NYU Tandon, CCNY and Columbia University team up for New York City’s first multi-university quantum hackathon

Three New York City universities are joining forces to address the growing demand for quantum technology expertise, by launching the city's first multi-university quantum hackathon. 

This innovative event, called NYC HAQ, is set to take place this month across NYU Tandon School of Engineering, The City College of New York (CCNY), and Columbia University.

As quantum technology continues to show its potential to revolutionize computing, secure communication, and precision measurement, the industry faces a significant challenge: a shortage of qualified professionals. 

Research indicates that for every three quantum job openings, there is only one qualified candidate available. NYC HAQ aims to bridge this gap by providing students with hands-on experience in quantum programming and exposure to industry leaders.

The event complements recent curricula expansions at each participating institution to include more quantum coursework and degree programs, further solidifying New York City as a hub for quantum education and talent. 

"NYC HAQ reflects our strong dedication to preparing students for future challenges in engineering, even those that haven't fully materialized yet," said John Di Bartolo, chair of NYU Tandon's Applied Physics Department, who leads NYU Tandon's involvement in the hackathon. "Quantum technology is still in its early stages, and there's a noticeable lack of undergraduate-level educational opportunities in this field. Along with our colleagues at Columbia and CCNY, we're committed to making New York City the center for developing the talent that drives the field forward."

Open to undergraduates at all three universities, NYC HAQ requires no prior knowledge of quantum programming, which involves writing instructions for quantum computers using the principles of quantum mechanics to perform certain calculations much faster than traditional computers. 

More than 600 students registered for the event, and a cohort from that group was invited into NYC HAQ based on their performance in online quantum programming training sessions provided this month by qWorld, a non-profit global organization that connects quantum computing researchers and enthusiasts.

The hackathon kicks off on September 21 at CCNY and continues on September 22 at Columbia University. During the weekend, participants will engage in talks from industry professionals, receive training on qBraid (a cloud-based platform for quantum computing), meet their teammates and mentors, and begin generating ideas for challenges presented by leading companies in the field.

The event culminates in a final showcase on September 28 at NYU Tandon, where teams will present their work and compete for prizes.

“Quantum theory is famously bizarre and difficult, and putting it to use demands that students genuinely understand it,” said Seth Cottrell, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physics, CCNY.  “Despite that, 676 future quantum engineers happily signed up for NYC HAQ, well beyond our wildest expectations!  We are truly thrilled at the enthusiasm coming from our students.  This is only the first of many collaborations to make NYC a home for quantum education and training.”

“It’s extremely exciting to see the energy and enthusiasm from our students for quantum computing and quantum science,” said Henry Yuen, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University. “Students of all levels — from freshmen to seniors and beyond — are jumping at every opportunity to participate in quantum events.”  

The hackathon builds on NYU Tandon's previous quantum hackathon in September 2023 and its new quantum technology minor for undergraduates introduced in Spring 2024, both organized in collaboration with SandboxAQ, an enterprise SaaS company focusing on AI and quantum technology that is a key partner in NYC HAQ.

CCNY and Columbia University have also made strides in quantum education: CCNY introduced a new quantum computation course in 2020, opened a first-of-its-kind undergraduate quantum teaching lab three years later, and launched the City College of New York Quantum Institute in 2023. Columbia University launched the Columbia Quantum Initiative in 2018 and recently began instructing its inaugural class in the new Master's Program in Quantum Science and Technology.