Scholarship Program

Meet the 2025 SandboxAQ Scholarship Recipients

‍We are proud to announce the inaugural cohort of SandboxAQ Scholars, selected from an outstanding pool of applicants driving innovation in AI + Quantum (AQ).The caliber of submissions was so impressive that we expanded the original plan of 10 awards to 13. Our awardees will present their research at our first virtual AQ Conference in 2026. Stay tuned for more details!

2025 Research Excellence Scholarship

These ten awardees are being recognized for their high impact academic research and bold vision for the future of AQ. Each will receive a USD $10,000 scholarship.

NAME

UNIVERSITY

PROJECT TITLE

Bariana Bowman

University of Florida,
USA

Scalable AI Models for Quantum Materials Discovery Using Topological Descriptors and Foundation Architectures

Diego Ibarra Hoyos

University of Virginia,
USA

Quantum Machine Learning for Material Design

Isaac Leonardo Huidobro Meezs

Mcmaster University,
Canada

Generative Derandomized Classical Shadow Tomography

Jasvith Raj Basani

University of Maryland,
USA

Experimental Speedup in Generative Learning of Open System Quantum Dynamics

Kabir Dubey

Northwestern University,
USA

Quantum Simulation at the Thermodynamic Limit

Maria Gragera Garces

University of Edinburgh,
UK

Benchmarking Distributed Quantum Computation Strategies

Michael Rose

University of Chicago,
USA

Simulating Open Quantum Systems on Quantum Devices

Mostafa Atallah

University of Tennessee,
USA

Quantum Convolutional Neural Networks via Ising Hamiltonians: Escaping Classical Simulability

Naixu Guo

National University of Singapore,
Singapore

Quantum-Enhanced Physical Diffusion Model for Next-Generation AI

Theodoros Trochatos

Yale University,
USA

Protecting Quantum Machine Learning with QC-TEE: A Hardware-Based Security Architecture for Quantum Cloud Computing

2025 Global Travel Awardees

These three scholars have been selected to receive a USD$5,000 Global Travel Award to present their AQ-related research at leading international conferences.

NAME

UNIVERSITY

PROJECT TITLE

Pablo Rodriguez- Grasa

University of the Basque Country,
Spain

Generalization in Quantum Machine Learning

Tarek Hamid

University of Virginia,
USA

Objective Quantification of Skin-Tone Using Wearable Optical Spectroscopyg

Yuqian Huo

Rice University,
USA

Quantum Computing Optimization and Machine Learning Through Novel Systems and Algorithmic Innovations

Want to be next?

‍Stay tuned for updates on next year’s application cycle.

Program Overview

SandboxAQ is proud to announce the launch of two exciting initiatives designed to support PhD students pursuing cutting-edge research in AQ (AI and Quantum) technology. This program offers two scholarship opportunities for students: the Research Excellence Scholarship, which supports groundbreaking research projects, and the Global Travel Scholarship, which funds travel to conferences, enabling students to share their work with their colleagues around the world. In addition to supporting students with these financial awards, SandboxAQ is also launching an AQ virtual student conference. This will feature all the awardees presenting their scientific work to their fellow students and others in the AQ field. SandboxAQ is proud to provide this networking opportunity and expects this event to grow quickly in coming years.

In the inaugural year, 10 scholarships will be awarded. These opportunities aim to empower the next generation of experts in AQ, driving innovation and advancing the boundaries of human knowledge.
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These scholarships are open to all topics in AI, Quantum, and associated research, including, but not limited to:

Agentic AI Systems
AI Alignment
AI Ethics
AI Signal Processing
Cybersecurity
LLMs

LQMs
Post-Quantum Cryptography
Quantum Machine Learning
Quantum Sensing
Quantum Simulation

Research Excellence Scholarship

The Research Excellence Scholarship is a $10,000 award designed to support PhD students in their research pursuits. It is open to PhD students enrolled in accredited institutions worldwide, with research focus areas spanning AI and/or quantum technology, and related disciplines. Awardees will be selected based on the innovation, relevance, potential impact, and academic merit of their research proposals.

To apply for the Research Excellence Scholarship, eligible students must submit a:

Detailed research proposal (up to 1,500 words) outlining project goals, methodology, budget, and anticipated outcomes
A letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor
Personal statement (500 words) highlighting academic achievements and research interests

Awardees will be invited to present their research at the AQ student virtual conference hosted by SandboxAQ.

Global Travel Scholarship

The Global Travel Scholarship is a $5,000 award that supports PhD students in attending and presenting their research at scientific conferences. This initiative aims to foster global collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities among emerging researchers in AI and/or quantum technology and related disciplines. Awardees will be selected based on innovation, relevance, potential impact, and academic merit of their work. This award aims to foster growth and build a strong, collaborative, and diverse ecosystem in emerging fields. To be eligible for the Global Travel Scholarship, PhD students must:

Be enrolled in a PhD program at an accredited institution
Submit a research proposal (up to 1,000 words) outlining their research project and potential conferences
Provide a letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor
Include a personal statement (300 words) detailing your academic background and reason for interest in the award
Submit a budget proposal for funding

Awardees will be invited to present their research at the AQ student virtual conference hosted by SandboxAQ.

Eligibility Note: Current and former SandboxAQ employees/residents/associates within the last 12 months are not eligible.

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