Experimental Skills Needed to Prepare Students for the Quantum Workforce

Understanding the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the quantum workforce is necessary to design relevant quantum information science courses and programs. This talk presents findings from a study where we conducted semi-structured interviews with people in the quantum industry and analyzed them to identify and characterize experimental skills needed for roles that do not require a PhD. Results show that bachelor-level positions emphasize instrumentation, computation and data analysis, as well as experimental and project design skills, while master's level roles additionally emphasize professional skills, such as communication and collaboration. These findings highlight key implications for quantum information science curriculum design: the need to integrate hardware-focused theory into quantum information courses, the value of increasing experimental training through instructional labs, and the intentional incorporation of professional skills within quantum coursework. This work informs strategies for aligning quantum information science education with the needs of the quantum workforce.