Ecosystem for Research Networking

Quantum Webinar Series - December 5, 2025
2025-12-05 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
The Ecosystem for Research Networking and the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub (NEBDHub) have partnered to host a series of webinars focusing on Quantum Computing. This Dynamic series will convene leading researchers, industry innovators, and educators to explore the evolving frontiers of quantum science and technology. These virtual events are designed for learners, educators, researchers, and professionals. Each interactive session will span topics from foundational principles to cutting edge real-world application, bridging disciplines and sparking discovery.

Quantum-Centric HPC: Practicalities, Use Cases and Facilitation

Quantum computing holds immense promise for achieving computational gains once thought unattainable, given the physical limits to classical compute resources. Certain classes of problems could benefit greatly from speedups obtainable from the exploitation of superposition and entanglement by quantum computing systems. This presentation will look at realistic instances in the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) -era, how these (and other use cases) might scale with quantum hardware, and strategies for integration of quantum resources with HPC.

Introducing and assimilating quantum computing-related protocols to conventional compute paradigms inevitably complicate the challenges facing facilitators; we will leave time for discussion centering on audience ideas and questions on easing the inclusion of the exciting and paradigm-changing quantum computing technologies.

Dr. Torey Battelle – Associate Director, Research Computing and Quantum Collaboration, Arizona State University

Presentation

Dr. Torey Battelle earned her BA in Physics from Middlebury College, and her PhD in Applied Physics from Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Battelle is an Associate Director in Arizona State University’s Research Technology Office, and is instrumental to ASU’s Quantum Collaborative, a collection of universities, industry partners and national laboratories driving the advancement of quantum technologies and workforce development. Recently named Associate Director of Research Computing, she is turning her ‘quantum’ focus to quantum-centric HPC. She leads the Quantum Collaborative’s quantum computing steering committee in several exciting research directions, facilitates quantum technology-related exploration in quantum sensing, communication and networking, and connects with industry and university partners in crucial workforce development efforts. Dr. Battelle is honored and thrilled to join ERN-Q in an overview and discussion of quantum-centric high-performance computing.

For additional information, feel free to contact info@ern.ci.

ERN @ 2025 Internet2 Technology Exchange
2025-12-08 08:00 - 2025-12-12 12:00
Internet2 Technology Exchange is being held December 8-12, 2025 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, in Denver, CO, and ERN will be participating with a Birds of a Feather.

Presentation

Tuesday, December 9th

Strengthening AI and Quantum Ecosystems Through Federated Access and Workforce Development

Speakers:

Barr von Oehsen, Ph.D., Director, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

Forough Ghahramani, Ed. D., Vice President for Research & Innovation NJedge

Maureen Dougherty, Ecosystem for Research Networking

12:10 PM – 1:40 PM Director’s Row H

The BOF will present findings and strategic insights from the Ecosystem for Research Networking (ERN) Summit 2025, a national convening that explored the intersection of AI, Quantum, and workforce development across the research cyberinfrastructure community. The Summit emphasized the urgency of democratizing access to advanced technologies and infrastructure, particularly for non-R1 institutions, and featured perspectives from over 100 participants representing 92 institutions across academia, industry, and government.

Key themes included the role of shared infrastructure, inclusive workforce pipelines, and regional innovation models in shaping AI and Quantum research capacity and collaborations. The BOF will highlight actionable recommendations for institutions, funders, and regional networks, with a focus on supporting smaller campuses through federated access, modular training, and policy engagement.

Quantum Webinar Series - February 20, 2026
2026-02-20 12:00 - 13:00
The Ecosystem for Research Networking and the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub(NEBDHub) have partnered to host a series of webinars focusing on Quantum Computing. This Dynamic series will convene leading researchers, industry innovators, and educators to explore the evolving frontiers of quantum science and technology. These virtual events are designed for learners, educators, researchers, and professionals. Each interactive session will span topics from foundational principles to cutting edge real-world application, bridging disciplines and sparking discovery.

Building Quantum from the Ground Up: How Regional Universities Can Lead the Quantum Workforce

Quantum science and workforce training are often perceived as the domain of large research universities and national laboratories. In reality, smaller and regional institutions, which educate a significant share of U.S. students, including many first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented learners, play a critical role in expanding access, training talent at scale, and connecting quantum research to regional workforce needs. For these institutions, sustained federal investment is essential to enable quantum programs to take root and scale.

