News – QIST-CDT

QIST CDT Students attend CiQ 2025

On Friday 4 April the QIST CDT students attended CiQ 2025, the 6th annual Careers in Quantum event at the Mercure Grand Hotel in Bristol organised by Cohort 9 of the Quantum Engineering CDT.

The event welcomed over 20 exhibitors, including leading quantum technology companies and government organisations. These exhibitors shared insights into the wide range of career opportunities available across the quantum sector with an audience of early-career researchers and students from across the UK.

In addition to the careers fair, attendees had the opportunity to hear from professionals working at the forefront of quantum technologies through a series of talks and panel discussions. These sessions explored themes such as career pathways in quantum, and the future of quantum innovation.

Several QECDT alumni were showcasing their startup companies and industrial career opportunities.

QISTCDT students attend Swindon Science Festival

On 21 & 22 February QISTCDT students from cohort 1 took part in the ‘Festival of Tomorrow’, a UKRI sponsored outreach event aimed at the general public, in particular young people, to find out about current science and innovation.

On the stand the students demonstrated how photonic chips are used to guide light around specific paths with a large-scale puzzle for children to solve. The audience were intrigued by the scale of the photonic chips we presented and how these chips can be a platform to develop quantum technologies.

Their stand gained a lot of interest, and the students did a fabulous job answering all the questions. Everyone seemed to enjoy their outreach experience a lot as well as imparting a lot of knowledge (and stickers) to the receptive public.

December 9-13th

Cohort 1 students spent the week together in Bristol participating in workshops, taking exams and enjoying the Christmas party. Managed to get a group shot of all but 1 of them wearing the infamous sapphire blue hoodies!

Welcome to our new QIST CDT cohort 1!

On 9th September 2024 we welcomed the first cohort of the new QIST CDT. During induction week we brought the students based at University of Bristol and those at the University of Sussex together for a team building event which included an overnight stay at Calshot Activity Centre in Southampton.

The first session of the day was team building games designed to break the ice and get us working as a team. This was followed by an introduction to the CDT including brainstorming sessions on the ‘Grand Cohort Challenge’ and a presentation from the CDT Director.

The centre and our accommodation had a great location right on the coast so after dinner we had a bonfire on the beach.
The following day we split into 2 groups, one doing archery and another using the climbing wall.

We were lucky with the weather and it was a great opportunity for the students and CDT staff to get to know each other. We’re looking forward to the year ahead!