MTSU emerging as regional leader in quantum science research, development [+VIDEO]

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University continues its emergence as a prominent quantum science research and development force in the state, region and nation through strategic partnerships and initiatives that have drawn millions in research grants and growing support from federal officials.

MTSU officials have met with influential leaders both on- and off-campus in the quest to maintain its position at the forefront of quantum education and workforce training through its Quantum Science Initiative — with a major university announcement about the program planned in the coming weeks.

Quantum Information Science is a rapidly growing field with enormous potential to transform various areas, including computing, national security, finance, energy research, new materials, health care and information technology.

MTSU Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Smith was joined by trustees J.B. Baker, Tom Boyd and Pete DeLay, along with faculty representatives, for a visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory over the summer for a tour facilitated by U.S. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, of Ooltewah. Fleischmann represents Tennessee’s 3rd District and serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, 3rd District — Rep. Chuck Fleischmann

Stephen Smith, chairman, Board of Trustees — Stephen Smith

Also joining the tour group at ORNL was MTSU alumnus and former Tennessee Congressman Bart Gordon, and former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander joined the group for lunch.

“It was valuable for our trustees to see first-hand the potential partnership opportunities that are possible through Oak Ridge National Laboratory and for us to advocate for the remarkable work by our university’s faculty and students in the emerging field of quantum,” Smith said.

Fleischmann, who visited MTSU earlier in the year for a tour and briefing on the university’s quantum science research and development, noted the ongoing MTSU-led quantum consortium that includes ORNL, Tennessee State University, Fisk University and Meharry Medical College, thanks to a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded earlier this year.

“The bottom line is that MTSU and these institutions, and the great state of Tennessee, is going to lead in quantum computing,” Fleischmann said. See his congratulatory remarks in the short video below:

Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU President — Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said MTSU is poised to play a critical role in quantum research and workforce development through such collaborations.

“This field is developing very quickly and promises, within the next few years, to significantly impact several important technologies with economic impacts in the tens of billions of dollars within the next decade,” McPhee said.

“Tennessee is emerging as one of a handful of leading states in the race to develop a quantum economy, and MTSU is forging its place in this effort through the tremendous work within our College of Basic and Applied Sciences and the strategic partnerships we’ve developed throughout the region.”

Middle Tennessee State University administrators, faculty and Board of Trustees members receive a tour this summer of different areas of Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., from ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer, front row third from right. U.S. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, front center, helped facilitate the tour. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory photo)

Middle Tennessee State University administrators, faculty and Board of Trustees members learn about continuous additive manufacturing compression molding during a tour stop at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., this summer. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory photo)

Quantum networking

Greg Van Patten, dean of Basic and Applied Sciences, has been at the center of these conversations surrounding quantum research and development, joining Smith and trustees on the ORNL visit along with University Provost Mark Byrnes, Vice Provost for Research David Butler, and Quantum Science Initiative Director Hanna Terletska,

Dr. Greg Van Patten, professor, Chemistry; dean, CBAS — Dr. Greg Van Patten

“These new developments in quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing are expected to affect cybersecurity, power grid optimization, health care, and navigation systems in the coming years,” Van Patten said. “These are key economic sectors that also affect our national security, so it is vital that the United States is poised to lead in quantum.”

“MTSU is a key asset in this effort, and we have established partnerships with several other important players, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Middle Tennessee Electric and university research groups across the United States,” he said.

Stephen Streiffer, ORNL director, said, “The conversations between MTSU leaders and our quantum experts provided a great introduction to the university’s innovative programs and how they can sync with our world-leading capabilities at ORNL.

On a mission to explore quantum science and other science opportunities with its East Tennessee partner, Middle Tennessee State University administrators, faculty and Board of Trustees members gain a first-hand glimpse of massive size of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its equipment this summer during of the Oak Ridge, Tenn., facility. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory photo)

“We identified other collaboration opportunities, too,” Streiffer added. “MTSU is graduating students in fields directly relevant to the tech workforce, which is critical for economic development and the health of our state. It was a really productive day, and we look forward to continued growth in the ORNL-MTSU partnership.”

Meanwhile, more recently, Terletska and Van Patten attended a reception titled “Tennessee: America’s Next Quantum Technology Hub,” in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Fleischmann, Middle Tennessee Electric officials and others regarding quantum research and development.

Van Patten said he and Terletska interacted with as many people as possible, including Fleischmann, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, leaders from electric power boards and the quantum research team from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.

“It was really a chance for most everyone in the Tennessee quantum picture to gather, celebrate progress, plan for the future and talk with policy makers, their staffers and other government officials,” he added.

Noting the D.C. reception, MTSU Trustees Chairman Smith appreciates the broad Tennessee congressional support for the university’s push to be a major player in the quantum research space.

“I appreciate the leadership and support of Congressman Fleischmann, Senators (Marsha) Blackburn and (Bill) Hagerty and former Senator (Lamar) Alexander to bring our state to the forefront in quantum,” he said.