In this talk, I will share how Middle Tennessee State University is building a comprehensive quantum initiative at a regional university by integrating research, education, industry engagement, and workforce development, made possible in large part through critical funding from federal agencies such as the NSF and DOE. I will discuss the structural challenges and resource constraints faced by smaller institutions and the strategies used to overcome them, including a growing portfolio in quantum materials, quantum computing, and AI-enabled quantum science; the launch of interdisciplinary and interinstitutional quantum curricula and student training pathways; and a strategic partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory that connects students and faculty to national-scale research and industry-relevant problems.

Together, these efforts position MTSU as a regional hub for quantum education and workforce development, while contributing meaningfully to the Tennessee and national quantum ecosystem. Ultimately, building quantum capacity at regional universities is not about catching up, it is about ensuring that the future of U.S. quantum science is built broadly, wherever talent lives and opportunity can be created.

Dr. Hanna Terletska – Full Professor of Physics at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the Founding Director of the Quantum Research, Interdisciplinary Science, and Education (QRISE) Center.

Presentation

Dr. Hanna Terletska’s research background is in computational physics, with a focus on disordered and strongly correlated quantum materials, supported by NSF- and DOE-funded projects. She leads the Middle Tennessee Quantum Consortium, a regional partnership among MTSU, Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Austin Peay State University, working with national laboratory partners to expand quantum research, education, and workforce training across Tennessee. She also develops interdisciplinary quantum curricula and leads Train-the-Trainer programs to strengthen quantum capacity at emerging research institutions.

Quantum Webinar Series - March 27, 2026
2026-03-27 12:00 - 13:00
The Ecosystem for Research Networking and the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub(NEBDHub) have partnered to host a series ofwebinars focusing on Quantum Computing. This Dynamic series will convene leading researchers, industry innovators, and educators toexplore the evolving frontiers of quantum science and technology. These virtual events are designed for learners, educatorsresearchers, and professionals. Each interactive session will span topics from foundational principles to cutting edge real-worldapplication, bridging disciplines and sparking discovery.

Pathways to Hybrid Quantum and High-Performance Computing

Quantum computing promises to transform how we approach some of the most challenging computational problems, from molecular simulation to complex optimization. This talk introduces the core ideas of quantum information science at a high level and explains how they enable new computational models based on qubits, gates, and quantum circuits. We then explore key quantum algorithms, emerging application domains, and the current state of quantum hardware in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. Finally, the talk discusses how quantum processors are likely to integrate with high-performance computing systems as specialized processing units, highlighting the importance of hybrid quantum–classical workflows and the opportunities this emerging paradigm presents for research and cyberinfrastructure.

Dr. Bruno Abreu – Deputy Scientific Director Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

Presentation

Dr. Bruno Abru is the Deputy Scientific Director at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University, where he leads quantum computing research and systems design. With a background in condensed matter physics and years of experience in the advanced cyberinfrastructure community, he is excited to connect researchers with PSC computing and data resources that enable groundbreaking discoveries and innovation.

The Ecosystem for Research Networking Summit 2026
2026-04-22 12:00 - 17:00
THIS IS A FREE VIRTUAL EVENT

Beyond Resources: Integrating AI, Quantum, and the Workforce of the Future

Join us for the virtual Ecosystem for Research Networking (ERN) Summit 2026 on April 22 from 12:00–5:00 PM ET as we explore this year’s theme: Beyond Resources: Integrating AI, Quantum, and the Workforce of the Future. This free national conference, focused on the transformative impacts AI and Quantum are having on academia and industry, brings together researchers, educators, cyberinfrastructure professionals, industry partners, and government leaders from both R1 and non-R1 institutions for an afternoon of forward-looking discussion and practical insight.

Wednesday, April 22 – 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET

Summit Report, Presentations and Full Agenda

ERN Summit 2026 Agenda

12:00 – 12:15 Welcome and Opening RemarksBarr von Oehsen, Ph.D., Director Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

12:15 – 1:15 Keynote “Heterogeneous Quantum–Classical Computing: Scaling Through Integration”Masoud Mohseni, Ph.D., Senior Distinguished Technologist, Director of HPE Quantum, Hewlett Packard Labs

1:15 – 2:15 Panel 1: Building Sustainable Advanced Technologies: Industry, Academic, and National Lab Collaborations

Explore how industry, universities, national labs, and startups are partnering to accelerate AI and quantum innovation while building experiential workforce pathways.

