UC San Diego has secured $18 million in NSF funding to develop quantum metamaterials and chemically engineered 2D superlattices, shifting its MRSEC center's focus to foundational quantum hardware and workforce training
The University of California San Diego has been awarded an $18 million, six-year grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to support a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) focused on quantum materials. This funding, part of a $108 million national initiative supporting six MRSEC sites, marks a strategic shift for the UC San Diego center from its previous emphasis on biomaterials and polymer chemistry to the development of materials and device architectures underpinning quantum information technologies.
Quantum Metamaterials Thrust
The first research thrust centers on quantum metamaterials-engineered structures designed to control light-matter interactions and electron transport at the nanoscale. The program aims to realize bottom-up self-assembly of atomically thin, sheet-like materials, enabling hybrid platforms where photons and electrons interact in controlled ways. Experimental efforts target the fabrication and measurement of topological insulators, two-dimensional superconductors, and logic devices, with the goal of supporting all-optical and quantum computing architectures. These systems are expected to exhibit order-imposed electron transport, ultrafast energy conversion, and robust quantum states that could be harnessed for information processing.
Chemically Tailored 2D Superlattices
The second thrust investigates chemically engineered two-dimensional superlattices, where organometallic building blocks are assembled into layered structures only a few atoms thick. By restricting electron motion to specific quantum-ordered pathways, researchers aim to control electronic phases and quantum states within these materials. The project employs low-temperature microwave imaging to probe the behavior of electrons in topological insulators, layered semiconductors, and 2D superconductors. The long-term objective is to develop low-power quantum electronic devices and robust interconnects for qubits, addressing key challenges in scaling quantum hardware.
Modeling, Measurement, and Workforce Development
To accelerate experimental progress, the center integrates data-driven predictive modeling through the MesoMaterials Design Computational Facility, led by NanoEngineering Professor Tod Pascal. Machine-learning algorithms trained on first-principles quantum simulations are used in partnership with the San Diego Supercomputer Center to optimize synthesis and characterization cycles. The Materials Characterization Facility provides commercial-grade testing, while the Research Immersion in Materials Science and Engineering (RIMSE) program offers hands-on training in quantum laboratory instrumentation and computational methods for students and industrial partners. This approach is intended to address the growing need for a technically skilled quantum workforce.
National Context and Technical Challenges
The UC San Diego MRSEC is one of six centers funded in the current NSF cycle, alongside institutions such as Princeton University, Harvard University, Columbia University, MIT, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Each center targets different aspects of quantum materials, soft matter, or microelectronics, reflecting the diversity of approaches required to advance quantum technology. The UC San Diego center's renewed focus on quantum hardware aligns with broader efforts to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale demonstrations and scalable, fault-tolerant quantum devices. However, significant engineering challenges remain, including reproducible fabrication of atomically precise structures, control of disorder and defects, and integration of quantum materials with existing electronic and photonic platforms. For context on how quantum hardware architectures are being designed for integration with advanced computing infrastructure, see this analysis of reference architectures for quantum-ready data centers.
Quantum materials are defined by collective electronic or optical properties that cannot be explained by classical physics alone. Examples include superconductivity, topological protection, and strongly correlated electron behavior. In quantum information science, such materials are essential for realizing qubits, quantum interconnects, and error-resilient devices. However, the transition from laboratory demonstration to practical technology depends on reproducible synthesis, precise control of quantum states, and integration with scalable measurement and control systems. Progress in these areas requires not only advances in materials science but also robust modeling, high-throughput characterization, and a workforce trained to operate at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and engineering.
