{"id":138368,"date":"2026-07-09T17:18:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T23:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fort-lewis-college-is-making-quantum-computing-and-nanotechnology-big-with-use-of-grant\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T17:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T23:18:14","slug":"fort-lewis-college-is-making-quantum-computing-and-nanotechnology-big-with-use-of-grant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fort-lewis-college-is-making-quantum-computing-and-nanotechnology-big-with-use-of-grant\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Lewis College is making quantum computing and nanotechnology big with use of grant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Jeff
Jeff Jessing, professor of physics and engineering at Fort Lewis College, shows off a silicon wafer containing multiple microfabricated devices under a microscope in the nano lab on campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Fort Lewis College is making quantum computing and nanotechnology big \u2013 at least, metaphorically.<\/p>\n

The college, which was given a portion of a $127 million federal and state Elevate Quantum Tech Hub<\/a> workforce development programming grant in 2024, held its second quantum computing and nanotech workshop this week for high school and FLC undergraduate students \u2013 one of several initiatives the grant has made possible.<\/p>\n

The grant has also funded future research projects at FLC, compensated student positions in the nano lab, and made possible the purchase of an optical tweezer device \u2013 a laser system that traps and moves microscopic particles using light.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Jeff Jessing, professor of physics and engineering at Fort Lewis College, describes the technology used in a nano lab on campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Jeff Jessing, professor of physics and engineering at Fort Lewis College, said nanotechnology studies and quantum computing \u2013 and, by extension, the work being done at the FLC nano lab \u2013 can have a significant impact on the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis emerging technology, if it comes to fruition, probably will change the world \u2026 like dramatically change the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Quantum computing has the potential to impact a range of fields by helping the design of new medications through molecular studies or optimizing supply chains for companies, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The FLC nano lab includes a range of high-tech, high level machinery, including microscopes; a Denton vacuum, used to vaporize materials to coat substrates such as silicon wafers with a thin layer of metal or other substances; and a tube furnace, used to grow thin oxides and to introduce impurities or dopants that affect the conductivity inside silicon \u2013 all devices that are impressive for a rural college to have, Jessing said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people in Durango have no idea that we have these facilities here,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2026 Southwest Colorado is kind of isolated from the rest of the state and the technology centers, and for us to get a little piece of that pie (through the grant) kind of brings quantum (studies) and relevancy \u2026 to our little neck of the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fort
Fort Lewis College senior Gray Mason demonstrates how to use an optical tweezer device \u2013 a laser system that traps and moves microscopic particles using light \u2013 at the FLC campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

FLC senior Gray Mason, who works in the school\u2019s nano lab and helped instruct students in this summer\u2019s workshop, said seeing the excitement on the students\u2019 faces is a highlight of the experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re just genuinely enthusiastic about what we\u2019re doing, and taking time out of their summer to come spend it with us, (which) is really special,\u201d he said. \u201cIt seems like the high schoolers appreciate that they get to come in and get hands on with the equipment and learn about the processes that we\u2019re doing in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mason said he\u2019s felt entrusted with meaningful research.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach of the student researchers has a priority that they\u2019re working with in here, and we do kind of get to be the authority of the specific machines over the summer,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels really good to be able to kind of take charge, and own it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"High
High school and college students learn about the basics of quantum mechanics during a workshop at Fort Lewis College, led by Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering Matt Welz and Professor of Physics and Engineering Jeff Jessing in July. (Courtesy of Fort Lewis College)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Incoming Durango High School freshman Carson Price was one of the attendees at this summer\u2019s four day workshop. He said he\u2019s enjoyed the hands-on engineering work he\u2019s been able to do throughout the 8-hour days at the lab, and plans to bring that knowledge into his future engineering endeavors.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite part would probably be the process of making a wafer, seeing what could happen and what not to do, and learning some history on computer engineering,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Price is not referring to baking when he says \u201cwafer\u201d \u2013 he\u2019s referencing an ultrathin, circular piece of semiconducting material that acts as the foundational element used in electronics to build integrated circuits. Working on building wafers is one educational element of many included in the workshops.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Jeff Jessing, professor of physics and engineering at Fort Lewis College, shows off a silicon wafer containing multiple microfabricated devices in the nano lab on campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The four-day learning experience combines software and algorithm education led by Matt Welz, associate professor of physics and engineering, and hardware, physics and nano lab work led by Jessing. Students are able to get hands-on experience with lab equipment; learn the basics of quantum mechanics; view demos on spectroscopy and superconductors; and work on building their own work, like Price\u2019s wafer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to keep it very engaging,\u201d Jessing said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just sitting there listening to someone talk about quantum mechanics. \u2026 We\u2019re spending at least half of every day in the nano lab with them, so they suit up, they put the clean room garb on, and they go in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessing has plans for future grant fund uses, including a project involving building Josephson junctions, the key components used in many superconducting quantum bits, or qubits, entirely on campus, and continuing to provide educational opportunities to any local high school or college students who want to learn more about the world of quantum computing and nanotechnology.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will provide opportunities to any student that wants to get involved in our program,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll get them involved with a high\u2011impact experience \u2013 (and) most schools can\u2019t say that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overall, the work happening in the nano lab, and the impact of the grant, illustrates how FLC punches above its weight, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think we all feel like the community doesn\u2019t really understand what a rigorous program we have here,\u201d he said. \u201cThis building is stacked. I mean, we have incredible facilities. I\u2019ve taught at other places, and (the) engagement here is incredible for undergraduates. \u2026 We\u2019re providing incredible experiences for our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

epond@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Jeff Jessing, professor of physics and engineering at Fort Lewis College, left, and FLC senior Gray Mason, center, show off a silicon wafer containing multiple microfabricated devices under a microscope in the nano lab on campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jeff
Jeff Jessing, professor of physics and engineering at Fort Lewis College, shows off a Denton Vacuum, a device used to vaporize materials to coat substrates, like silicon wafers, with a thin layer of metal or other substances, the nano lab on campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A log sheet sits atop a tube furnace, used to grow thin oxides and to introduce impurities or dopants that affect the conductivity inside silicon, in the Fort Lewis College nano lab on campus Wednesday. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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