2:15 -3:15 Panel 2: Democratizing Access: National Resources and Regional InitiativesThe panel examines national platforms and regional ecosystems that are expanding equitable access to the advanced infrastructure required by advanced technologies. Panelists will discuss federated models, hybrid workflows, and collaborative frameworks that enable broader participation in research and education

3:15 – 4:15 Panel 3: Research Data Management in the AI EraThe panel will discuss how governance, metadata standards, compliance, and secure data stewardship underpin reproducible advanced research and drive demand for new data management competencies.

4:15 – 4:45 Open Discussion and Collaboration

4:45 – 5:00 Closing Remarks

Quantum Webinar Series - May 15, 2026
2026-05-15 12:00 - 13:00
The Ecosystem for Research Networking and the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub(NEBDHub) have partnered to host a series of webinars focusing on Quantum Computing. This Dynamic series will convene leading researchers, industry innovators, and educators to explore the evolving frontiers of quantum science and technology. These virtual events are designed for learners, educators researchers, and professionals. Each interactive session will span topics from foundational principles to cutting edge real-world application, bridging disciplines and sparking discovery.

Applied Quantum AI in the NISQ Era to Address Real World Problems

Machine learning and artificial intelligence are often cited as application areas likely to benefit from quantum computing, but the timeline for realizing practical advantage remains an open question. Must meaningful quantum utility in machine learning wait for fault-tolerant hardware, or can it be explored in the current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum) era?

This talk introduces quantum computing and the state of quantum machine learning (QML) from an applied research perspective, focusing on how quantum utility is being defined and evaluated. Drawing on ongoing work at SAS, representative QML techniques and hybrid quantum-classical workflows that are being investigated against real-world, customer-motivated problems will be discussed. The discussion centers on how QML methods are benchmarked against classical approaches, which problem types show early promise, and how hybrid quantum-classical techniques are being applied in practice.

Bill Wistosky – Principal Quantum Systems Architect for Research and Development at SAS

Register Here

Bill Wisotsky began his academic career at SUNY Albany, graduating in 1994. While pursuing a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience at CUNY, he conducted biophysics research on neural pathways in the human visual system using visual evoked potentials. It was during this time, while studying photon absorption in the retina, that he first encountered the principles of quantum physics. Concepts like superposition and entanglement, initially explored out of necessity, quickly sparked a deep and lasting fascination.

This curiosity evolved into a passion as Bill delved into the emerging field of quantum computing. He immersed himself in the theoretical foundations and practical applications of quantum mechanics in computation, laying the groundwork for what would become a defining focus of his career.

Bill has been with SAS since 2002 as part of US Professional Services. Throughout this tenure, Bill continued to nurture his interest in quantum technologies. He actively pursued coursework, attended seminars, and experimented with various quantum environments. His hands-on exploration led to the development of several small-scale proofs of concept, that ultimately catalyzed the launch of the Applied Quantum AI Initiative at SAS. Today, Bill serves as the Principal Quantum Systems Architect in the Applied Architecture and Technology Practice of Research and Development, leading efforts to integrate quantum computing into real-world business solutions.

ERN @ PEARC26
2026-07-28 13:30 - 14:30
ERN BoF “Beyond Resources: Integrating AI, Quantum, and the Workforce of the Future – ERN Summit 2026”

Tuesday, July 28, 2026. 1:30 – 2:30. Room 200D/E

The Ecosystem for Research Networking (ERN) invites you to join our Birds of a Feather session at PEARC26, where you share your experiences and thoughts on the selected topics from the ERN Summit 2026 conversations. The Summit provides the research community an opportunity to come together to discuss challenges and opportunities of R1 and non-R1 institutions regarding research collaborations, resource accessibility, regional and national support communities, emerging technologies of AI and quantum, and innovative workforce development programs.

Come and be part of the discussion on these areas:

Workforce Development: Developing skills for the research and professional workforce in emerging technologies.

Remote Instrument Access: Expanding equitable access to research resources across institutions.

Each topic will open with a brief presentation followed by Q&A, leading into an open community discussion where your experiences and ideas take center stage.

Insights gathered will augment ERN’s Summit findings, shape future ERN programs, and be shared with funding agencies and the broader research community through the ERN website.

Come connect, contribute, and help shape the future of collaborative research infrastructure.
