Quantum for International Features:
The Quantum for International (Q4I) Workshop, happening June 23 & 24, 2026, at the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome, NY, is the premier Upstate New York gathering focused on quantum science and its transformative potential! Key features of the event include:
Diverse Presentations:
Explore talks covering the latest advancements in quantum information science and emerging technologies.Keynote Speakers:
Hear from leading voices in government and academia shaping the future of quantum research.International Participation:
Connect with experts from across the globe to foster meaningful partnerships and knowledge exchange.Networking Opportunities:
Engage with thought leaders, researchers, and professionals throughout the event.
Poster Session:
Showcase your work or discover cutting-edge research in quantum technologies.Lab Tours:
Experience innovative quantum research first-hand during tours of the Innovare Advancement Center.- Meals & Food Trucks:
Enjoy Mohawk Valley cuisine with breakfasts, lunches, snacks, an espresso bar, a catered dinner, and food truck options (additional cost for food trucks). - LIVE Music:
Enjoy live music from Avec Sentiments, a performance group featuring Violinist Juliane Price, Jazz Guitarist Joe Ferlo, and Upright Bass Player Matt Vacanti, at select times throughout the event, including during check-in and dinner.
Meals
- Snacks/Drinks: Stay energized with our selection of snacks, coffee, and refreshing non-alcoholic beverages. Whether you need a quick pick-me-up or a moment to recharge, we’ve got you covered to help you stay focused and engaged throughout the day.
- Breakfasts: Start your days with hearty breakfasts designed to energize and prepare you for a full day of learning and collaboration. With a variety of options to suit different tastes, our breakfast spread ensures a nourishing start to your journey into quantum technologies.
- Lunches: Enjoy a variety of lunch options every day, with a unique selection each day to cater to different preferences.
- Catered Dinner on Night 1: Enjoy a sit-down catered dinner, featuring exquisite local cuisine crafted from the finest ingredients. Savor delectable dishes and unwind with fellow attendees in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
- Espresso Bar: Recharge throughout the day at an espresso and beverage bar, featuring flavored lattes, matcha, and chai teas, with a variety of milk options and seasonal favorites.
- Food Trucks: These trucks will offer a variety of different meal options, but they are subject to change depending on truck schedules and availability.
2026 Q4I Agenda
Please note that the agenda is subject to change without notice, all times are posted in Eastern Standard Time, and speakers will be added to this agenda as they get announced. Due to the nature of this event, some speakers may not be confirmed and revealed until much closer to the event dates!
For a look at what last workshops’s agenda looked like so you know what to expect, visit griffissinstitute.org/q4i-2024!
Tuesday, 23 June: Operational Timing & Sensing Applications
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Check In & Morning Social
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome Message
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Keynote
Kathy-Anne Soderberg, Acting Chief Technology Officer & Quantum Technology Lead, Air Force Research Laboratory
Topic: TBA
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Speaker
TBA
10:45 AM – 11:05 AM: Networking Break
11:05 AM – 11:35 AM: Speaker
Cyrus Hirjibehedin, Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory – USA
Topic: TBA
11:35 AM – 12:05 PM: Speaker
Kasra Nowrouzi, Chief Technology Officer, CTO QuNorth – Denmark
12:05 PM – 1:05 PM: Lunch
1:05 PM – 1:35 PM: Speaker
Todd Stievater, Lead of Integrated Nanophotonics Section, Optical Sciences Division, Navy Research Laboratory – USA
Topic: TBA
1:35 PM – 2:05 PM: Speaker
TBA
2:05 PM – 2:25 PM: Networking Break
2:25 PM – 2:55 PM: Speaker
TBA
2:55 PM – 4:25 PM: Poster Session/Rotating Lab Tours
4:25 PM – 5:00 PM: Networking Break
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner
Wednesday, 24 June: Photonic Integrated Circuits and Quantum Networks
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Check In & Morning Social
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:20 AM – 10:05 AM: Speaker
Dirk Englund, Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – USA
Topic: TBA
10:05 AM – 10:35 AM: Speaker
Robert Stockill, Co-Founder & CTO, Qphonx – Netherlands
Topic: TBA
10:35 AM – 10:55 AM: Networking Break
10:55 AM – 11:25 AM: Speaker
Tian Zhong, Assistant Professor, University of Chicago – USA
Topic: TBA
11:25 AM – 11:55 AM: Speaker
TBA
11:55 AM – 1:25 PM: Lunch
1:25 PM – 1:55 PM: Speaker
Samah Mohamed Ahmed Saeed, Associate Professor, City College of New York – USA
Topic: TBA
1:55 PM – 2:25 PM: Speaker
Thomas Jennewein, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo – Canada
Topic: TBA
2:25 PM – 2:45 PM: Networking Break
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Speaker
Daniel Felinto, Professor, Federal Univeristy of Pernambuco – Brazil
Topic: TBA
3:15 PM – 3:45 PM: Speaker
Ming-Shien Chang, Research Fellow, Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica – Taiwan
Topic: TBA
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM: Speaker
TBA
4:15 PM: Workshop Concludes
Quantum Alley
A Complimentary Quantum Bonus
Quantum Alley offers a complementary element to our Quantum for International (Q4I) workshop. This dedicated expo space just outside of the main event area showcases innovations in quantum technology, offering mini-tech talks and opportunities for networking between the main Q4I features. Join us for insightful mini-panel discussions, engaging talks from guest speakers, and networking opportunities with quantum experts from around the world. Don’t miss out on this chance to delve into various quantum topics and connect with like-minded professionals.
Details for Quantum Alley 2026 will be revealed over the coming months!
Poster Session
Make the most of your time at this workshop by sharing your research at the dynamic poster session!
