Grant: Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Quantum matters in today's materials. With continued miniaturization of electronic devices, and demand for new applications such as solar energy conversion and quantum computing on the horizon, we need to explore and understand new materials where properties arise from quantum effects. Advances in this area require fundamental understanding and technological innovation, and will come from those who have knowledge of materials design, the ability to characterize them and to describe their inner workings theoretically. Progress in materials development is essential for high technology sectors ranging from communications and information technologies to keeping Canada competitive in an energy market that demands clean alternatives. Training tomorrow's leaders in materials will require a broader approach than a traditional graduate education provides. The aim of the Quantum Electronic Science and Technology (QuEST) training program is to give students a broad technical basis and a well-rounded perspective of how their discoveries can and will impact society through technology transfer, entrepreneurship, public communications and policy making. This will be accomplished through exchange and internship experiences, an open research environment, innovative coursework, and workshops. Our students will also acquire highly transferrable practical skills, and professional skills that will be attractive to future employers. Our local and international collaborators, opportunities for industry and entrepreneurial mentoring and networking, and students' enriched experiences will give them a head-start in a competitive job market with the tools, credentials and network to succeed. The quest for new materials and novel device technologies will require more than talented researchers. The importance and impact of breakthroughs in this area need to be communicated with the public, and placed in context for sound policy decisions. New materials discovered in research labs need to be transformed into products, requiring an understanding both of the science at hand and the business of technology. QuEST will equip students to be innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders in this fast-paced field.