Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Computing Research Association Inc. received a $400,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Information and Intelligent Systems under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) to establish the Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Quantum Information Science (DREU-QIS). Awarded on April 1, 2026, and scheduled for completion by March 31, 2028, this nationally coordinated program provides undergraduate students with mentored summer research experiences in quantum computing through placements in active research groups across the United States. The initiative addresses the critical need for a skilled quantum workforce by expanding access to quantum information science research opportunities, particularly for students at institutions lacking active quantum computing research programs.

The program delivers three primary services: full-time summer research placements for undergraduate students in quantum information science research groups; a coordinated national cohort structure featuring shared research discussions, milestone checkpoints, and professional development activities to build research skills and prepare students for graduate study; and a structured mentoring and evaluation framework that standardizes research milestones across institutions and enables systematic assessment of program outcomes. By building on CRA's proven Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates model, DREU-QIS strengthens workforce development pathways in an emerging strategic area critical to fields including materials discovery, optimization, and secure communication.