When ordering your tickets, register to present your work to a diverse audience of industry professionals, researchers, and thought leaders. It’s a unique opportunity to receive valuable feedback, spark meaningful conversations, and expand your professional network.
Don’t miss this chance to showcase your expertise, sharpen your presentation skills, and gain visibility in the field.
Be sure to check the appropriate box at checkout to let us know you want to participate. Poster specifications will be provided to all participants after registration!
Featured Speakers:
Keynote:
Kathy-Anne Soderberg
Dr. Kathy-Anne Soderberg, a member of the scientific and professional cadre of senior executives, is Acting Chief Technology Officer for the Air Force Research Laboratory. Prior, she was the Senior Scientist for Quantum Science and Technology at the Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York. She serves as the principal scientific authority and independent researcher in the research, development, adaptation and application of quantum science and technology, techniques and component development to meet Department of the Air Force needs.
Dr. Soderberg began her career with the Air Force in 2014 at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate in Rome, New York. Dr. Soderberg was the Principal Investigator for the trapped ion quantum networking project and led a team of scientists and engineers working on cutting-edge quantum networking efforts focused on entanglement distribution and quantum bit interfaces. Prior to joining AFRL, Dr. Soderberg served as a technical consultant for government quantum information processing programs. Dr. Soderberg has over 20 years of experience in quantum science and technologies across academia, industry and government.
Todd Stievater
Todd Stievater is the head of the Integrated Nanophotonics Section in the Optical Sciences Division at the Naval Research Laboratory. Dr. Stievater currently leads research and development efforts in integrated photonics, nanophotonics, nonlinear optics, semiconductor photonics, microwave photonics, and chemical sensing. He has authored or co-authored over 200 journal publications and conference presentations and holds nine patents and one trade secret related to this work. Dr. Stievater received the 2021 Sigma Xi award for Applied Science, the 2022 NRL Technology Transfer and Transition award, and the 2024 US Navy Dr. Delores M. Etter award for Individual Scientist. He is a Fellow of Optica.
Samah Mohamed Ahmed Saeed
Samah Mohamed Ahmed Saeed is an associate professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the Grove School of Engineering, City College of New York (CCNY). She is the director of Secure & Reliable Systems Laboratory (SERS). Dr. Saeed is also an affiliated faculty at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Her research interests span quantum circuit design and synthesis for reliable and secure quantum systems, quantum networking, hardware security, and testing digital integrated circuits. Dr. Saeed has received several awards, including the best paper award at IEEE VLSI Test Symposium, the Pearl Brownstein Doctoral Research Award by NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, the TTTC’s E.J. McCluskey Best Doctoral Thesis Award at the IEEE International Test Conference, and the best poster award at Quantum Computing Applications and Systems (QCAS) Workshop. Her research in quantum computing has been funded by the Department of Energy, Google, Air Force Research Laboratory and the Department of Education.
Cyrus F. Hirjibehedin
Dr. Cyrus F. Hirjibehedin is a Technical Staff member in the Quantum-Enabled Computing Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL). He manages the Superconducting Qubits at Lincoln Laboratory (SQUILL) Foundry program, which enables MIT LL to share its advanced superconducting qubit fabrication capabilities with the U.S. research community to accelerate progress across government-funded projects in quantum computing. In addition, he works to develop platforms for extensible superconducting quantum circuits with applications in quantum information processing. Prior to joining MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Dr. Hirjibehedin was a Professor of Physics, Chemistry, and Nanotechnology at University College London (UCL), and before that a postdoctoral research staff member at IBM’s Almaden Research Center. Dr. Hirjibehedin is also an Editorial Board Member for the IOP Publishing journal Materials for Quantum Technology, and he holds a BS degree in both physics and computer science from Stanford University and a PhD degree in physics from Columbia University.
Juliane Price
Juliane Price, a native of Germany, graduated from Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany with a Masters Degree in Opera/ Performing in 2000. Juliane was seen as the leading role of Susan B. Anthony in the World Premier of the Opera “Pushed Aside: Reclaiming Gage” with the Society for New Music at the Carrier Theater in Syracuse, NY and as a soloist for the Masterworks Performance of Bruckner Mass in D Minor and Delalande’s “Cantate Domino” with Symphoria at Hamilton College under Rob Kolb.
Juliane has a broad background of performing Solo work here in CNY ever since moving here in 2009, which includes performing with the Utica Symphony Orchestra, the Oneida Area Civic Chorale for their Requiem “For us the Living” by Alfred Fedak in 2018. She is the 2nd winner of the German National Voice Competition and first prize winner in the Lotte Lenya (Kurt Weill) Voice Competition held in Berlin in 2000. She was a Soloist in musical productions and an Actress at the Theaters in Oberhausen, Duesseldorf and Hannover, Germany. She traveled to the Northern Oceans and Seas of Europe, performing in 14 different shows and Solo Programs on the luxurious AROSA BLU. Juliane also was seen in On-screen-productions in Germany (Thomas Jahn, Director) as well as here in the US, working for Disney, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Superfine Films NYC and Aurora Film. She has done voice-over work in both German and English and also speaks Russian, Italian and French.
Growing up in her hometown, Dessau, Juliane started playing violin at the age of 5 and joined the Orchestra at age 8. Her upbringing was musically influenced by her strict teachers and the music of German, Italian, Russian and French Composers as well as Kurt Weill, who she proudly shares her hometown with. You can see her perform with “Avec Sentiments” – a Performance Group with Jazz Guitarist Joe Ferlo and Upright Bass Player Matt Vacanti- featuring light Jazz, French Chanson and Songs.
More speakers will be revealed as the event gets closer.