From left, J. Mark Hutchins of Motlow State Community College, Middle Tennessee State University’s Greg Van Patten, dean of Basic and Applied Sciences, and Hanna Terletska, director of MTSU’s Quantum Science Initiative, attend a reception titled “Tennessee: America’s Next Quantum Technology Hub,” held in mid-September in Washington, D.C. Also attending from Tennessee’s Congressional delegation were Congressman Chuck Fleischmann and U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. (Submitted photo)

Building on Quantum@MTSU Initiative

Earlier in the year, MTSU officials hosted Fleischmann and Streiffer for an update on quantum research efforts, where Terletska presented the Quantum@MTSU Initiative.

“Quantum@MTSU is emerging as Middle Tennessee’s hub for quantum research and training,” Terletska said. “We discussed how our program aligns with ORNL priorities and how Middle Tennessee’s quantum efforts complement the congressman’s work to advance Tennessee’s innovation economy.”

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee speaks at a reception titled “Tennessee: America’s Next Quantum Technology Hub,” held in mid-September in Washington, D.C. Attending the reception representing Middle Tennessee State University were Greg Van Patten, dean of Basic and Applied Sciences, and Hanna Terletska, director of MTSU’s Quantum Science Initiative. Also attending from Tennessee’s Congressional delegation were U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty and Congressman Chuck Fleischmann. (Submitted photo) — U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee speaks at a reception titled “Tennessee: America’s Next Quantum Technology Hub,” held in mid-September in Washington, D.C. Attending the reception representing Middle Tennessee State University were Greg Van Patten, dean of Basic and Applied Sciences, and Hanna Terletska, director of MTSU’s Quantum Science Initiative. (Submitted photo)

Terletska said MTSU’s “partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory is particularly important for Nashville and Middle Tennessee. It connects our region directly to one of the nation’s leading federal research labs and quantum leaders, providing access to unmatched scientific resources, and ensures that Middle Tennessee is firmly positioned within the national quantum ecosystem.”

While Fleischmann and Streiffer were on campus, David Butler, the vice provost for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and Department of Computer Science professor Josh Phillips presented results from multiple applied artificial intelligence/machine learning projects sponsored through Butler’s research office with principal investigators from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.

“These projects, which involve analysis and interpretation of immense data sets of interest for transportation and image analysis, are unrelated to quantum, but they involve cutting-edge work, and they were also an important part of the visit,” Van Patten said.

Terletska’s guiding hand

In addition to research and teaching duties and networking with quantum officials nationwide, Terletska’s busy year has included:

• Collaborating with ORNL and three Midstate universities to obtain a $2.2 million Department of Energy grant called TN-QuMat — Tennessee Quantum Materials Workforce Development and Training program — to expand research capacity and train a skilled quantum-ready workforce in Tennessee through funding from the DOE’s Researching a New Energy Sciences Workforce Program, also known as RENEW.

Terletska is Principal Investigator for the grant, and MTSU physics faculty member John Villanova serves as co-Principal Investigator.

• Overseeing a three-member team to conduct a successful workshop, “Train the Trainer: From Atoms to Quantum Computers,” during the American Association of Physics Teachers winter 2025 meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.

Stuart McWhorter, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development — Stuart McWhorter

• In April, Terletska also shared the progress of MTSU’s quantum initiative with Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner, during a campus visit that also included a visit to the School of Concrete and Construction Management. McWhorter left impressed with MTSU’s efforts, saying the university’s “doing some fantastic work in quantum.”

“They’re putting curriculum together with their researchers, faculty, and students. They’re reaching across the state, working with lots of other partners to further their research (and) further the workforce development capabilities that is really going to be the future,” he said.

Taking a break while touring Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Middle Tennessee State University administrators, faculty and Board of Trustees members to pose for a group photo while they wait for their next tour stop. ORNL and MTSU are strategic partners in quantum science and other science areas. From left, the group includes Trustee Pete DeLay, MTSU physics professor Hanna Terletska, Trustee Chair Steve Smith (behind Terletska), Trustees J.B. Baker and Tom Boyd, ORNL employee, MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes, former Congressman Bart Gordon, ORNL Communications Protocol Officer Maria Down, College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten and David Butler, MTSU vice president for the College of Graduate Studies and vice provost for research. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory photo)

Van Patten said MTSU has laid the groundwork and is well-positioned to continue taking a leadership role in the burgeoning field of quantum science education.

“Dr. Terletska’s vision, expertise and hard work positioned MTSU as a leader in quantum physics research and education,” he said. “We have built on that success with outstanding hires of new faculty in quantum physics and by involving other outstanding faculty researchers from mathematical sciences, chemistry and computer science.”

For more on the Quantum Science Initiative, visit https://quantum.mtsu.edu or call 615-898-2792.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)