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For people, place, prosperity and planet, we deliver impact with measurement science

The NPL Quantum Programme

Quantum skills and learning

Training the next generation

The National Physical Laboratory's (NPL) Quantum Programme will help train a diverse workforce to deliver economic success. If the UK is to exploit its leadership position in this technology, practical skills on testing and evaluation will be as important as scientific research skills to ensure the successful commercialisation of these technologies. We will provide a range of test and evaluation focused training for scientists, technicians and engineers across a wide spectrum of roles.

An important element of NPL’s Quantum Programme is providing the skills and learning for the next generation of scientists. The NPL Quantum Programme supports skill development by hosting postgraduates, secondments and apprentices with the aim of raising the quantum skill level in the UK.   The quantum research teams led the way in co-funding, co-supervising and hosting PhD students, and still represent the largest subject area, in what is now a large-scale investment from NPL in a Postgraduate Institute for Measurement Science, hosting students across the laboratory. 

Since the beginnings of the National Quantum Technology Programme in 2014, NPL has hosted or co-funded 89 PhD students, many of them spending their full doctorate course at NPL embedded in an NPL science team. We have joint appointments in quantum with the University of Strathclyde and Royal Holloway, University of London, helping bring in and retain the best talent for the UK.  Currently, NPL is supporting 38 students from 16 different UK universities in fields related to quantum technologies. We also host apprentices as part of their training in NPL. 

Would you like to find out more about our training opportunities?

Contact our quantum team

Providing essential quantum skills

We have an Introduction to Time and Frequency Measurement course, at no charge. This provides training in time and frequency for anyone interested in the subject, from students, entry-level scientists and engineers, to professionals in many different industry sectors in which time and frequency plays a role.  

We also have an Introduction to Clock Performance course. This e-learning module will provide intermediate level training to measures of accuracy and stability for clocks. Students will learn about analysis of clock noise, different measurement techniques, uncertainty budgets and clock data sheets 

We have also launched a collection of short courses, at no charge, to introduce some of NPL's quantum measurement capabilities. These courses are for people working in the quantum industry, as well as manufacturers of the components, end-users, students, teachers, and researchers. The Quantum Test and Evaluation Short Courses currently include the following topics:

  • Characterisation of quantum devices using s-parameters.
  • Radio frequency atomic magnetometer for magnetic induction tomography.
  • Quantum efficiency of LEDs.
  • An introduction to radio frequency reflectometry.

Please visit the NPL Training e-Learning Portal to access our Quantum and Time and Frequency training courses.

 

Contact us

Our research and measurement solutions support innovation and product development. We work with companies to deliver business advantage and commercial success.
Contact our Customer Services team on +44 20 8943 7070