UW Hosts Quantum Hackathon in Partnership with IBM Quantum
A Day of Hands-On Quantum Computing
On May 14, 2026, the University of Washington hosted an exciting Quantum Hackathon in partnership with IBM Quantum, marking the largest event organized by UWIT Research Computing in the past three years.
The event brought together students, researchers, and staff from across the UW community for a full day of hands-on exploration in quantum computing. The hackathon was made possible through a collaborative effort between the Office of Research, UWIT Research Computing, and the Research Computing Club, reflecting UW’s growing commitment to advancing emerging technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Introduction to Quantum presentation from IBM Quantum's Alexandre Choquette.
Participants working on quantum challenges.
Learning from IBM Quantum Experts
A highlight of the event was the participation of IBM Quantum scientists who led engaging discussions and introduced a series of quantum computing challenges for participants to tackle throughout the day. Their expertise provided attendees with valuable insight into both the theory and practical applications of quantum technologies.
IBM Quantum also generously provided access to real quantum processing units (QPUs), allowing participants to run experiments on actual quantum hardware. Using tools such as Qiskit, attendees gained firsthand experience programming and testing quantum algorithms in a real-world environment.
One of the winning teams (Kostiantyn Babich, Bharathi Ganesh Kumar, Poonam Sharma, and Priya Musale) pictured with Ting Cao, Associate Vice Provost for Cyberinfrastructure and IBM Quantum Scientists: Alexandre Choquette, Soyoung Shin, and Meltem Tolunay.
Building UW's Quantum Computing Community
In parallel with the hackathon activities, UW faculty members and graduate students participated in a dedicated discussion session with IBM experts, where they explored research challenges and opportunities in quantum computing. These conversations enabled deeper engagement on topics ranging from quantum algorithms and applications to future research collaborations, helping strengthen connections between UW researchers and the broader quantum computing community.
Most importantly, the event’s success was driven by the enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity of the participants. Throughout the day, teams collaborated closely, explored new ideas, and engaged deeply with quantum computing concepts, creating an energetic and highly interactive learning environment.
The Quantum Hackathon represents another step forward in building a vibrant quantum computing community at the University of Washington. Organizers look forward to expanding future programming and continuing collaborations that provide students and researchers with opportunities to engage with cutting-edge computational technologies.
Participants (Priyal Jain, Sreeraj Parakkat, Akanksha Mattoo, and Apurv Gude) presenting their solutions during the hackathon.
A team (Sowmya Dadheech, Niteesh Kumar, and Sai Achuth) celebrates after completing a quantum computing challenge.
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