Virtual
Taught by
MIT PhDs
Live
Instruction
Grades
9-12
Course created with researchers at:
About the Program
Are you a high school student who wants to develop in-depth, real world skills in quantum computing?
This first-of-its kind course is for you!
Quantum computing will impact industries from healthcare to finance to cybersecurity,
and we want today’s high school students to be prepared to lead the next computing
revolution. Our goal is to make the material accessible to students from all different
backgrounds, because we want the future quantum workforce to be as diverse as the world is.
What students will learn
Through two semesters of weekly lectures, lab sections, and homework assignments, you will
develop a foundational understanding of quantum computing, including basic linear algebra,
quantum mechanics, quantum computation and information, and quantum algorithms.
Students will spend the first half of the course developing skills in math and Python.
The second half of the course will focus on coding quantum circuits and quantum algorithms,
leading to students coding on a real quantum computer.
Some of the topics covered include:
- Perform linear algebra operations that represent quantum gates
- Use Python libraries to send a circuit to a quantum computer and analyze the results
- Conceptually understand important quantum algorithms such as the Deutsch Jozsa algorithm and Grover’s algorithm
- Implement quantum key distribution (QKD) in Python
- Run a Variational Quantum Eigensolver to simulate a molecule
Lead Instructor
Akshay Agarwal
Akshay graduated from MIT with his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Recently, he completed a postdoctoral research position in the Research Laboratory for Electronics at MIT. In his research, he applies principles of quantum mechanics to improve the efficiency of electron microscopy and make the technique applicable to live biological samples. Akshay obtained his PhD. He holds a B. Tech. and M. Tech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay in 2014. Outside of his research, Akshay enjoys teaching, writing, and playing the violin.
Logistics
Grades
Incoming 9 - 12
Dates
September 19, 2021 - April 10, 2022
Students will attend a weekly lecture and lab each week (many time options)
Cost
More info coming soon!
Need-based scholarships will be available.
Prerequisites
Foundational understanding of trigonometry (including sine and cosine), which is
usually taught in high school geometry courses.
No prior knowledge of quantum computing is required or expected.