BATAVIA, IL – The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Northern Illinois University, officially launching a collaborative, cutting-edge quantum science program for graduate students. The inaugural class will begin in the fall semester of 2026.
Fermilab Director Norbert Holtkamp and NIU Vice President of Research and Innovation Partnerships Richard Mocarski sign a formal agreement ushering in the new Master of Science in Physics program with a specialization in quantum science and technology.
Through this partnership, the two institutions will launch a Master of Science in Physics program with a specialization in quantum science and technology (QST). This new offering in the NIU Department of Physics will provide an interactive, hands-on educational experience for students interested in manipulating, fabricating and advancing tools and technologies that leverage key features of quantum mechanics — including superposition, entanglement and interference. Students will begin taking classes in fall 2026, and they will start their research with Fermilab in the summer of 2027.
Officials from Fermilab and NIU met on April 29 to mark the milestone in their partnership. During the event, representatives toured Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center, which serves as a national hub for advanced research and innovation in quantum science and technology and will be an important resource for the new program.
Prior to the April 29th ceremony marking the new master’s specialization, NIU physicists and representatives toured Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, a national hub for advanced research and innovation in quantum science and technology.
The tour was followed by a signing of the formal agreement, solidifying the institutions’ collaborative commitment to the innovative graduate program. The newly established specialization will offer graduate students formal instruction at the NIU and Fermilab campuses, with hands-on learning experiences at the SQMS Center.
“We are thrilled to partner with NIU in educating the next generation of quantum scientists, right here in our backyard. Students in this program will learn tangible skills in quantum science, skills and experiences directly connected to Fermilab’s science goals, ultimately preparing them to become the next generation of subject matter experts in the field,” said Norbert Holtkamp, Fermilab director.
The program is an innovative partnership of a state university with a U.S. DOE national laboratory research center. By partnering with a national lab, NIU students enrolled in this program will be able to leverage the research, expertise and facilities available at the SQMS Center, one of five DOE quantum information science research centers. The centers are part of DOE’s national initiative to develop and deploy the world’s most powerful quantum computers and sensors.
“For decades, our students and faculty have had close and productive working relationships with nearby Fermilab, a global leader in quantum science and technology as well as particle and accelerator physics,” NIU President Lisa Freeman said. “We’re excited to expand our collaboration with Fermilab to include our new master’s specialization in quantum science and technology. This partnership creates a powerful new opportunity for students to study at a leading-edge facility where discovery is happening every day.”
The program was jointly developed by Fermilab and NIU, with leadership from Fermilab’s Office of Education and Public Engagement, the SQMS Center and NIU’s Department of Physics. Together, the partners designed a specialized curriculum shaped by subject matter experts and delivered by leading scientists and instructors in the field. By combining interactive coursework with hands-on research opportunities led by SQMS researchers, the program will equip students with the skills and experience needed for careers in quantum science and technology.
NIU is a research partner with SQMS, contributing and leveraging its expertise in materials science, nanofabrication, characterization and superconducting radio-frequency cavities.
More information on the master’s specialization in quantum science and technology is available here.
Media Contact: Tom Parisi
About Fermilab
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.
About NIU
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. The Wall Street Journal and CollegeNET recognize NIU as a leading institution for social mobility, or helping its students climb the socioeconomic ladder. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
