2024 Rice Workshop on Functional Quantum Defects &

Winter School on Quantum Material Synthesis

Rice University, November 4-8, 2024

November 4th - November 5th, 2024 (workshop)

The 2024 Rice Workshop on Functional Quantum Defects, which will be held on Nov. 4 - 5, 2024, on the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., will bring together world leaders to discuss recent advances and challenges in the rapidly evolving field of quantum defects.

A fundamental understanding and precise engineering of quantum defects can pave the way for cutting-edge quantum devices for sensing, computing and networking applications. Recent breakthroughs in this field have identified new types of quantum defects and uncovered their fundamental physical properties. Additionally, innovative techniques for device integration and defect control have been developed to enhance light-matter interactions and generate entanglement. This workshop will highlight these exciting advancements, discuss challenges in future developments in the field, and foster cross-institute collaborations.

Topics of primary interest include:

  • Optical and spin defects in crystalline materials
  • Coherent control of spin-photon interfaces of the defects
  • Quantum photonic devices for defects
  • Engineering interactions between the defects and phonons/magnons
  • Quantum confinement and cavity quantum electrodynamics
  • Superradiance and subradiance
  • Microwave-optical transduction
  • Theory and first-principles calculation of quantum defects
  • Machine learning discovery of new quantum defects


Click HERE to RSVP for the 11/4-11/5 Workshop.

(Note: If you have been accepted into the Winter School program you are automatically registered for the Workshop, so you do not need to RSVP for the Workshop.)

November 6th - November 8th, 2024 (winter school)

We invite early-career researchers to apply for the annual Rice Center for Quantum Materials (RCQM) Annual Workshop and Winter School to be held on November 4-8, 2024. The first two days are dedicated to the workshop “Functional Quantum Defects,” followed by the 1st RCQM Winter School with a focus on materials synthesis.

The 2024 Rice Winter School, sponsored by Smalley-Curl Institute (SCI) and RCQM, will consist of in-depth lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions. The lectures will be delivered by leading experts, covering topics related to Quantum Materials Synthesis, which will include synthesis using flux, floating zone techniques, chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition, and molecular-beam epitaxy. In addition, there will be hands-on laboratory sessions, complementary to the lectures, to provide the participants with opportunities to work in state-of-the-art labs and gain practical experience.

Program: Following the 2-day workshop (Mon-Tue), the school will take place Wed-Fri and will consist of 5 pedagogical lectures over 3 days (Wed-Fri) that aim to teach participants about various quantum materials synthesis techniques. These lectures will be complemented by 6 practical sessions on those synthesis techniques conducted in various laboratories at Rice University. Participants will also be able to present their research during the poster sessions held during both events.

How to apply: The application deadline is 10/16/2024. Successful applicants will be notified shortly after the deadline. There is no registration fee for this event. The winter school applicants must attend both the workshop and the winter school. For the accepted applicants attending both the workshop and the school, we will cover all local expenses (lodging, meals, local transportation) and airfare up to $300 for domestic applicants and $500 for international applicants.

Apply HERE.