’s funding, while modest, has come out of Jones’ pocket, he said.

While the hackathons and the club have some of the same participants, they are on paper separate activities. Funding to travel to hackathons has come from a variety of sources within the University.

When the club becomes official, Ge plans to serve as the faculty advisor.

So what’s the appeal– what drives students to stay in a conference room talking quantum computing past 6 p.m. on a Thursday night? For some students, it’s just finding like-minded souls.

Shor’s algorithm, Boolean logic, qubits and other arcane terms tossed casually between club members would be mind-bending elsewhere, but they are all just part of the conversation in McAdams Hall, room 110B.

“It’s great having people who can discuss very specific, niche things in your field,” said Toby Cox, a sophomore who is double majoring in computer science and math. “The quantum club lets you interact with a lot of people that you might not otherwise talk to.”

And in a field where the rules of reality are rewritten with every discovery, finding the right people might be just as important as solving the right problems.