Work in Progress: Preparing an Interdisciplinary cohort of Postdoctoral Scholars for Convergent Quantum Education Research

Jill K Nelson; Jessica Rosenberg; Paula Danquah-Brobby

Download Paper | Permalink

Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: Faculty Development: Works-in-Progress room 1
Tagged Division: Faculty Development Division (FDD)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 6
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/57506

Paper Authors

biography

Jill K Nelson George Mason University

visit author page

Jill Nelson is the associate dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering and Computing and an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at George Mason University. She earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and a BA in Economics from Rice University in 1998. She attended the University of Illinois and earned an MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering.

visit author page

biography

Jessica Rosenberg

visit author page

Jessica Rosenberg is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy and the Director of Education for the Quantum Science and Engineering Center at George Mason University. She is as an astrophysicist focusing on what we can learn about galaxy evolution from the gas and star formation properties of galaxies. She is also working to improve STEM education with a focus on the education and retention of a diverse group of students in the STEM disciplines. She has developed and implemented education programs that span K-20, researched improvements to STEM classroom education, and is working to develop a career-ready quantum workforce.

visit author page

author page

Paula Danquah-Brobby George Mason University

Download Paper | Permalink

Abstract

This work-in-progress paper will describe professional development plans for an interdisciplinary cohort of postdoctoral researchers. In recognition of the systemic challenges faced by individuals from historically marginalized groups in STEM education and STEM careers, there has been a call to focus research on broadening participation in STEM. At the same time, we are at the dawn of the second quantum revolution, which is expected to lead to radical technological changes in quantum information science and engineering (QISE), the cluster of fields built on the ability to manipulate matter at these smallest scales. As the field and the workforce grow, we have an opportunity to expand in a way that does not reproduce the inequities seen in other STEM disciplines.

Working to advance equity and inclusion in the dynamic field of quantum, we are building a cohort of STEM education researchers who will advance quantum education and workforce development. Funded by an NSF Organizational Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, we will support a cohort of three postdoctoral fellows. The fellows will build basic research skills while also learning to synthesize complex new ideas and work across disciplinary boundaries. The research training plan for the cohort is designed to support the growth of the fellows while advancing knowledge in quantum education and workforce development through the convergent quantum research project. These research efforts will be supplemented with a robust set of professional development activities and mosaic mentoring support. Professional development activities will be designed to promote, strengthen, and support fellows’ learning, growth, and cultural competency (i.e., cultural awareness, sensitivity, humility, and responsiveness).

In this paper, we will describe our professional development plans as we prepare for the cohort of postdocs to join. Specifically, we will describe the mosaic mentoring structure that will support the postdocs’ multi-dimensional professional development and the processes we will use to help fellows generate project ideas at the intersection of these disciplines. To maximize productive discussion and feedback, we request that this paper be presented in a lightning talk or round table format in a session with other papers focused on postdoc professional development and mentoring.

Citation
Format

Nelson, J. K., & Rosenberg, J., & Danquah-Brobby, P. (2025, June), Work in Progress: Preparing an Interdisciplinary cohort of Postdoctoral Scholars for Convergent Quantum Education Research Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/57506

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - This work-in-progress paper will describe professional development plans for an interdisciplinary cohort of postdoctoral researchers. In recognition of the systemic challenges faced by individuals from historically marginalized groups in STEM education and STEM careers, there has been a call to focus research on broadening participation in STEM. At the same time, we are at the dawn of the second quantum revolution, which is expected to lead to radical technological changes in quantum information science and engineering (QISE), the cluster of fields built on the ability to manipulate matter at these smallest scales. As the field and the workforce grow, we have an opportunity to expand in a way that does not reproduce the inequities seen in other STEM disciplines.  

Working to advance equity and inclusion in the dynamic field of quantum, we are building a cohort of STEM education researchers who will advance quantum education and workforce development. Funded by an NSF Organizational Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, we will support a cohort of three postdoctoral fellows. The fellows will build basic research skills while also learning to synthesize complex new ideas and work across disciplinary boundaries. The research training plan for the cohort is designed to support the growth of the fellows while advancing knowledge in quantum education and workforce development through the convergent quantum research project. These research efforts will be supplemented with a robust set of professional development activities and mosaic mentoring support. Professional development activities will be designed to promote, strengthen, and support fellows’ learning, growth, and cultural competency (i.e., cultural awareness, sensitivity, humility, and responsiveness).  

In this paper, we will describe our professional development plans as we prepare for the cohort of postdocs to join. Specifically, we will describe the mosaic mentoring structure that will support the postdocs’ multi-dimensional professional development and the processes we will use to help fellows generate project ideas at the intersection of these disciplines. To maximize productive discussion and feedback, we request that this paper be presented in a lightning talk or round table format in a session with other papers focused on postdoc professional development and mentoring.  

AU  - Jill K Nelson
AU  - Jessica Rosenberg
AU  - Paula Danquah-Brobby
CY  - Montreal, Quebec, Canada 
DA  - 2025/06/22
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Work in Progress: Preparing an Interdisciplinary cohort of Postdoctoral Scholars for Convergent Quantum Education Research 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/57506
ER  -